Diagnostic hybrid probes

• US 6,212,423 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gamma Medical Technologies, LLC, MTR Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Krakovitz
• Inventors: Krakovitz, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US09/211,479
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 600/436, 600/437, 250/358.1, 250/363.01, 250/336.1, 250/370.11, 424/9.1
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• 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 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• 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

This invention is directed to a novel hybrid nuclear and ultrasonic probe comprising a cylindrical outer casing surrounding a nuclear probe comprising two scintillator plates intersecting perpendicularly, each of the scintillator plates having a plurality of parallel collimators; and an ultrasonic probe situated between said casing at the intersection of said scintillator plates.

Claims

1. A substantially cylindrical probe having an end for locating and characterizing diseases comprising:

a scintillator having parallel collimators for examining a potentially diseased area as a function of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the area;

an ultrasonic sensor situated on said scintillator for examining the potentially diseased area with ultrasonic energy, wherein the scintillator and ultrasonic sensor are adapted to characterize the potentially diseased area interactively; and

processing means interfaced to the scintillator and the ultrasonic sensor for analyzing data collected by the scintillator and ultrasonic sensor to characterize the disease in the potentially diseased area.

2. The probe of claim 1, wherein said scintillator comprises two substantially perpendicularly disposed members.

3. The probe of claim 2, wherein said scintillator extends axially out the end of said probe.

4. The probe of claim 1, where said scintillator comprises a curved surface.

5. The probe of claim 4, wherein said scintillator extends axially out the end of said probe.

6. The probe of claim 5, wherein said scintillator is dish shaped.

7. The probe of claim 1, wherein said scintillator comprises a flat surface.

8. The probe of claim 7, wherein said scintillator extends axially out the end of said probe.

9. The probe recited in claim 1 further comprising a display unit interfaced with the processing means for displaying data which has been analyzed by the processing means.

10. A novel hybrid probe comprising:

a cylindrical outer casing having an axial length and surrounding a nuclear probe, said nuclear probe comprising a scintillator extending axially the length of the casing, said scintillator having a plurality of parallel collimators extending therefrom; and

an ultrasonic probe affixed within the casing on said scintillator and extending the length of the scintillator.

11. The novel hybrid probe of claim 10, wherein said scintillator comprises two scintillator plates intersecting substantially perpendicularly, and said ultrasonic probe is situated at the intersection of the scintillator plates and extends their lengths.

12. The novel hybrid probe of claim 10, wherein said scintillator is curved.

13. The novel hybrid probe of claim 10 wherein said scintillator is flat.