Insert Imaging Device for Surgical Procedures

• US 20160022146A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.
• Inventors: Piron, Cameron, Wood, Michael, Yuwaraj, Murugathas, Panther, Alex, Shanmugaratnam, Nishanthan, Lau, William, Thomas, Monroe M., Sela, Gal, Richmond, Joshua, Hodges, Wes, Alexander, Simon, Gallop, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,814,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3454 Details of tips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3735 Optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/247 Hygienic covers, i.e. for covering the sensor or apparatus during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0051 by applying vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 mounted on an invasive device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6865 Access ports
• 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 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 : characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 : involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34084 : implantable coils or coils being geometrically adaptable to the sample, e.g. flexible coils or coils comprising mutually movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3456 : Stripline resonators

Abstract

Insertable imaging devices, and methods of use thereof in minimally invasive medical procedures, are described. In some embodiments, insertable imaging devices are described that can be introduced and removed from an access port without disturbing or risking damage to internal tissue. In some embodiments, imaging devices are integrated into an access port, thereby allowing imaging of internal tissues within the vicinity of the access port, while, for example, enabling manipulation of surgical tools in the surgical field of interest. In other embodiments, imaging devices are integrated into an imaging sleeve that is insertable into an access port. Several example embodiments described herein provide imaging devices for performing imaging within an access port, where the imaging may be based one or more imaging modalities that may include, but are not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, optical imaging such as hyperspectral imaging and optical coherence tomography, and electrical conductive measurements.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging probe comprising:

a longitudinal body;

first and second magnetic resonance coils supported by said longitudinal body;

wherein said first coil is configured to measure fields having a first direction within a region of interest beyond a distal portion of said longitudinal body;

wherein said second coil is configured to measure fields having a second direction within a region of interest beyond a distal portion of said longitudinal body, wherein said first direction and said second direction are approximately orthogonal;

and

electrical circuits housed within said longitudinal body for tuning and matching said first and second coils and preamplifying signals detected by said first and second coils.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 1 further comprising;

a third magnetic resonance coil supported by said longitudinal body;

wherein said third coil is configured to measure fields having a third direction within the region of interest beyond said distal portion of said longitudinal body, wherein said third direction is approximately orthogonal to said first direction and said second direction;

and

an electrical circuit housed within said longitudinal body for tuning and matching said first and second coils and preamplifying signals detected by said first and second coils.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said longitudinal body is a cylindrical body portion configured to be slidably and removably inserted within an inner lumen of an access port.

4. A magnetic resonance imaging probe comprising:

a longitudinal body;

one or more magnetic resonance coil arrays supported by said longitudinal body, wherein at least one coil array is a planar stripline array comprising;

an array of parallel stripline conductors provided near a distal portion of said longitudinal body, wherein said array of parallel stripline conductors lies in a plane that is approximately orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said longitudinal body;

each stripline conductor having longitudinal conductive paths extending from ends thereof and contacting a coil loop at a location that is remote from said distal portion; and

a tuning capacitor serially provided within each longitudinal conductive path; and

a plurality of matching and preamplification circuits housed within said longitudinal body, wherein each matching and preamplification circuits is operatively coupled to a single stripline conductor.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 4 further comprising:

an additional planar stripline array, wherein said additional planar stripline array is provided in a longitudinally spaced relationship relative to said planar stripline array, and wherein said planar stripline array and said additional planar stripline array are configured to sense fields in directions that are approximately orthogonal.

6. A magnetic resonance imaging probe comprising:

a longitudinal body;

one or more magnetic resonance coil arrays supported by said longitudinal body, wherein at least one coil array is an axial stripline array comprising;

an array of parallel stripline conductors cylindrically arranged and extending in a longitudinal direction;

each stripline conductor having radial conductive paths extending from ends thereof and contacting an inner ground conductor; and

a tuning capacitor serially provided within each longitudinal conductive path; and

a plurality of matching and preamplification circuits housed within said longitudinal body, wherein each matching and preamplification circuits is operatively coupled to a single stripline conductor.

7. A magnetic resonance imaging probe comprising:

a longitudinal body portion comprising one or more magnetic resonance imaging coils;

a handle portion that is removably connectable to said longitudinal body portion, wherein an electrical connection is formed between said longitudinal body portion and said handle portion upon mechanical connection of said longitudinal body portion to said handle portion;

at least one electrical circuit for tuning and matching said coils and preamplifying signals detected by said coils, wherein said electrical circuit is divided among said longitudinal body portion and said handle portion, and wherein at least a preamplification portion of said electrical circuit is housed within said handle portion.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 7 wherein said handle portion comprises a matching portion of said electrical circuit.

9. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 7 or 8 further comprising one or more additional longitudinal body portions, wherein each additional longitudinal body portion is optionally connectable to said handle portion, and wherein each additional longitudinal body portion comprises magnetic resonance coils of a unique configuration.

10. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said longitudinal body portion is a cylindrical body portion configured to be slidably and removably inserted within an inner lumen of an access port.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging probe comprising:

a longitudinal body;

one or more magnetic resonance coils housed within said longitudinal body, wherein at least one coil is a folded stripline coil comprising;

two longitudinal stripline conductors having a ground plane conductor provided therebetween;

a folded conductor segment connecting said two longitudinal stripline conductors near a distal portion of said longitudinal body;

a pair of matching capacitors, each matching capacitor provided between one of said longitudinal stripline conductors and said ground plane conductor;

a tuning capacitor serially provided within one of said longitudinal stripline conductors; and

a preamplifier circuit housed within said longitudinal body, wherein said preamplifier circuit is operatively coupled to said folded stripline coil.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 11 further comprising:

an additional folded stripline coil comprising;

additional longitudinal stripline conductors oriented having said ground plane conductor provided therebetween; and

an additional folded conductor segment connecting said two additional longitudinal stripline conductors near said distal portion of said longitudinal body; and

a pair of additional matching capacitors, each additional matching capacitor provided between one of said additional longitudinal stripline conductors and said ground plane conductor; and

an additional preamplifier circuit housed within said longitudinal body, wherein said additional preamplifier circuit is operatively coupled to said additional folded stripline coil;

wherein said two additional longitudinal stripline conductors are oriented such that said folded conductor segment and said additional folded conductor segment are approximately orthogonal, thereby forming a folded stripline quadrature pair.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 12 further comprising a coil loop provided near said distal portion of said longitudinal body, said coil loop having a coil axis that is approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of said longitudinal body.

14. A magnetic resonance imaging probe for performing intraoperative imaging during a minimally invasive medical procedure involving an access port, the probe comprising:

a probe body comprising a cylindrical body portion configured to be slidably and removably received within an inner lumen of the access port, said cylindrical body portion comprising one or more magnetic resonance imaging coils;

at least one electrical circuit housed within said probe body for tuning and matching said coils and preamplifying signals detected by said coils; and

one or more air passage features provided on or with said cylindrical body portion for facilitating expulsion of air from the inner lumen of the access port during insertion of said cylindrical body portion into the access port.

15. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 14 wherein a diameter of said cylindrical body portion is selected such that said cylindrical body portion frictionally engages with the inner wall of the access port during insertion.

16. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to claim 14 or 15 wherein said one or more air passages comprise one or more grooves formed within an outer surface of said cylindrical body portion.

17. The magnetic resonance imaging probe according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein said cylindrical body portion is formed from a material having a magnetic susceptibility approximately equal to that of water.

18. An access port for performing intraoperative imaging during a minimally invasive medical procedure while providing access to internal tissue, the access port comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body configured to be inserted into a subject for providing access to internal tissue;

one or more imaging elements integrated with and supported by said hollow cylindrical body;

one or more externally accessible connectors positioned near a proximal region of said hollow cylindrical body; and

at least one connection channel integrated with said hollow cylindrical body for supporting signal transmission between said externally accessible connectors and said imaging elements;

wherein at least one of said imaging elements is configured for imaging a distal region of interest beyond a distal end of said hollow cylindrical body.

19. The access port according to claim 18 wherein said hollow cylindrical body is enclosed at its distal end by a distal window, and wherein said least a portion of one of said imaging elements is integrated with said distal window for imaging the distal region of interest.

20. The access port according to claim 18 or 19 wherein said imaging elements are provided in the form of an imaging array.

21. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein at least a portion of one of the imaging elements is positioned to perform lateral imaging through a side wall of the access port.

22. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein said hollow cylindrical body further comprises a distal window, and wherein at least a portion of one of said imaging elements is integrated with said by a distal window for imaging in a distal region of interest.

23. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein said imaging elements comprise magnetic resonance imaging coils.

24. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein said imaging elements comprise optical focusing elements.

25. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein said imaging elements comprise optical imaging elements.

26. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein said imaging elements comprise ultrasound imaging elements.

27. The access port according to any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein said imaging elements may be employed to perform imaging according to an imaging modality selected from the group consisting of optical coherence tomography, hyper-spectral imaging, polarized light imaging, Raman Imaging, fluorescence Imaging, electrophysiology, computerized tomography, spectral x-ray, photo-acoustic imaging, positron emission tomography, thermal imaging.

28. An imaging sleeve for performing intraoperative imaging during a minimally invasive medical procedure involving an access port, the imaging sleeve comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body configured to be slidably and removably received within an inner lumen of the access port;

one or more imaging elements integrated with and supported by said hollow cylindrical body, wherein said imaging elements are positioned for imaging through the access port;

one or more externally accessible connectors positioned near a proximal region of said hollow cylindrical body; and

at least one connection channel integrated with said hollow cylindrical body for supporting signal transmission between said externally accessible connectors and said imaging elements.

29. The imaging sleeve according to claim 28 wherein said imaging elements are provided in the form of an imaging array.

30. The imaging sleeve according to claim 28 or 29 wherein at least a portion of one of said imaging elements is positioned to perform lateral imaging through a side wall of the access port.

31. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 30 wherein said hollow cylindrical body is enclosed at its distal end by a distal window, and wherein said least a portion of one of said imaging elements is integrated with said distal window for imaging a distal region of interest.

32. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein said imaging elements comprise magnetic resonance imaging coils.

33. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein said imaging elements comprise optical focusing elements.

34. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein said imaging elements comprise optical imaging elements.

35. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein said imaging elements comprise ultrasound imaging elements.

36. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein said imaging elements may be employed to perform imaging according to an imaging modality selected from the group consisting of optical coherence tomography, hyper-spectral imaging, polarized light imaging, Raman Imaging, fluorescence Imaging, electrophysiology, computerized tomography, spectral x-ray, photo-acoustic imaging, positron emission tomography, thermal imaging.

37. The imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 36 further comprising a tracking marker.

38. An imaging system for performing intraoperative imaging during a minimally invasive medical procedure involving an access port, the imaging system comprising:

two or more imaging sleeves according to any one of claims claims 28 to 36.

39. The imaging system according to claim 38 wherein said imaging elements associated with at least two of said imaging sleeves employ different imaging modalities.

40. The imaging system according to claim 38 or 39 wherein at least one of the imaging sleeves is configured to be slidably and removably received within another one of said imaging sleeves, such that at least two imaging sleeves may be nested within the access port at the same time during a medical procedure.

41. An imaging system for performing intraoperative imaging during a minimally invasive medical procedure involving an access port, the imaging system comprising:

an imaging sleeve according to any one of claims 28 to 37; and

an access port having an inner lumen, wherein the diameter of the inner lumen is configured for slidably and removably receiving said imaging sleeve.

42. The imaging system according to claim 41 wherein said access port comprises:

an additional hollow cylindrical body configured to be inserted into a subject for providing access to internal tissue;

one or more additional imaging elements integrated with and supported by said additional hollow cylindrical body;

one or more externally accessible additional connectors positioned near a proximal region of said additional hollow cylindrical body; and

at least one additional connection channel integrated with said additional hollow cylindrical body for supporting signal transmission between said externally accessible additional connectors and said additional imaging elements.