Probe Insertion Guide with User-Directing Features
First Claim
1. A probe-insertion guiding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a template which comprises a plurality of apertures sized and shaped to accommodate therapeutic probes inserted therethrough;
(b) a command receiver operable to receive a command specifying a template aperture through which a probe is to be inserted; and
(c) at least one of group consisting of;
(i) a first output device operable to output a signal serving to indicate which template aperture is specified by said received command; and
(ii) a probe detection module operable to detect when and where a probe is inserted in one of said plurality of apertures.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a probe-insertion guiding apparatus for guiding a user towards correct insertion of therapeutic probes into a patient. The apparatus comprises a template which comprises a plurality of apertures sized to accommodate therapeutic probes and to guide insertion of such probes into a body, a probe command receiver for receiving probe insertion commands specifying template apertures through which probes are to be inserted, and at least one of a) a sensory output device operable to indicate to a user which aperture is to receive a next inserted probe, and b) a probe detection device operable to detect insertion of a probe into an aperture. Preferred embodiments include feedback modules providing feedback to a user indicating whether the user'"'"'s probe did or did not correspond to a probe insertion specified by a received probe insertion command.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A probe-insertion guiding apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a template which comprises a plurality of apertures sized and shaped to accommodate therapeutic probes inserted therethrough; (b) a command receiver operable to receive a command specifying a template aperture through which a probe is to be inserted; and (c) at least one of group consisting of; (i) a first output device operable to output a signal serving to indicate which template aperture is specified by said received command; and (ii) a probe detection module operable to detect when and where a probe is inserted in one of said plurality of apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of guiding probe insertion by a user, comprising:
-
(a) indicating a next probe location to a user; (b) detecting an indication that a probe was inserted into the location.
-
Specification