Device for use in temporary insertion of a sensor within a patient's body
First Claim
1. A device for use in a medical procedure for placing a sensor probe temporarily in a desired location within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- (a) an elongate support member having a distal end portion and a proximal portion; and
(b) a thin-walled probe-receiving tube of flexible material integral with and extending closely alongside said distal end portion of said support member, said tube having a closed distal end defining an interior space within said tube.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for use in placing a non-sterile sensor probe such as an ultrasound scanning transducer in a desired position within a patient'"'"'s body, with a probe-receiving tube having a closed distal end so that a probe inserted within the tube through an open proximal end located outside the patient'"'"'s body is isolated from contact with or contamination of the interior of the patient'"'"'s body. The probe-receiving tube is attached to and extends alongside an elongate support member which aids in placement of the probe-receiving tube in a location proximate an organ to be observed by use of a sensor probe in the probe-receiving tube. The elongate support tube may be a chest drain tube.
77 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for use in a medical procedure for placing a sensor probe temporarily in a desired location within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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(a) an elongate support member having a distal end portion and a proximal portion; and (b) a thin-walled probe-receiving tube of flexible material integral with and extending closely alongside said distal end portion of said support member, said tube having a closed distal end defining an interior space within said tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for enabling a sensor probe to be placed quickly in a desired location within a living patient, comprising:
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(a) providing a probe-receiving tube having a flexible-walled, closed distal end portion integral with and located alongside and in close proximity with a relatively stiff elongate support member; (b) thereafter inserting a distal portion of said support member together with said distal end portion of said tube into an interior cavity or a passageway into a body cavity of a living patient, leaving a proximal portion of said probe-receiving tube extending outside the patient; (c) thereafter, temporarily inserting a sensor probe within said probe-receiving tube and into proximity with said distal end portion thereof, thereby placing said sensor probe in a desired location within said patient; (d) utilizing said sensor probe to make a desired observation within said patient; and (e) thereafter removing said sensor probe from said probe-receiving tube, while leaving said support member and said probe-receiving tube in place within said interior cavity or passageway. - View Dependent Claims (15, 18, 19)
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16. A method for enabling a sensor probe to be placed quickly in a desired location within a living patient, comprising:
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(a) supporting a probe-receiving tube having a flexible-walled, closed distal end portion alongside and in close proximity with a relatively stiff elongate support member, said support member being a chest drain tube; (b) inserting a distal portion of said support member and said distal end portion of said tube into an interior cavity or a passageway into a body cavity of a living patient and placing said distal end portion of said probe-receiving tube in proximity with the epicardium of said patient, leaving a proximal portion of said probe-receiving tube extending outside the patient; (c thereafter, temporarily inserting a sensor probe within said probe-receiving tube and into proximity with said distal end portion thereof, thereby placing said sensor probe in a desired location within said patient; d) utilizing said sensor probe to make a desired observation within said patient; and (e) thereafter removing said sensor probe from said probe-receiving tube, while leaving said support member in place within said interior cavity or passageway. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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20. A device for use in a medical procedure for placing a sensor probe temporarily in a desired location within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising a thin-walled probe-receiving tube of flexible biologically compatible material, said tube having an internal size large enough to accept an ultrasound scanning probe, and having a closed distal end, a distal end portion of said tube being flexibly collapsible, and a proximal portion of said tube having a greater wall thickness so as to resist collapse and facilitate introduction of a sensor probe into said probe-receiving tube.
Specification