Ultrasound guided surgical instrument guide and method

• US 4,681,103 A
• Filed: 03/11/1985
• Issued: 07/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diasonics Delaware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diasonics, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Berger, Mitchel S., Boner, James C., Fine, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Randolph A.
• Application Number:
  US06/710,068
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303 B, 128/751, 128/752, 128/753, 128/754, 128/660, 128/24 A
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6864 Burr holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0816 using echo-encephalography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue

Abstract

A surgical instrument guide for use in conjunction with an ultrasound probe and the method of use is described. The guide comprises an ultrasound probe socket disposed in a housing so that it can pivot or be locked in place with respect to the housing. An instrument holder adapted to fit in the probe socket and hold a surgical instrument along its longitudinal axis is also provided. The housing has external threads on the bottom thereof to enable the device to be screwed into the skull.

Claims

1. An ultrasound guided instrument guide comprising:

an adaptor housing having a central portion, said adaptor housing having a hole through said central portion thereof for providing access of an ultrasound probe disposed therein to a volume therebelow, said adaptor housing having a lower threaded portion for screwing said adaptor housing in a burr hole in a skull and an upper threaded portion;

a probe socket disposed in said hole in said adaptor housing, said probe socket with passage therethrough for holding an ultrasound probe by its tip portion, said probe socket comprising a spherical member and a neck member attached thereto;

a clamp ring disposed over said probe socket;

a locking ring disposed over said clamp ring, said locking ring being threaded to mate with said upper threaded portion of said adaptor housing such that the tightening of said lock ring with respect to said adaptor housing applies pressure to said clamp ring thereby locking said probe socket in position; and

an instrument holder formed in the shape of said ultrasound probe tip and having a hole disposed through its longitudinal axis adapted to hold said instrument therein.

2. The instrument guide of claim 1 wherein said probe socket further comprises slots disposed therein for allowing fluid to flow from the inside to the outside thereof.

3. The instrument guide of claim 2 wherein said instrument guide is formed of a sterilizable, non-toxic material.

4. An ultrasound guided instrument guide comprising:

a substantially fruco-conical housing having a vertical wide upper portion and a vertical narrow lower portion, said lower portion having external self-tapping threads, and said upper portion having threads on the inner surface thereof;

a probe socket comprising a spherical lower portion of greater size than said narrow lower portion of said housing and a cylindrical upper portion, said probe socket having a cavity disposed therethrough for holding an ultrasound probe therein, and providing said probe with access to a tissue thereunder;

said spherical portion having fluid communicating holes therein to permit passage of fluid between a outside and inside thereof;

a locking means for reversibly locking said socket in a fixed position with respect to said housing, said locking means comprising;

a clamp ring disposed over said spherical portion of said probe socket; and

a locking ring disposed adjacent said clamp ring and threaded to mate with said upper portion of said housing such that the tightening of said locking ring applies pressure to said clamp ring, which, in turn, forces said spherical portion against said housing thereby locking it in place; and

an instrument guide comprising a substantially cylindrical housing with a spherical lower end, a lip on the upper end thereof, and a hole through the central axis thereof for holding said instrument.