Depth sensor device for use in a surgical procedure

• US 6,145,509 A
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EMI (Entegris Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EMI (Entegris Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tanner, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cadugan, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,044
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 606/7, 606/10, 606/11, 606/12, 606/13, 606/14, 606/15, 606/16, 606/17, 606/2, 128/897, 128/898, 600/474
• US Class Current: 128/897
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames

Abstract

A depth sensor is disclosed for sensing the position of a surgical device within a vessel wall during a surgical procedure. The depth sensor includes a housing, sensing assembly for sensing acoustic wave information generated during the surgical procedure, a processing assembly for processing the acoustic wave information received from the sensing assembly and a control assembly that receives data from the processing assembly thereby enabling operational control of the penetration device.

Claims

1. A depth sensor for sensing a position of a surgical penetration device during a surgical procedure, said depth sensor comprising:

a housing;

connection means for releasably securing said housing to a surgical penetration device;

sensing means for sensing acoustic wave information during the surgical procedure, wherein said sensing means contacts at least a portion of a surgical penetration device located within said housing, wherein said depth sensor senses acoustic wave information transmitted along a penetration device;

processing means for processing said acoustic wave information received by said sensing means; and

control means for controlling the operation of the depth sensor based upon information received from said processing means.

2. The depth sensor according to claim 1, wherein said processing means includes means for differentiating the acoustic wave information.

3. The depth sensor according to claim 2, wherein said control means determines the depth of penetration of a surgical penetration device into vessel wall tissue based upon the information generated by said processing means.

4. The depth sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes means for detecting acoustic wave information generated as a surgical penetration device penetrates layers of the vessel tissue.

5. The depth sensor according to claim 4, wherein said control means is capable of controlling the depth of penetration of the penetration assembly into a vessel tissue by differentiating the acoustic wave information detected by said detecting means.

6. The depth sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

indicator means for indicating the position of a surgical device during the surgical procedure.

7. The depth sensor according to claim 6, wherein said indicator means provides an audible indication to a user of the position of the surgical device within a vessel wall.

8. The depth sensor according to claim 6, wherein said indicator means provides a visual indication to a user of the position of a surgical device within vessel wall.

9. The depth sensor according to claim 6, wherein said indicator means operates in response to a signal produced by said control means.

10. A method of measuring the depth of tissue penetration by a penetration device during a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

securing a depth sensor device to at least a portion of a penetration device;

sensing acoustic wave information using said depth sensor device by sensing acoustic wave information generated during tissue penetration by a penetration device, wherein said depth sensor device senses acoustic wave information transmitted along a penetration device; and

processing the acoustic wave information to determine the depth of tissue penetration.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of processing the acoustic wave information comprises the steps of:

comparing the acoustic wave information with at least one stored acoustic wave signature which corresponds to different tissue level penetration; and

producing a signal to provide an indication of the level of penetration based on the comparison of the acoustic wave signature to the at least one stored signature.