Neurosurgical instrument with gamma ray detector
First Claim
1. A neurosurgical apparatus for use in the removal of malignant brain tissue and/or brain tumors, said apparatus comprising:
- a handheld neurosurgical instrument including at least a first arm having a distal end for positioning in contact with or in close proximity to malignant brain tumors and/or tissue, the distal end being configured for providing a desired neurosurgical function; and
a radiation detection system including a radiation sensor mounted upon said first arm proximate the distal end thereof, said system being operable to produce either one or a combination of an audio signal or visual signal of increasing intensity as said radiation sensor is moved closer to malignant brain tissue and/or tumors that have previously absorbed or been infiltrated with a radioactive isotope injected into a patient prior to surgery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neurosurgical instrument includes a radiation detecting sensor adjustably positioned proximate a distal end of an arm of the instrument. A controller is programmed to receive and process electrical signals from the sensor. The controller operates to control an audio tone generator to emit a tone of higher intensity as the surgeon moves the sensor and its associated coagulator closer to radioactively tagged malignant tissue or a brain tumor of a patient, and of lower intensity as the coagulator moves away from the tissue or tumor, thereby permitting the surgeon to accurately locate and remove the malignant tissue or brain tumor. Also, in place of or in combination with the audio tone generator, a light emitter provides for emitting light of intensity directly related to the distance the sensor is from the malignant tissue or brain tumor tagged with a radioactive isotope.
50 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A neurosurgical apparatus for use in the removal of malignant brain tissue and/or brain tumors, said apparatus comprising:
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a handheld neurosurgical instrument including at least a first arm having a distal end for positioning in contact with or in close proximity to malignant brain tumors and/or tissue, the distal end being configured for providing a desired neurosurgical function; and
a radiation detection system including a radiation sensor mounted upon said first arm proximate the distal end thereof, said system being operable to produce either one or a combination of an audio signal or visual signal of increasing intensity as said radiation sensor is moved closer to malignant brain tissue and/or tumors that have previously absorbed or been infiltrated with a radioactive isotope injected into a patient prior to surgery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Radiation sensing apparatus for attachment to an arm of a neurosurgical instrument employed in the removal of a brain tumor or malignant tissue of a patient, said patient prior to surgery being injected with a radioactive isotope for tagging said brain tumor and/or malignant tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a radiation sensor mounted upon and proximate to a distal end of said arm of said neurosurgical instrument;
controller means for receiving and processing signals from said radiation sensor; and
audio and/or visual signal generating means operable by said controller means for alerting a surgeon that the radiation sensor and distal end of said arm of said neurosurgical instrument are being moved closer to, or away from, or have arrived in close proximity to the malignant tissue and/or tumor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A neurosurgical coagulator system for permitting a surgeon to accurately locate and remove a brain tumor and/or malignant brain tissue from a patient, comprises:
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first and second arms, each having first and second ends;
first and second electrodes mounted upon the first ends of said first and second arms, the second ends of said first and second arms being secured to a common substrate in a manner to retain said electrodes spaced apart and in opposition to one another, whereby the first and second arms are flexible;
radiation detection means including;
a radiation sensor mounted on said coagulator in close proximity to one of said first and second electrodes;
controller means for receiving and processing signals from said radiation sensor; and
audio and/or visual signal generating means operated by said controller means for alerting a surgeon that said first and second electrodes are being moved closer to, or away from, or have arrived in close proximity to malignant tissue that has absorbed or been infiltrated with a portion of a radioactive isotope previously injected into a patient. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for permitting a surgeon to accurately locate and remove malignant tissue from a patient, comprising the steps of:
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adjustably mounting a radiation sensor in close proximity to a distal end of an arm of a handheld neurosurgical instrument;
injecting a radioactive isotope into a patient, which isotope is known to lodge in the brain tumor and/or malignant brain tissue of interest; and
processing electrical signals from said radiation sensor to provide either one or a combination of an audible and/or visual signal to a surgeon indicative of the radiation sensor being moved toward, away from, or positioned proximate the tumor and/or malignant tissue. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification