Infrared surgical site locating device and method

• US 6,081,741 A
• Filed: 05/19/1999
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vector Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vector Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Hollis, J. Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US09/314,101
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 600/424, 600/476, 600/478, 600/473, 600/310, 600/160, 600/178, 600/182, 606/96
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1703 using imaging means, e.g. by X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1725 for applying transverse screws or pins through intramedullary nails or pins
• 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 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3979 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods

Abstract

An apparatus and method for guiding a surgical instrument within and around the human body. During surgery on the body it is often necessary to approach a specific anatomical location precisely and directly in order to minimize unwanted surgical trauma and to place a soft tissue incision or a bone drill hole in an accurate location. The invention employs a light emitter an array of light sensors and a display to accurately locate an anatomical feature into which the light emitter has been placed. The light emitted from the emitter is detected after passing through a thickness of bone and/or soft tissue by the sensor array. The signal from the sensor array is processed and information indicating the relative direction of the emitter from the sensor is displayed. The surgeon then can proceed in the direction indicated. The system can be used for surgical aiming, locating and guidance to direct cutting, vascular surgeries or various types of visceral surgeries or brain surgery where the emitter catheter is guided into an area where surgery is performed. Other applications would not necessitate advancing through tissue but would be used for locating the position on the surface of a body overlying the emitter. An example of this would be to aim a radiation beam for cancer treatment. The sensor may be placed around a drill guide and the directional indicators used in orthopaedic surgery to locate an emitter placed within an intramedullary rod.

Claims

1. A guidance system for locating points in a living body having passages therein comprising:

a. an emitter for emitting light of a predetermined frequency and means for introducing said emitter into a selected passage in said living body,

b. a detector having a plurality of individual sensors mounted in a sensor array such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors of said sensor array and produces an electrical signal proportional to the light impinging thereon,

c. a processor for processing intensity of light from said light emitter passing through said body tissue and falling on each sensor, respectively, in said sensor array, and

d. an indicator display connected to said processor for indicating the relative intensity of light impinging on said sensors, respectively, as a function of a location of said light emitter in said living body.

2. The guidance system defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined frequency is infrared.

3. The guidance system defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing includes a catheter.

4. The guidance system defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing is adapted to position said emitter at the target zone for radiation treatment.

5. In a bone drill guide for guiding a drill bit to specific point for drilling a hole in bone having an intramedullar canal, comprising a guidance system for locating a point in said bone including:

a. an emitter for emitting infrared light and means for introducing said emitter into said intramedullar canal,

b. a detector having a plurality of individual sensors mounted in a sensor array adapted to surround said drill bit such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors of said sensor array and produces an electrical signal proportional to the light impinging thereon,

c. a processor for processing intensity of light from said light emitter passing through bone tissue and falling on each sensor, respectively, in said sensor array, and

d. an indicator display connected to said processor for indicating the relative intensity of light impinging on said sensors, respectively, as a function said specific point and location of said light emitter in said bone tissue for guiding said drill bit.

6. The bone drill guide defined in claim 5 wherein said means for introducing includes a hollow infrared opaque hollow rod having one or more apertures therein for passing infrared light from said emitter through bone to said sensors.

7. A guidance system for locating a point in a living body having passages therein comprising:

a. emitter for emitting light of a predetermined frequency and means for introducing said emitter into a selected passage in said living body,

b. a detector having a sensor array constituted by at least three individual sensors mounted in an array such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors in said sensor array,

c. a processor connected to said sensor array for determining the location of the emitter and said point relative to the sensor array, and

d. an indicator connected to said processor for indication of direction of emitter relative to said sensor array to precisely locate said point.

8. The guidance system defined in claim 7 wherein said means for introducing includes a hollow rod.

9. The guidance system defined in claim 7 wherein said means for introducing includes a catheter.

10. A surgical guidance method for locating a point in a living body having passages therein comprising the steps of:

a. introducing an emitting infrared light emitter into a selected passage in said living body,

b. providing a detector having a plurality of individual infrared light intensity sensors mounted in a predetermined pattern and detecting light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body which impinges on one or more sensors in said sensors in said predetermined pattern, and

c. displaying a relative light intensity of light detected by each sensor in said predetermined pattern in such a manner to provide an accurate indication of a relative direction of movement to achieve alignment and orientation.