Radiation responsive surgical probe apparatus

• US 6,222,193 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Neoprobe Corporation
• Inventors: Olson, Karl W., Thurston, Marlin O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISRAEL, ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US09/167,704
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 250/370.01, 250/370.13, 250/370.07, 250/336.1
• US Class Current: 250/370.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• 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 hand-held surgical probe is provided with a crystal detector mount architecture wherein a rigid mounting of key components is achieved. In one embodiment, the crystal detector mount is supported and suspended by a vibration damping suspension externally located with respect to the crystal detector mount. The crystal detector mount architecture and vibration damping suspension act to reduce a variety of noise phenomena.

Claims

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

a housing assembly extending from a hand grippable region to a tip region, said tip region having a substantially flat radiation transmissive window and an internal surface defining a tip region cavity;

a mounting component within said tip region cavity, formed of material attenuating said radiation, extending between first and second finite support portions mutually spaced apart a span distance, having side portions defining a mount cavity with an outwardly disposed peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said window;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material and rigidly mounted within said mount cavity;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent to said mount peripheral edge confronting said window and an opposite, inwardly disposed face positioned upon said crystal support and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit in electrical communication with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face;

a retainer and grounding assembly having an electrical grounding surface in abutting, compressive engagement with said crystal detector outwardly disposed face;

a first vibration damping mount supporting said mounting component at said first finite support portion in spaced relationship from said tip region internal surface; and

a second vibration damping mount supporting said mounting component at said second finite support portion in spaced relationship from said tip region internal surface; and

said mounting component being supported as an open span along said span distance between said first and second vibration damping mounts.

2. The instrument of claim 1 in which:

said crystal detector is mounted upon said crystal support to position its said outwardly disposed face in close parallel planar relationship with said entrance portion outwardly disposed peripheral edge; and

said mounting component is configured to position said crystal detector outwardly disposed face in closely spaced relationship with said tip region flat window.

3. The instrument of claim 1 in which:

said housing assembly tip region is configured to provide an electrically grounded shield surmounting said mounting component; and

said mounting component is formed of an electrically conductive material and is connected with electrical ground.

4. The instrument of claim 1 in which said first and second vibration damping mounts are formed of a closed cell polymeric foamaceous material.

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

a housing assembly extending from a hand grippable region to a tip region, said tip region having a substantially flat radiation transmissive window and an internal surface defining a tip region cavity;

a mounting component within said tip region cavity, formed of material attenuating said radiation, extending between first and second finite support portions mutually spaced apart a span distance, having side portions defining a mount cavity with an outwardly disposed peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said window;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material and rigidly mounted within said mount cavity;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent to said mount peripheral edge confronting said window and an opposite, inwardly disposed face positioned upon said crystal support and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit in electrical communication with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face;

a retainer and grounding assembly having an electrical grounding surface in abutting, compressive engagement with said crystal detector outwardly disposed face, said retainer and grounding assembly comprising a resilient, inwardly biased compression component having an inward surface positioned in compressing relationship over said crystal detector outwardly disposed face and having an integrally formed side portion extending to a dog structure engaging said crystal support to derive said compressing relationship;

a first vibration damping mount supporting said mounting component at said first finite support portion in spaced relationship from said tip region internal surface; and

a second vibration damping mount supporting said mounting component at said second finite support portion in spaced relationship from said tip region internal surface; and

said mounting component being supported as an open span along said span distance between said first and second vibration damping mounts.

6. The instrument of claim 5 in which said retainer and grounding assembly electrical grounding surface comprises a thin, metal surface supported upon said compression component inward surface.

7. The instrument of claim 5 in which:

said crystal support includes an outward support surface and an oppositely disposed inward surface;

said crystal detector inwardly disposed face is mounted in abutting relationship upon said crystal support outward support surface; and

said bias conveying and signal receiving circuit includes a metal biasing surface formed upon said crystal support outward support surface and in compressing abutting contact with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face.

8. The instrument of claim 7 including:

a treatment circuit mounted upon said crystal support and in electrical communication with said metal biasing surface for electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith.

9. The instrument of claim 8 in which said metal biasing surface and said treatment circuit comprise a printed circuit including a preamplifier network deriving said output signals.

10. The instrument of claim 7 in which:

said crystal support inward surface extends to a peripheral edge;

including an electrically grounded metal surface formed upon said crystal support inward surface adjacent said peripheral edge; and

said retainer and grounding assembly electrical grounding surface extends to said dog structure; and

said dog structure is abuttably, electrically engaged with said grounded metal surface at said inward surface peripheral edge.

11. The instrument of claim 7 including:

a treatment circuit including a preamplifier network configured with a printed circuit mounted upon said crystal support inward surface and in electrical communication with said metal biasing surface for electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith.

12. Probe apparatus for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a housing assembly extending from a hand grippable region to a tip region, said tip region having a substantially flat radiation transmission window and an internal surface defining a tip region cavity;

a mounting component formed of material attenuating said radiation mounted within said tip region cavity, having side portions defining a mount cavity with an outwardly disposed peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said window;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material, having an outward surface and an oppositely disposed inward surface, rigidly mounted within said mount cavity;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent to said mount peripheral edge and an oppositely disposed inward surface abuttably positioned and rigidly supported upon said crystal support outward surface, and responsive to said radiation emission to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit rigidly mounted upon said crystal support in bias conveying direct electrical communication with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face and having an electrical ground; and

a retainer and grounding assembly including a resilient, inwardly biased compression component having an inward surface carrying an electrical grounding surface connected with said electrical ground positioned in compressive relationship over said crystal detector outwardly disposed face and having an integrally formed side portion extending to a dog structure engaging said crystal support inward surface to derive said compressive relationship.

13. The probe apparatus of claim 12 in which:

said housing assembly tip region is configured to provide an electrically grounded shield surmounting said mounting component; and

said mounting component is formed of an electrically conductive material and is connected with electrical ground.

14. The probe apparatus of claim 12 in which said retainer and grounding assembly electrical grounding surface comprises a thin, metal surface supported upon said compression component inward surface.

15. The probe apparatus of claim 12 in which:

said bias conveying and signal receiving circuit includes a metal biasing surface formed upon said crystal support outward support surface and in compressive abutting contact with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face.

16. The probe apparatus of claim 14 in which said bias conveying and signal receiving circuit includes:

a treatment circuit mounted upon said crystal support and in electrical communication with said metal biasing surface for electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith.

17. The probe apparatus of claim 16 in which said metal biasing surface and said treatment circuit comprise a printed circuit including at least one stage of a preamplifier network deriving said output signals.

18. Probe apparatus for locating source of radiation emission in tissue, comprising:

a hand grippable base portion;

an elongate accessing tube extending from said base portion to a tip region having a wall with an interior surface defining a side looking tip region cavity extending to a generally rectangular periphery, said tip region cavity being enclosed at said periphery by a radiation transmissive side looking window having an internally disposed window surface;

a mounting component, within said tip region cavity having side portions with an external mount surface extending between first and second support portions mutually spaced apart a mount distance, said side portions extending to a mount peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said internally disposed window surface and defining a side opening mount cavity;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material rigidly mounted within said mount cavity and having a crystal support surface extending between oppositely disposed side edges;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent said mount peripheral edge and an opposite, inwardly disposed face abuttably positioned upon said crystal support surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit in electrical communication which said crystal detector inwardly disposed face;

a retainer and grounding assembly having an electrical grounding surface in abutting, compressive engagement with said crystal detector outwardly disposed face;

a first vibration damping mount positioned intermediate said tip region interior surface and said mounting component external mount surface at said first support portion;

a second vibration damping mount positioned intermediate said tip region interior surface and said mounting component external mount surface at said second support portion; and

said mounting component being supported as an open mount along said span distance between said first and second vibration damping mounts.

19. The probe apparatus of claim 18 in which said first and second vibration damping mounts are formed of an electrically insulative foamaceous polymeric material.

20. The probe apparatus of claim 19 in which said polymeric material is a closed cell foamaceous material.

21. The probe apparatus of claim 19 in which:

said mounting component is formed of an electrically conductive material; and

said mounting component and said tip region are coupled with electrical ground.

22. The probe apparatus of claim 18 in which:

said mounting component side portions are generally cylindrically shaped, formed of an electrically conductive material, and said peripheral edge is configured as a rectangle;

said crystal support is configured generally having sides defining an elongate rectangular periphery;

said bias conveying and signal receiving circuit includes a metal biasing-surface formed upon said crystal support surface and in compressive abutting contact with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face.

23. The probe apparatus of claim 22 including:

a treatment circuit mounted upon said crystal support and in electrical communication with said metal biasing surface for electronically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith.

24. The probe apparatus of claim 23 in which said metal biasing surface and said treatment circuit comprise a printed circuit including a preamplifier network deriving said output signals.

25. Probe apparatus for locating source of radiation emission in tissue, comprising:

a hand grippable base portion;

an elongate accessing tube extending from said base portion to a tip region having a wall an interior surface defining a side looking up region cavity extending to a generally rectangular periphery, said tip region cavity being enclosed at said periphery by a radiation transmissive side looking window having an internally disposed window surface;

a mounting component, within said tip region cavity having side portions with an external mount surface extending between first and second support portions mutually spaced apart a mount distance, said side portions extending to a mount peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said internally disposed window surface and defining a side opening mount cavity, said mounting component side portions being generally cylindrically shaped, formed of an electrically conductive material, and said peripheral edge is configured as a rectangle;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material rigidly mounted within said mount cavity and having a crystal support surface extending between oppositely disposed side edges and configured generally having sides defining an elongate rectangular periphery;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent said mount peripheral edge and an opposite, inwardly disposed face positioned upon said crystal support surface and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit in electrical communication which said crystal detector inwardly disposed face and including a metal biasing-surface formed upon said crystal support surface and in compressive abutting contact with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face;

a treatment circuit mounted upon said crystal support and in electrical communication with said metal biasing surface for electronically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith;

a retainer and grounding assembly having an electrical grounding surface in abutting, compressive engagement with said crystal detector outwardly disposed face, said retainer and grounding assembly comprising a resilient, inwardly biased compression component having an electrically conductive, grounded inward surface positioned in compressing relationship over said crystal detector outwardly disposed face and having integrally formed side portions extending to a dog structure engaging said crystal support sides to derive said compressive relationship;

a first vibration damping mount positioned intermediate said tip region interior surface and said mounting component external mount surface at said first support portion;

a second vibration damping mount positioned intermediate said tip region interior surface and said mounting component external mount surface at said second support portion; and

said mounting component being supported as an open span along said span distance between said first and second vibration damping mounts.

26. The probe apparatus of claim 25 in which:

said treatment circuit includes the initial charge accumulating stage of a preamplifier circuit; and

said retainer and grounding assembly grounded inward surface extends over said initial charge accumulating stage.

27. The probe apparatus of claim 26 in which:

said crystal support includes an inward surface disposed opposite said crystal support surface;

including an electrically grounded metal surface formed upon said crystal support inward surface adjacent a said side;

said retainer and grounding assembly grounded inward surface extends to said dog structure; and

said dog structure is abuttably, electrically engaged with said grounded metal surface adjacent a said side.

28. Probe apparatus for locating a source of radiation emission in tissue, comprising:

a hand grippable base portion;

an elongate accessing tube extending from said base portion to a tip region with an internal surface defining a side looking tip region cavity extending to a generally rectangular periphery, said tip region cavity being enclosed at said periphery by a radiation transmissive side-looking window having an internally disposed window surface;

a mounting component within said tip region cavity, having side portions defining a mount cavity, said side portions extending to a generally rectangular mount peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said internally disposed window surface;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material, rigidly mounted within said mount cavity, configured having an elongate generally rectangular periphery with oppositely disposed side edges at least coextensive with said mount cavity;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent said mount peripheral edge and an opposite, inwardly disposed face rigidly positioned upon said crystal support surface, and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit rigidly mounted upon said crystal support in bias conveying direct electrical communication with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face and having an electrical ground; and

a retainer and grounding assembly including a resilient, inwardly biased compression component with an inwardly disposed electrical grounding surface carrying said electrical ground positioned in abutting compressive relationship over said crystal detector outwardly disposed face and having integrally formed side portions extending to a dog structure engaging said crystal support oppositely disposed side edges to derive said compressive relationship.

29. The probe apparatus of claim 28 said retainer and grounding assembly electrical grounding surface comprises a thin, metal surface supported upon said compression component inward surface.

30. The probe apparatus of claim 28 in which said bias conveying and signal receiving circuit includes a metal biasing surface formed upon said crystal support surface and in compressively abutting contact with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face.

31. The probe apparatus of claim 30 including:

a treatment circuit mounted upon said crystal support and in electrical communication with said metal biasing surface for electrically treating said detector output to provide output signals corresponding therewith.

32. The probe apparatus of claim 31 in which said metal biasing surface and said treatment circuit comprise a printed circuit including a preamplifier network deriving said output signals.

33. The probe apparatus of claim 28 in which said retainer and grounding assembly inwardly disposed electrical grounding surface comprises a thin coated metal surface.

34. Probe apparatus for locating a source of radiation emission in tissue, comprising:

a hand grippable base portion;

an elongate accessing tube extending from said base portion to a tip region with an internal surface defining a side looking tip region cavity extending to a generally rectangular periphery, said tip region cavity being enclosed at said periphery by a radiation transmissive side-looking window having an internally disposed window surface;

a mounting component within said tip region cavity, having side portions defining a mount cavity with side portions extending to a generally rectangular mount peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said internally disposed window surface and defining a side opening mount cavity;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material, rigidly mounted within said mount cavity, configured having an inwardly disposed surface, an elongate generally rectangular periphery with oppositely disposed side edges at least coextensive with said mount cavity and defining an outwardly disposed crystal support surface;

including an electrically grounded metal surface formed upon said crystal support inwardly disposed surface adjacent a said side edge;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent said mount peripheral edge and an opposite, inwardly disposed face positioned upon said crystal support surface, and responsive to radiation passing through said window to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit in electrical communication with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face;

a retainer and grounding assembly including a resilient, inwardly biased compression component with an inwardly disposed electrical grounding surface comprising a thin coated metal surface, positioned in abutting compressive relationship over said crystal detector outwardly disposed face and having integrally formed side portions extending with said electrical grounding surface to a dog structure engaging said crystal retainer oppositely disposed side edges to derive said compressive relationship, and

said dog structure is abuttably, electrically engaged with said grounded metal surface adjacent said side edge.

35. The probe apparatus of claim 34 including:

a treatment circuit mounted upon said crystal support and having integrator stage components;

said retainer and grounding assembly compression component is configured as a generally U-shaped channel member extending over said crystal detector outwardly disposed face and in electrical shielding relationship over said integrator stage components.

36. Probe apparatus for detecting and locating sources of radiation emission, comprising:

a housing assembly extending from a hand grippable region to a tip region, said tip region having a substantially flat radiation transmission window and an internal surface defining a tip region cavity;

a mounting component formed of material attenuating said radiation mounted within said tip region cavity, having side portions defining a mount cavity with an outwardly disposed peripheral edge in spaced adjacency with said window;

a rigid crystal support formed of electrically insulative material, having an outward surface and an oppositely disposed inward surface extending to a peripheral edge, said crystal support being rigidly mounted within said mount cavity;

an electrically grounded metal surface formed upon said crystal support inward surface adjacent said peripheral edge;

a crystal detector having an outwardly disposed face adjacent to said mount peripheral edge and an oppositely disposed inward surface abuttably positioned and supported upon said crystal support outward surface, and responsive to said radiation emission to provide a detector output;

a bias conveying and signal receiving circuit in electrical communication with said crystal detector inwardly disposed face; and

a retainer and grounding assembly including a resilient, inwardly biased compression component having an inward electrical grounding surface positioned in compressive relationship over said crystal detector and having an integrally formed side portion extending to a dog structure abuttably engaging said grounded metal surface at said crystal support to derive said compressive relationship, said dog structure being electrically engaged with said grounded metal surface.

37. The probe apparatus of claim 36 in which

said bias conveying and signal receiving circuit includes a treatment circuit having an initial charge accumulating stage of a preamplifier circuit; and

said retainer and grounding assembly electrical grounding surface extends over said initial charge accumulating stage.