Finger mounted imaging and sensing assembly

• US 20080306387A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sonivate Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonivate Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, Kenneth N., McDonough, William, Schutz, Ronald W., Corbett, Scott S. III, Krause, Albert H.
• Application Number:
  US11/895,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• 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 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4227 characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/53 connected to the surgeon's body, e.g. by a belt

Abstract

An ultrasound finger probe having a finger clip that is adapted to be mounted on a human finger and an ultrasound probe that is supported by the finger clip. Also, control input elements are mounted on the finger clip and are adapted to control the operation of the ultrasound probe.

Claims

1. An ultrasound finger probe assembly, comprising:

a) a connector-half;

b) a multi-conductor cable, electrically connected to said connector-half;

c) a finger clip, adapted to be mounted on a human finger; and

d) an ultrasound finger probe supported by said finger clip and including elements adapted to provide therapeutic ultrasound; and

e) wherein said multi-conductor cable includes some traces having a larger cross section than others of said traces, said larger cross section traces being adapted to provide electricity for said therapeutic ultrasound elements.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. An ultrasound finger probe assembly, comprising:

a) a finger clip, adapted to be mounted on a human finger;

b) an ultrasound probe, supported by said finger clip;

c) an optical viewing device, physically associated to said ultrasound probe; and

d) a cable connected to said ultrasound probe and optical viewing device and adapted to transmit data from said ultrasound probe and optical viewing device to a further device.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said optical viewing device is a lens connected to an optical fiber and said cable includes an optical fiber to transmit data from said optical viewing device to said further device.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said optical viewing device is a camera and said cable includes an electrically conductive link for transmitting said data from said optical viewing device.

9. The assembly of claim 6, further including an illumination probe physically associated to said optical viewing device.

10. An ultrasound probe assembly, comprising:

a) a finger-mounted ultrasound imaging probe; and

b) a sensor physically associated to said ultrasound imaging probe.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said sensor is a thermometer.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said sensor is an oximeter.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said sensor is a glucometer.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.