Method and apparatus for imaging internal organs and vascular structures through the gastrointestinal wall
First Claim
1. A device for facilitating ultrasound imaging of internal structures near a stomach of a patient comprising;
- (a) a flexible probe having a bendable head, a bendable body and an end opposite the head;
(b) an ultrasound transducer disposed on the head of the probe; and
(c) a substantially rigid sheath made of a material having a resiliency that permits insertion of the sheath within a mouth of the patient, the sheath capable of covering at least a portion of the body of the probe for selectively limiting bending of a portion of the body, whereby the head may be precisely positioned near a wall of the stomach.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging of internal structures near a stomach of a patient. Under the present invention, high resolution images of abdominal structures may be obtained including, for example, the abdominal aorta, kidneys, the liver, superior mesenteric, both renal arteries, the hepatic arteries, the splenic artery, the vena cava, renal veins, portal vein, splenic and mesenteric veins. High resolution imaging of blood flow within blood vessels including those within organs may also be obtained. High-resolution imaging of these structures thereby obviates the need for otherwise invasive procedures. The imaging device of the present invention includes a probe having a head, a body and an end opposite the head. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the head of the probe and a gel material covers the ultrasonic transducer to enable a good contact with a stomach wall portion. The imaging device has a substantially rigid body through the use of a substantially rigid sheath or a sheath and a substantially rigid rod. The imaging device also includes a handle near the end of the probe for manipulating the location and positioning of the ultrasonic transducer to ultrasonically image the tissue and/or organ of interest.
152 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A device for facilitating ultrasound imaging of internal structures near a stomach of a patient comprising;
-
(a) a flexible probe having a bendable head, a bendable body and an end opposite the head; (b) an ultrasound transducer disposed on the head of the probe; and (c) a substantially rigid sheath made of a material having a resiliency that permits insertion of the sheath within a mouth of the patient, the sheath capable of covering at least a portion of the body of the probe for selectively limiting bending of a portion of the body, whereby the head may be precisely positioned near a wall of the stomach. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An ultrasound imaging device for viewing internal structures near a stomach of a patient comprising;
-
(a) a probe having a head, a body and an end opposite the head; (b) an ultrasound transducer disposed on the head of the probe; (c) a flexible sheath covering at least a portion of the body of the probe; and (d) a substantially rigid rod capable of being placed within the sheath for selectively limiting bending of at least a portion of the body of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of imaging internal structures near a stomach of a patient using a probe having a head, a body and an end, said head having an ultrasound transducer, at least a portion of said body being covered by a substantially rigid sheath made of a material having a resiliency that permits insertion of the sheath within a mouth of the patient for limiting bending of the body, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) inserting the probe and the substantially rigid sheath into the mouth of the patient to permit entry of the head of the probe into the stomach of the patient; (b) positioning the head of the probe within the stomach to allow the ultrasound transducer to be in contact with an internal wall portion of the stomach; and (c) imaging of internal structures near the stomach. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. An ultrasound imaging device for viewing internal structures near a stomach of a patient comprising:
-
(a) a probe having a head, a body and an end opposite the head; (b) an ultrasound transducer coupled to the head of the probe; (c) a sheath covering at least a portion of the body of the probe; and (d) a rod for insertion into the sheath for limiting bending of the body of the probe in relation to the head, wherein the rod is flexible at room temperature and substantially rigid near the temperature of the patient'"'"'s body.
-
-
30. A method of imaging internal structures near a stomach of a patient using a probe having a head, a body and an end, said head having an ultrasound transducer, at least a portion of said body being covered by a sheath, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) inserting the probe and the sheath into a mouth of a patient to permit entry of the head of the probe into the stomach of the patient; (b) inserting a rod into the sheath to limit bending of the body of the probe; (c) positioning the head of the probe within the stomach to allow the ultrasound transducer to be in contact with an internal wall portion of the stomach; and (d) imaging of internal structures near the stomach. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A method of imaging internal structures near a stomach of a patient using a probe having a head, a body, an end and a cavity, said head having an ultrasound transducer, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) inserting the probe into a mouth of a patient to permit entry of the head of the probe into the stomach of the patient; (b) inserting a rod into the cavity of the probe to limit bending of the body; (c) positioning the head of the probe within the stomach to allow the ultrasound transducer to be in contact with an internal wall portion of the stomach; and (d) imaging of internal structures near the stomach. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. An ultrasound imaging device for viewing internal structures near the stomach of a patient comprising:
-
(a) a probe having a head, a body and an end opposite the head; (b) an ultrasound transducer coupled to the head of the probe; (c) at least one head cable located at least within the head of the probe for locking the head in a substantially rigid position; and (d) at least one body cable located at least within the body of the probe for locking the body in a substantially rigid position. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A method of imaging internal structures near a stomach of a patient using a probe having a head, a body and an end, said head having an ultrasound transducer, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) inserting the probe into the a mouth of a patient to permit entry of the head of the probe into the stomach of the patient; (b) limiting the bending of at least a portion of the body of the probe; (c) positioning the head of the probe within the stomach to allow the ultrasound transducer to be in contact with an internal wall portion of the stomach; and (d) imaging of internal structures near the stomach.
-
Specification