Finger-mounted intraoperative imaging device
First Claim
1. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body form of relatively rigid, non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy and having proximal and distal end portions;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber having an entrance opening in said proximal end portion and extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline thereof for removably receiving a distal segment of an ultrasound imaging catheter containing an ultrasonic transducer having an imaging plane normal to said longitudinal midline; and
mounting means at said proximal end portion of said body for releasably securing the distal segment of such ultrasonic imaging catheter in fully-inserted operative position in said chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A small, disposable device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging in the form of a finger-mounted probe having an elongated chamber along its longitudinal midline for removably receiving the distal end of an ultrasonic imaging catheter equipped with an ultrasound generator having an imaging plane normal to the probe'"'"'s longitudinal midline. The probe includes a body formed of relatively rigid non-echogenic material with an upper surface of concave cross-sectional contour shaped and dimensioned to receive the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and also includes an integral retention band that bridges the body and extends over the tip portion of a user'"'"'s finger when the probe is worn. A Doppler generator/detector may be mounted in the distal end wall of the probe for directing, detecting, and transmitting signals representative of blood flow velocity through a vessel contacted by the smooth undersurface of the probe along the imaging plane of the ultrasonic imaging catheter extending into the probe'"'"'s chamber. In one embodiment, a tubular hydrogel liner is disposed within the chamber, such liner having an axial passage for freely receiving the distal end of an imaging catheter when the hydrogel is unhydrated and for firmly engaging and retaining the distal end, and maintaining an acoustic couple, when the hydrogel is hydrated.
106 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body form of relatively rigid, non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy and having proximal and distal end portions;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber having an entrance opening in said proximal end portion and extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline thereof for removably receiving a distal segment of an ultrasound imaging catheter containing an ultrasonic transducer having an imaging plane normal to said longitudinal midline; and
mounting means at said proximal end portion of said body for releasably securing the distal segment of such ultrasonic imaging catheter in fully-inserted operative position in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11)
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
-
7. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body formed of relatively rigid, non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline thereof for removably receiving a distal segment of an ultrasound imaging catheter containing an ultrasonic transducer having an imaging plane normal to said longitudinal midline; and
mounting means for releasably securing the distal segment of such ultrasonic imaging catheter in fully-inserted operative position in said chamber;
said body having at least one irrigation port extending through said body between said chamber and said lower surface. - View Dependent Claims (9)
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
-
8. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body formed of relatively rigid, non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline therefor for removably receiving a distal segment of an ultrasound imaging catheter containing an ultrasonic transducer having an imaging plane normal to said longitudinal midline; and
mounting means for releasably securing the distal segment of such ultrasonic imaging catheter in fully-inserted operative position in said chamber;
said body having at least one irrigation port extending through said body between said chamber and said upper surface.
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross section dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of the portion of a user'"'"'s finger distal to the second knuckle and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
-
12. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body formed of relatively rigid, non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy and having proximal and distal end portions;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross sectional contour dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber having an entrance opening in said proximal end portion and extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline thereof;
an ultrasound imaging catheter having a distal portion removably received in said chamber;
said catheter having an ultrasonic transducer with an imaging plane normal to the axis of aid catheter and said longitudinal midline; and
mounting means at said proximal end portion of said body for releasably securing the distal end of said ultrasound imaging catheter in fully-inserted operative position in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23)
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross sectional contour dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
-
19. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body formed of relatively rigid non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross sectional contour dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline thereof;
an ultrasound imaging catheter having a distal portion removably received in said chamber;
said catheter having an ultrasonic transducer with an imaging plane normal to the axis of said catheter and said longitudinal midline; and
mounting means for releasably securing the distal end of said ultrasound imaging catheter in fully-inserted operative position in said chamber;
said body having at least one irrigation port extending;
through said body between said chamber and said lower surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross sectional contour dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
-
24. A device for use in intraoperative diagnostic imaging, comprising a probe including an elongated channel-shaped body formed of relatively, non-echogenic material substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy and having proximal and distal end portions;
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross sectional contour dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
retaining means provided by said probe for retaining said body in position against the underside of a user'"'"'s finger;
an elongated chamber having an entrance opening in said proximal end portion and extending distally into said body along the longitudinal midline thereof; and
an ultrasound imaging catheter having a distal portion received in said chamber and having an ultrasonic transducer with an imaging plane normal to the axis of said catheter.
- said body having an upper surface of concave cross sectional contour dimensioned to conform generally with the underside of a user'"'"'s finger and having a smooth, rounded lower surface;
Specification