Volumetric measurement and visual feedback of tissues

• US 20070238998A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bharadwaj, Jeetendra, Gil, Carlos, Nycz, Jeffrey, Donofrio, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0875 for diagnosis of bone A61B5/4504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for assessing tissue characteristics such as the dimensions and volume of an osteolytic lesion are disclosed. The apparatus may utilize ultrasound to provide visual and volumetric feedback related to a lesion or other tissue. Further the apparatus may be utilized to determine whether the lesion has been completely removed and filled with the appropriate amount of graft material.

Claims

1. A coupling apparatus for use with an ultrasonic probe in evaluation of a lesion of a bone having an artificial implant, comprising:

a coupling attachment having a body formed of an ultrasonic conductive material, said body having an internal wall defining a cavity adapted to receive a portion of the ultrasonic probe and an external surface, wherein said external surface is configured to engage a substantial portion of the artificial implant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the artificial implant is an acetabular cup.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling attachment mates with a hand-held ultrasound device for detecting indicators of a lesion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hand-held ultrasound device removably mates with the coupling attachment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling attachment is disposable.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the coupling attachment is malleable to conform to the implant.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the artificial implant has an internal socket and said external surface of the coupling attachment is sized to mate with a specific size socket of the artificial implant.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the malleable surface of the coupling attachment is adapted for conductive contact with the artificial implant.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the artificial implant is adapted to transmit or receive ultrasound signals when in conductive contact with the coupling attachment.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a flowable coupling media, wherein the conductive contact between the coupling attachment and the artificial implant is facilitated by a coupling media.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the coupling media is a liquid.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further including a plurality of coupling attachments of varying sizes.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a portion of the hand-held ultrasound device is disposable.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said hand-held ultrasound device includes an output signal indicative of sensed reflected signals, and further including:

a processor for developing at least a portion of a 3-D representation of the lesion based on the output signal from the hand-held ultrasonic device; and

a display connected to the processor for displaying at least one characteristic of the lesion representation.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the characteristic is a volume of the lesion.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the characteristic is a shape of the lesion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further adapted to formulate a 3-D model of the lesion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the display is adapted to display at least one view of the 3-D model of the lesion.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor and the display are components of a computer.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is a part of the hand-held ultrasound device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display is a part of the hand-held ultrasound device.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the hand-held ultrasound device is adapted for wireless communication with the processor.

23. A system for providing visual feedback of a lesion of a bone, comprising:

a hand-held ultrasound device adapted to transmit a signal into a bone, receive reflected signals indicative of inconsistency in the bone and produce a corresponding output signal;

a processor in communication with said hand-held ultrasound device and adapted to receive said output signal, said processor configured to formulate a 3-D model of the lesion based on the output signal, said processor providing a display signal; and

a display device in communication with said processor and responsive to said display signal to display at least one view of the 3-D model of the lesion.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a volumetric measurement of the lesion.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the display is adapted for displaying the volumetric measurement.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the ultrasound device is further adapted to determine a location of a surgical instrument relative to the lesion.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the display is adapted to show the relative location of the surgical instrument to the lesion.

28. The system of claim 27, further including an image guided surgery system adapted to guide the surgical instrument to the lesion based upon the location of the surgical instrument relative to the lesion.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the surgical instrument is adapted to remove at least a portion of the lesion.

30. A method of assessing a lesion of a bone, comprising:

providing an ultrasound device, a processor, and a display device;

activating the ultrasound device adjacent the lesion;

sensing the signals reflected from the bone and lesion;

processing the reflected signals to generate at least a portion of a 3-D model of the lesion; and

displaying at least a portion of the 3-D model of the lesion.

31. The method of claim 30, further including calculating a volume of the lesion in response to the reflected signals.

32. The method of claim 31, further including determining the appropriate amount of bone filler required to fill the void based upon the volume of the lesion.

33. The method of claim 30, further including debriding any lesion material detected.

34. The method of claim 33, further including after said debriding, detecting any remaining lesion material.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein prior to said activating, the user applies a first force on the area adjacent the lesion, and further including after said sensing, applying a second force different than the first force on the area adjacent the lesion, activating the ultrasound device adjacent the lesion for a second reading;

and sensing a second set of reflected signals from the bone and lesion, wherein said processing includes comparing said the signals reflected from the bone and lesion under the first force with the second set of reflected signals sensed under the second force.