Surgical probe apparatus and system

• US 5,916,167 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Neoprobe Corporation
• Inventors: Stracener, Steve W., Warnecke, Marty J., Kizer, Beth Ann, Atterbury, William G., Kramer, Daniel A., Yates, Jan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US08/949,125
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 600/436, 600/407, 250/336.1, 250/370.13, 250/370.11
• US Class Current: 600/436
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/392 Radioactive markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/161 Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting apparatus for radiation diagnosis A61B6/00

Abstract

A surgical probe wherein a heat sterilizable and reusable detector component is combined with a disposable handle and cable assembly. The reusable detector component incorporates a detector crystal and associated mountings along with preamplifier components. It is formed having a positioning shaft extending therefrom to a contact supporting surface carrying a pattern of electrical contact surfaces. Two orientation bosses are formed with the positioning shaft. The disposable handle employs an insert member having a receiving cavity. The electrical contact carrying tip of the shaft engages an elastomeric seal and moves into electrical engagement with a pattern of electrical contacts mounted within the handle in conjunction with a permanently affixed flexible cable.

Claims

1. An instrument for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions, comprising:

a first housing including;

a detector mount portion extending from a window portion,

a support portion extending from said detector mount portion to a first contact

a positioning shaft extending from said support portion along a shaft axis to an electrical contact support surface,

a radiation detector assembly within said mount portion responsive to said radiation emissions for providing a detector output,

a treatment circuit mounted within said support portion responsive to said detector output for providing output signals corresponding with said detector output,

first and second shaft electrical contacts mounted upon said electrical contact support surface and electrically coupled with said treatment circuit, and

first orientation boss positioned upon said positioning shaft; and

a second housing including;

a forward retainer portion having a second contact positioning surface, a receiving cavity extending inwardly along a housing axis, having a first guideway for slideably receiving said first orientation boss,

an electrical contact support mounted in confronting relationship with said receiving cavity,

first and second housing electrical contacts supported upon said electrical contact support and oriented to engage respective said first and second shaft electrical contacts and said first contact positioning surface being in freely mutually abutting contact with said second contact positioning surface when said positioning shaft is fully inserted within said receiving cavity, and

a flexible cable having first and second lead components electrically coupled with respective said first and second housing electrical contacts.

2. The instrument of claim 1 in which:

said positioning shaft is cylindrical;

said second housing receiving cavity is cylindrical; and

including at least one annular seal component located within said second housing extending about said electrical contact support and outwardly of said first and second electrical contacts, said seal having a peripheral configuration for slideably, sealingly engaging said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is located within said receiving cavity.

3. The instrument of claim 2 in which:

said second housing is formed of polymeric material; and

said seal component includes an annular ring integrally formed therewith for engaging said positioning shaft.

4. The instrument of claim 1 in which:

said first orientation boss is positioned upon said positioning shaft a predetermined shaft distance along said shaft axis from said electrical contact support surface;

said second housing forward retainer portion receiving cavity extends inwardly along said housing axis to an annular receiving cam extending circumferentially about said housing axis to a positioning stop; and

said second housing electrical contact support is mounted inwardly along said housing axis from said annular receiving cam a distance substantially corresponding with said predetermined shaft distance.

5. The instrument of claim 4 in which said first and second housing electrical contacts are oriented to engage respective said first and second shaft electrical contacts when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity and rotated to position said first orientation boss in abutment against said positioning stop.

6. The instrument of claim 4 in which:

said first housing detector mount portion extends along a detector axis, said support portion extends along a support axis co-axial with said shaft axis, said detector axis is canted with respect to said support axis and lies within a plane common with said support axis and said shaft axis, said plane defining an orienting location at said first housing and at said second housing when said orientation boss is in said abutment against said positioning stop;

said second housing including an upstanding orientation ridge positioned at said orientation location for providing a tactile instrument orientation cue.

7. The instrument of claim 6 including a thumb rest surface formed within said first housing support portion at said orientation location, said surface lying within a surface plane at least a portion of which is substantially perpendicular to said common plane, for providing a tactile instrument orientation cue.

8. An instrument system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component including;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward surface and a support portion extending therefrom along a support axis including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending from said support portion to an electrical contact support surface;

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion and having a radiation transmitting opening adjacent said forward surface,

a radiation transmissible window positioned at said forward surface;

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said crystal detector having a forward surface facing said radiation transmitting opening and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit located within said support portion having an input in adjacency with said crystal detector for response to and electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith;

an electrical terminal assemblage having a predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces mounted at said contact support surface, said electrical contact surfaces being in electrical communication with said treatment circuit, and

a first orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft at a predetermined location, having a first circumferential widthwise extent and having a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface;

said system further including a handle component comprising;

a hand gripable handle housing disposed about a handle axis;

a retainer portion forwardly disposed upon said handle housing, having a forwardly disposed cam surface and a generally cylindrical receiving cavity configured to slideably receive said positioning shaft and extending inwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface a cavity length to an inwardly disposed cam surface, a first guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway being located adjacent said receiving cavity at a predetermined location and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said forwardly disposed cam surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to an operational orientation,

a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operational orientation;

an electrical contact assemblage aligned with and confronting said receiving cavity having a pattern of discrete electrical contacts arranged in correspondence with said predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces and engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical contact surfaces when said first orientation boss is in said operational orientation,

an elongate flexible cable having leads connected in electrical association with said electrical contacts, and

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is moved into said fully inserted orientation.

9. The instrument of claim 8 in which said first stop component is integrally formed with said insert member.

10. The instrument of claim 8 in which said handle component includes a second stop engageable with said second orientation boss when said positioning shaft is in said fully inserted orientation and said second orientation boss is aligned with said second guideway.

11. The instrument of claim 10 in which said first circumferential widthwise extent of said first orientation boss is greater than the circumferential widthwise extent of said second orientation boss.

12. The instrument of claim 10 in which said second orientation boss includes a second lower cam follower surface at a location spaced upwardly from the location of said first lower cam follower surface a distance effective to space said second lower cam follower surface from said upper cam surface when said first lower cam follower surface is moved thereupon.

13. The instrument of claim 8 in which:

said sealing assembly is formed of an elastomeric material molded in sealing relationship over said flexible cable leads at their connection with said electrical contacts of said electrical contact assemblage.

14. The instrument of claim 13 in which said sealing assemblage includes an integrally formed ring seal spaced from said electrical contact assemblage discrete electrical contacts and sealingly engageable with said positioning shaft.

15. The instrument of claim 8 in which:

said detector housing forward portion detector axis is canted with respect to said support axis and lies in a plane common with said support axis, said plane defining an orienting location at said detector housing and at said hand gripable handle housing when said positioning shaft is in said fully inserted orientation and said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface is in said operational orientation; and

said hand gripable handle housing includes an upstanding orientation ridge positioned at said orientation location for providing a tactile instrumentation orientation cue.

16. The instrument of claim 15 including a thumb rest surface formed within said detector housing support portion at said orientation location, lying within a surface plane at least a portion of which is substantially perpendicular to said common plane, for providing a tactile instrument orientation cue.

17. The instrument of claim 8 in which:

said crystal mount is configured as a tube; and

said crystal detector forward surface is spaced inwardly from said window a distance selected to collimate said radiation passing through said window.

22. The surgical system of claim 10 in which said second orientation boss includes a second lower cam follower surface at a location spaced upwardly from the location of said first lower cam follower surface a distance effective to space said second lower cam follower surface from said second contact surface when said first lower cam follower surface is moved thereupon.

23. The surgical system of claim 22 in which said first orientation boss first widthwise extent is greater than the widthwise extent of said second orientation boss.

18. A surgical system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission emanating from tissue of a body, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component, comprising;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward window through which said radiation emission is transmissible, and a support portion extending from said forward portion and including a positioning shaft extending a predetermined length outwardly from said support portion,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion;

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said detector having a forward surface adjacent said window and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit within said detector housing, responsive to said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith, and

an electrical terminal assemblage mounted upon said positioning shaft and in electrical communication with said treatment circuit;

a disposable handle component, including;

a hand gripable handle housing having a forwardly disposed retainer portion with a receiving cavity configured for removably receiving said positioning shaft to locate it at an operative orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage mounted within said handle housing adjacent said receiving cavity and having electrical contacts mounted thereon engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical terminal assemblage when said positioning shaft is in said operative orientation,

a flexible electrical transmission cable coupled to said handle housing and having electrical leads connected with electrical contact assemblage electrical contacts and extending to an electrical connector component;

said handle housing including a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when in said operative orientation; and

a signal treatment and control assembly having an input connector for removable electrical coupling with said cable electrical connector component and responsive to said output signals conveyed by said cable to provide perceptible output signals.

19. The surgical system of claim 18 in which:

said detector housing support portion extends from said forward portion to a first contact surface;

said positioning shaft extends outwardly from said first contact surface, is cylindrical and includes a first orientation boss extending therefrom at a predetermined location, having a first widthwise extent, a first upper arm cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface;

said handle housing includes a forwardly disposed second contact surface and said retainer portion includes a first guideway extending along said receiving cavity between said second contact surface and an inwardly disposed cam surface;

said positioning shaft is locatable at said operative orientation when said first contact surface is in abutting adjacency with said second contact surface; and

said first guideway having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity.

20. The surgical system of claim 19 in which said first lower cam follower surface is movable upon said second contact surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to said operative orientation.

21. The surgical system of claim 20 in which said handle housing retainer portion includes a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operative orientation.

24. An instrument for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions, comprising:

a first housing including;

a detector mount portion extending from a window portion,

a support portion extending from said detector mount portion to a first contact positioning surface and including a latching notch extending from said first contact positioning surface,

a positioning shaft extending along a shaft axis from said first contact positioning surface to an electrical contact support surface,

a radiation detector assembly within said mount portion responsive to said radiation emissions for providing a detector output,

a treatment circuit mounted within said support portion responsive to said detector output for providing output signals corresponding with said detector output,

first and second shaft electrical contacts mounted upon said electrical contact support surface and electrically coupled with said treatment circuit, and

a first orientation boss positioned upon said positioning shaft a predetermined shaft distance along said shaft axis from said electrical contact support surface; and

a second housing including;

a forward retainer portion having a receiving cavity extending inwardly along a housing axis to an annular receiving cam extending circumferentially about said housing axis to a positioning stop and having a first guidway for slideably receiving said first orientation boss, said forward retainer portion including a second contact positioning surface, said first contact positioning surface being in mutually abutting contact with said second contact positioning surface when said positioning shaft is fully inserted within said receiving cavity,

an electrical contact support mounted in confronting relationship with said receiving cavity and inwardly along said housing axis from said annular receiving cam a distance substantially corresponding with said predetermined shaft distance,

first and second housing electrical contacts supported upon said electrical contact support and oriented to engage respective said first and second shaft electrical contacts when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity,

a flexible cable having first and second lead components electrically coupled with respective said first and second housing electrical contacts,

a manually retractable latching component slideably mounted upon said second housing at said forward retainer portion and spring biased to move from a retracted position outwardly from said second contact positioning surface and being retained against said bias at said retracted position by abutting contact with said first contact positioning surface when said first and second contact positioning surfaces are in mutually abutting adjacency and said first orientation boss is aligned with said first guideway, and

said latching component moving under said spring bias into latching insertion within said latching notch when said first orientation boss is moved into said abutment against said positioning stop.

25. An instrument system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component including;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward surface and a support portion extending therefrom along a support axis including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending to an electrical contact support surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion and having a radiation transmitting opening adjacent said forward surface,

a radiation transmissible window positioned at said forward surface,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said crystal detector having a forward surface facing said radiation transmitting opening and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit located within said support portion having an input in adjacency with said crystal detector for response to and electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith,

an electrical terminal assemblage having a predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces mounted at said contact support surface, said electrical contact surfaces being in electrical communication with said treatment circuit, and

a first orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft at a predetermined location, having a first circumferential widthwise extend and having a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface;

said system further including a handle component comprising;

a hand gripable handle housing disposed about a handle axis,

a retainer portion comprising an insert member forwardly disposed upon and supported by said handle housing, having an outer wall structure supporting and formed integrally with a forward disposed cam surface and a generally cylindrical receiving cavity defined by said outer wall structure configured to slideably receive said positioning shaft and extending inwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface a cavity length to an inwardly disposed cam surface formed integrally with said outer wall structure, a first guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway being located adjacent said receiving cavity at a predetermined location and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being moveable upon said forwardly disposed cam surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to an operational orientation,

a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operational orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage aligned with and confronting said receiving cavity having a pattern of discrete electrical contacts arranged in correspondence with said predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces and engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical contact surfaces when said first orientation boss is in said operational orientation,

an elongate flexible cable having leads connected in electrical association with said electrical contacts, and

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is moved into said fully inserted orientation.

26. An instrument system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component including;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward surface and a support portion extending therefrom along a support axis including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending to an electrical contact support surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion and having a radiation transmitting opening adjacent said forward surface,

a radiation transmissible window positioned at said forward surface,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said crystal detector having a forward surface facing said radiation transmitting opening and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit located within said support portion having an input in adjacency with said crystal detector for response to and electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith,

an electrical terminal assemblage having a predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces mounted at said contact support surface, said electrical contact surfaces being in electrical communication with said treatment circuit,

a first orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft at a predetermined location, having a first circumferential widthwise extent and having a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface, and

a second orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft substantially opposite said first orientation boss and having a second upper cam follower surface at a location substantially coplanar with said first upper cam follower surface;

said system further including a handle component comprising;

a hand gripable handle housing disposed about a handle axis,

a retainer portion forwardly disposed upon said handle housing, having a forwardly disposed cam surface and a generally cylindrical receiving cavity configured to slideably receive said positioning shaft and extending inwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface a cavity length to an inwardly disposed cam surface, a first guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway being located adjacent said receiving cavity at a predetermined location and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said forwardly disposed cam surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to an operational orientation,

a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operational orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage aligned with and confronting said receiving cavity having a pattern of discrete electrical contacts arranged in correspondence with said predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces and engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical contact surfaces when said first orientation boss is in said operational orientation,

an elongate flexible cable having leads connected in electrical association with said electrical contacts,

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is moved into said fully inserted orientation,

said handle component retainer portion including a second guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface and located adjacent said receiving cavity substantially diametrically opposite said first guideway and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said second orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, and

said second orientation boss being movable within said second guideway with said positioning shaft to said fully inserted orientation suited for subsequent rotational movement of said second orientation boss second upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface simultaneously with said movement of said first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface.

27. An instrument system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component including;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward surface and a support portion extending therefrom along a support axis to a contact positioning surface, a latching notch extending from said contact positioning surface, said support portion including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending along said support axis from said contact positioning surface to an electrical contact support surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion and having a radiation transmitting opening adjacent said forward surface,

a radiation transmissible window positioned at said forward surface,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said crystal detector having a forward surface facing said radiation transmitting opening and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit located within said support portion having an input in adjacency with said crystal detector for response to and electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith,

an electrical terminal assemblage having a predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces mounted at said contact support surface, said electrical contact surfaces being in electrical communication with said treatment circuit, and

a first orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft at a predetermined location, having a first circumferential widthwise extent and having a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface;

said system further including a handle component comprising;

a hand gripable handle housing disposed about a handle axis,

a retainer portion forwardly disposed upon said handle housing, having a forwardly disposed cam surface and a generally cylindrical receiving cavity configured to slideably receive said positioning shaft and extending inwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface a cavity length to an inwardly disposed cam surface, a first guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway being located adjacent said receiving cavity at a predetermined location and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said forwardly disposed cam surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to an operational orientation,

said forwardly disposed cam surface being in mutually abutting contact with said contact positioning surface when said positioning shaft is in said fully inserted orientation,

a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operational orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage aligned with and confronting said receiving cavity having a pattern of discrete electrical contacts arranged in correspondence with said predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces and engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical contact surfaces when said first orientation boss is in said operational orientation,

an elongate flexible cable having leads connected in electrical association with said electrical contacts,

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is moved into said fully inserted orientation, and

a manually retractable latching component slideably mounted upon said handle housing at said retainer portion and spring biased to move from a retracted position outwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface and being retained against said bias at said retracted position by abutting contact with said contact positioning surface when said positioning shaft is in said fully inserted orientation and said first orientation boss is aligned with said first guideway;

said latching component moving under said spring bias into latching insertion within said latching notch when said first orientation boss is moved to said operational orientation.

28. An instrument system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component including;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward surface and a support portion extending therefrom along a support axis including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending to an electrical contact support surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion and having a radiation transmitting opening adjacent said forward surface,

a radiation transmissible window positioned at said forward surface,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said crystal detector having a forward surface facing said radiation transmitting opening and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit located within said support portion having an input in adjacency with said crystal detector for response to and electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith,

an electrical terminal assemblage having a predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces mounted at said contact support surface, said electrical contact surfaces being in electrical communication with said treatment circuit,

a first orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft at a predetermined location, having a first circumferential widthwise extent and having a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface, and

a second orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft substantially opposite said first orientation boss and having a second upper cam follower surface at a location substantially coplanar with said first upper cam follower surface;

said system further including a handle component comprising;

a hand gripable handle housing disposed about a handle axis,

a retainer portion forwardly disposed upon said handle housing, having a forwardly disposed cam surface and a generally cylindrical receiving cavity configured to slideably receive said positioning shaft and extending inwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface a cavity length to an inwardly disposed cam surface, a first guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway being located adjacent said receiving cavity at a predetermined location and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said forwardly disposed cam surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to an operational orientation,

a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operational orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage aligned with and confronting said receiving cavity having a pattern of discrete electrical contacts arranged in correspondence with said predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces and engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical contact surfaces when said first orientation boss is in said operational orientation,

an elongate flexible cable having leads connected in electrical association with said electrical contacts,

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is moved into said fully inserted orientation,

said handle component retainer portion including a second guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface and located adjacent said receiving cavity substantially diametrically opposite said first guideway and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said second orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity,

said second orientation boss being movable within said second guideway with said positioning shaft to said fully inserted orientation suited for subsequent rotational movement of said second orientation boss second upper cain follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface simultaneously with said movement of said first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface; and

said handle component retainer portion comprising an insert member supported by said handle housing, having an outer wall structure supporting and formed integrally with said forwardly disposed cam surface, said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway, said second guideway and extending said cavity length to define said cylindrical receiving cavity.

29. An instrument system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component including;

a detector housing including at forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward surface and a support portion extending therefrom along a support axis including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending to an electrical contact support surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion and having a radiation transmitting opening adjacent said forward surface,

a radiation transmissible window positioned at said forward surface,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said crystal detector having a forward surface facing said radiation transmitting opening and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit located within said support portion having an input in adjacency with said crystal detector for response to and electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith,

an electrical terminal assemblage having a predetermined pattern of discrete, flat non-resilient electrical contact surfaces mounted at said contact support surface, said electrical contact surfaces being in electrical communication with said treatment circuit, and

a first orientation boss located upon said positioning shaft at a predetermined location, having a first circumferential widthwise extent and having a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface;

said system further including a handle component comprising;

a hand gripable handle housing disposed about a handle axis,

a retainer portion forwardly disposed upon said handle housing, having a forwardly disposed cam surface and a generally cylindrical receiving cavity configured to slideably receive said positioning shaft and extending inwardly from said forwardly disposed cam surface a cavity length to an inwardly disposed cam surface, a first guideway extending between said forwardly disposed cam surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface, said first guideway being located adjacent said receiving cavity at a predetermined location and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said forwardly disposed cam surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to an operational orientation,

a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operational orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage aligned with and confronting said receiving cavity having a pattern of discrete upstanding resilient electrical contacts arranged in correspondence with said predetermined pattern of discrete electrical contact surfaces each of said electrical contacts being canted in the direction of rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface toward said operational orientation such that said upstanding resilient electrical contacts are engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical contact surfaces when said first orientation boss is in said operational orientation,

an elongate flexible cable having leads connected in electrical association with said electrical contacts, and

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when said positioning shaft is moved into said fully inserted orientation.

30. A surgical system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission emanating from tissue of a body, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component, comprising;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward window through which said radiation emission is transmissible, and a support portion extending from said forward portion to a first contact surface and including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending a predetermined length outwardly from said first contact surface, said positioning shaft including a first orientation boss extending therefrom at a predetermined location, having a first widthwise extend, a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said detector having a forward surface adjacent said window and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit within said detector housing, responsive to said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith, and

an electrical terminal assemblage mounted upon said positioning shaft and in electrical communication with said treatment circuit;

a disposable handle component, including;

a hand gripable handle housing having a forwardly disposed second contact surface and forwardly disposed retainer portion with a receiving cavity configured for removably receiving said positioning shaft to locate it at an operative orientation when said first contact surface is in abutting adjacency with said second contact surface, said retainer portion comprising an insert member supported by said handle housing, defining said receiving cavity and having an outer wall structure supporting and formed integrally with said second contact surface, said inwardly disposed cam surface, a first guideway extending along said receiving cavity between said second contact surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface and having a widthwise extend for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said second contact surface to locate said First orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to said operative orientation and a first stop component engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operative orientation,

an electrical contact assemblage mounted within said handle housing adjacent said receiving cavity and having electrical contacts mounted thereon engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical terminal assemblage when said positioning shaft is in said operative orientation,

a flexible electrical transmission cable coupled to said handle housing and having electrical leads connected with electrical contact assemblage electrical contacts and extending to an electrical connector component,

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when in said operative orientation; and

a signal treatment and control assembly having an input connector for removable electrical coupling with said cable electrical connector component and responsive to said output signals conveyed by said cable to provide perceptible output signals.

31. A surgical system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission emanating from tissue of a body, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component, comprising;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward window through which said radiation emission is transmissible, and a support portion extending from said forward portion to a first contact surface and including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending a predetermined length outwardly from said first contact surface,

a first orientation boss extending from said first contact surface at a predetermined location, having a first widthwise extend, a first upper cam following surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface,

a second orientation boss located on said positioning shaft substantially opposite said first orientation boss and having a second upper cam follower surface at a location substantially coplanar with said first upper cam follower surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion,

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said detector having a forward surface adjacent said window and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit within said detector housing, responsive to said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith, and

an electrical terminal assemblage mounted upon said positioning shaft and in electrical communication with said treatment circuit;

a disposable handle component, including;

a handle gripable handle housing having a forwardly disposed second contact surface, a first stop component and a forwardly disposed retainer portion with a receiving cavity configured for removably receiving said positioning shaft to locate it at an operative orientation when said first contact surface is in abutting adjacency with said second contact surface, said first stop component being engageable with said first orientation boss when said positioning shaft is at said operative orientation,

a first guideway within said retainer portion extending along said receiving cavity between said second contact surface and an inwardly disposed cam surface and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said first lower cam follower surface being movable upon said second contact surface to locate said first orientation boss within said first guideway for movement therealong to a fully inserted orientation of said positioning shaft suited for subsequent rotational movement of said first orientation boss first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface to said operative orientation,

a second guideway within said retainer portion extending along said receiving cavity between said second contact surface and said inwardly disposed cam surface and having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said second orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said second orientation boss being movable within said second guideway with said positioning shaft to said fully inserted orientation suited for subsequent rotational movement of said second upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface simultaneously with said movement of said first upper cam follower surface upon said inwardly disposed cam surface,

an electrical contact assemblage mounted within said handle housing adjacent said receiving cavity and having electrical contacts mounted thereon engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical terminal assemblage when said positioning shaft is in said operative orientation,

a flexible electrical transmission cable coupled to said handle housing and having electrical leads connected with electrical contact assemblage electrical contacts and extending to an electrical connector component,

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when in said operative orientation, and

a signal treatment and control assembly having an input connector for removable electrical coupling with said cable electrical connector component and responsive to said output signals conveyed by said cable to provide perceptible output signals.

32. A surgical system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission emanating from tissue of a body, comprising:

a sterilizable detector component, comprising;

a detector housing including a forward portion extending along a detector axis to a forward window through which said radiation emission is transmissible, and a support portion extending from said forward portion to a first contact surface and including a cylindrical positioning shaft extending a predetermined length outwardly from said support portion, said positioning shaft including a first orientation boss extending therefrom at a predetermined location, having a first widthwise extent, a first upper cam follower surface and an oppositely disposed first lower cam follower surface,

a crystal mount positioned within said detector housing forward portion;

a crystal detector positioned upon said crystal mount, said detector having a forward surface adjacent said window and an oppositely disposed rearward surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output,

a treatment circuit within said detector housing, responsive to said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith,

an electrical terminal assemblage mounted upon said positioning shaft and in electrical communication with said treatment circuit,

a latching notch extending from said first contact surface of said detector housing support portion,

a manually retractable latching component slideably mounted upon said handle housing at said retainer portion and spring biased for movement from a retracted position outwardly from said second contact surface into latching insertion within said latching notch when said positioning shaft is at said operative orientation;

a disposable handle component, including;

a hand gripable handle housing having a forwardly disposed second contact surface and a forwardly disposed retainer portion with a receiving cavity which includes a first guideway extending along said receiving cavity between said second contact surface and an inwardly disposed cam surface,

said first guideway having a widthwise extent for slideably receiving said first orientation boss in guiding relationship when said positioning shaft is inserted within said receiving cavity, said receiving cavity configured for removably receiving said positioning shaft to locate it at an operative orientation, when said first contact surface is in abutting adjacency with said second contact surface,

an electrical contact assemblage mounted within said handle housing adjacent said receiving cavity and having electrical contacts mounted thereon engageable in circuit completing relationship with said electrical terminal assemblage when said positioning shaft is in said operative orientation,

a flexible electrical transmission cable coupled to said handle housing and having electrical leads connected with electrical contact assemblage electrical contacts and extending to an electrical connector component,

a sealing assembly extending about said electrical contact assemblage and engageable in sealing relationship with said positioning shaft when in said operative orientation, and

a signal treatment and control assembly having an input connector for removable electrical coupling with said cable electrical connector component and responsive to said output signals conveyed by said cable to provide perceptible output signals.