Ultrasound sensor

• US 20070016069A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences Limited (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences Limited (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grunwald, Sorin, Hill, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US11/431,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/468
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02152 specially adapted for venous pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/04 Measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 : involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00

Abstract

The invention relates to the guidance, positioning and placement confirmation of intravascular devices, such as catheters, stylets, guidewires and other flexible elongate bodies that are typically inserted percutaneously into the venous or arterial vasculature. Currently these goals are achieved using x-ray imaging and in some cases ultrasound imaging. This invention provides a method to substantially reduce the need for imaging related to placing an intravascular catheter or other device. Reduced imaging needs also reduce the amount of radiation that patients are subjected to, reduce the time required for the procedure, and decrease the cost of the procedure by reducing the time needed in the radiology department. An aspect of the invention includes, for example, an endovenous access and guidance system. The system comprises: an elongate flexible member adapted and configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient; a sensor disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient provided by the sensor and to provide position information regarding the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member within the venous vasculature of the patient; and an output device adapted to output the position information from the processor.

Claims

1. An ultrasound sensor assembly comprising:

an ultrasound sensor; and

an airtight and ultrasound transparent seal encapsulating at least one side of the ultrasound sensor.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the airtight and ultrasound transparent seal is shaped into an acoustic lens.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2 wherein the acoustic lens is shaped to spread a beam generated by the ultrasound sensor.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 2 wherein the lens is made from epoxy.

5. The ultrasound sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound sensor is formed from a piezoelectric crystal.

6. The ultrasound sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound sensor is formed from a piezoelectric ceramic

7. The ultrasound sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound sensor is formed from silicon.

8. The ultrasound sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound sensor comprises a thin piezoelectric film.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens comprises a plurality of microlenses.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a catheter body and wherein the ultrasound sensor is attached to the catheter to provide a forward looking beam.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a catheter body and wherein the ultrasound sensor is attached to the catheter to provide a lateral looking beam

12. The sensor assembly of claim 11 wherein the ultrasound sensor is disposed in a recess formed in a wall of the catheter.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 12 wherein the ultrasound sensor is adapted to provide Doppler readings from a fluid passing over the external surface of the catheter.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 12 wherein the airtight and ultrasound transparent seal is shaped into an acoustic lens.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 14 wherein the acoustic lens is shaped to spread the beam generated by the ultrasound sensor.