Radiation-sensitive surgical probe with interchangeable tips

• US 6,236,880 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond R. Raylman, Richard L. Wahl
• Original Assignee: Raymond R. Raylman, Richard L. Wahl
• Inventors: Wahl, Richard L., Raylman, Raymond R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/316,402
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/316, 600/407, 600/409-411, 600/433-436, 600/475, 250/337, 250/368, 250/370.06, 250/484.5, 250/458.1, 324/537, 324/628, 324/639, 324/754
• US Class Current: 600/436
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4057 by using radiation sources located in the interior of the body A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/425 using detectors specially adapted to be used in the interior of the body
• 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 modular radiation detecting probe system includes a probe body having a handle portion and a distal portion to which an extension member is attached. The free end of the extension member is adapted to matingly attach and detach, one at a time, with various probe tips. An electronic signal acquisition system is disposed within the probe body and is coupled to receive a signal output from an attached probe tip. The acquisition system signal process the signal to discriminate between noise and a radiation signal detected by the probe tip. The probe body may include visual and/or audible devices to signal when the probe tip is adjacent a radiated area. The probe body may include a transmitted to transmit acquired signal data to an external signal processing unit, which may be a computer. Preferably the free end of the extension member includes a mechanism enabling identification of an attached probe tip such that the acquisition system may be normalized to compensate for different probe tip signal characteristics.

Claims

1. A modular radiation detecting probe system comprising:

a probe body having a handle portion and a distal portion; and

an extension member having a first end coupled to said distal portion of said probe body, and having a second end adapted to matingly attach and detach with at least a chosen one of a first probe tip and a second probe tip;

wherein said first probe tip differs from said second probe tip in at least one of (a) probe tip size, and (b) at least one radiation detecting characteristic.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said probe system further includes an electronic signal acquisition system, disposed within said probe body, coupled to receive a signal output from a said probe tip and to signal process said signal so as to discriminate at least in part between a noise signal and a radiation signal detected by said probe tip.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said probe system further includes at least one signal device, disposed in said probe body and coupled to said signal acquisition system, to signal at least one characteristic related to a detected said radiation signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said signal device has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said device is a visual display device, and (b) said device is a sound generating device; and

said characteristic is selected from a group consisting of (a) magnitude of a detected said radiation signal, (b) relative signal to noise ratio associated with a detected said radiation signal, and (c) Z-score associated with a detected said radiation signal.

5. The system of claim 2, further including a transmitter, housed within said probe body, coupled to an output of said acquisition system, transmitting radiation detected data for reception by an adjacent receiving system;

wherein said transmitter transmits in at least one frequency range selected from a group consisting of (a) radio frequency, (b) infrared frequency, and (c) ultrasonic frequency.

6. The system of claim 2, further including at least one user-selectable control, mounted on said probe body and coupled to said acquisition system, to control acquisition of a probe tip radiation detected signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said extension member is articulated.

8. The system of claim 1, further including:

an external signal processor unit coupled to said probe handle to process a probe tip radiation detected signal;

wherein said signal processor unit is coupled in at least one mode selected from a group consisting of (a) coupling is via at least one electrical wire, (b) coupling is wireless, (c) coupling is via radio frequency transmission, (d) coupling is via infrared transmission, and (e) coupling is via ultrasonic transmission.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said external signal processor is a computer.

10. A modular radiation detecting probe system comprising:

a probe body having a handle portion and a distal portion;

an extension member having a first end coupled to said distal portion of said probe body, and having a second end adapted to matingly attach and detach with at least a chosen one of a first probe tip and a second probe tip; and

at least said first probe tip and said second probe tip;

wherein said first probe tip differs from said second probe tip in at least one of (a) probe tip size, and (b) at least one radiation detecting characteristic; and

wherein attachment and detachment of a said probe tip is such that a probe tip may be replaced on said second end of said extension member in less than 30 seconds.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said probe system further includes an electronic signal acquisition system, disposed within said probe body, coupled to receive a signal output from a said probe tip and to signal process said signal so as to discriminate at least in part between a noise signal and a radiation signal detected by said probe tip.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said probe system further includes at least one signal device, disposed in said probe body and coupled to said signal acquisition system, to signal at least one characteristic related to a detected said radiation signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said characteristic is selected from a group consisting of (a) magnitude of a detected said radiation signal, (b) relative signal to noise ratio associated with a detected said radiation signal, and (c) Z-score associated with a detected said radiation signal.

14. The system of claim 11, further including a transmitter, housed within said probe body, coupled to an output of said acquisition system, transmitting radiation detected data for reception by an adjacent receiving system;

wherein said transmitter transmits in at least one frequency range selected from a group consisting of (a) radio frequency, (b) infrared frequency, and (c) ultrasonic frequency.

15. The system of claim 11, further including:

an external signal processor unit coupled to said probe handle to process a probe tip radiation detected signal;

wherein said signal processor unit is coupled in at least one mode selected from a group consisting of (a) coupling is via at least one electrical wire, (b) coupling is wireless, (c) coupling is via radio frequency transmission, (d) coupling is via infrared transmission, and (e) coupling is via ultrasonic transmission.

16. A method of changing probe tips in a radiation detecting probe, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a probe body having a handle portion, a distal portion, and an extension member having a first end coupled to said distal portion of said probe body, and having a second end adapted to matingly attach and detach with at least a chosen one of a first probe tip and a second probe tip; and

(b) attaching a said probe tip to said second end;

wherein step (b) may be carried out in less than 30 seconds.

17. The method of claim 16, further including an intermediate step (a-1) comprising removing a said probe tip from said second end prior to carrying out step (b);

wherein step (a-1) and step (b) together may be carried out in less than 30 seconds.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) includes providing a said probe body that includes an electronic signal acquisition system coupled to receive a signal output from a said probe tip and to signal process said signal so as to discriminate at least in part between a noise signal and a radiation signal detected by said probe tip.

19. The method of claim 18, further including:

providing said second end with means for recognizing at least one signal detection characteristic of an attached said probe tip; and

using data obtained by said means for recognizing to normalize at least one parameter within said acquisition system.

20. A modular radiation detecting probe system comprising:

a probe body having a handle portion and a distal portion;

an extension member having a first end coupled to said distal portion of said probe body, and having a second end adapted to matingly attach and detach with at least a chosen one of a first probe tip and a second probe tip;

an electronic signal acquisition system, disposed within said probe body, coupled to receive a signal output from a said probe tip and to signal process said signal so as to discriminate at least in part between a noise signal and a radiation signal detected by said probe tip; and

at least one signal device, disposed in said probe body and coupled to said signal acquisition system, to signal at least one characteristic related to a detected said radiation signal, wherein said signal device has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said device is a visual display device, and (b) said device is a sound generating device; and

said characteristic is selected from a group consisting of (a) magnitude of a detected said radiation signal, (b) relative signal to noise ratio associated with a detected said radiation signal, and (c) Z-score associated with a detected said radiation signal.

21. A modular radiation detecting probe system comprising:

a probe body having a handle portion and a distal portion;

an extension member having a first end coupled to said distal portion of said probe body, and having a second end adapted to matingly attach and detach with at least a chosen one of a first probe tip and a second probe tip;

an external signal processor unit coupled to said probe handle to process a probe tip radiation detected signal, wherein said external signal processor unit is a computer coupled in at least one mode selected from a group consisting of (a) coupling is via at least one electrical wire, (b) coupling is wireless, (c) coupling is via radio frequency transmission, (d) coupling is via infrared transmission, and (e) coupling is via ultrasonic transmission.