System and method for objectively verifying an internal disc disruption

• US 6,370,420 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kraft, Mark
• Original Assignee: Kraft, Mark
• Inventors: Kraft, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/193,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 600/431, 600/407, 600/561, 600/587, 600/300, 600/301, 128/902, 128/903, 128/920, 128/904, 604/51, 604/49, 604/93, 604/95, 348/77
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/032 Spinal fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02

Abstract

A device is provided for diagnosing internal disc disruption in an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine. A needle is used for injecting a contrast media with increasing pressure into the nucleus pulposis of one of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral discs suspected to be disrupted are provided. As the pressure of the contrast media in the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc is increased, a measurement of the pressure, photographic images of the patient'"'"'s facial expressions, x-ray images of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc are displayed simultaneously and in real time on a display. In addition, the patient'"'"'s vocalizations are captured and broadcast by the display. A recorder for recording the images on the display and the vocalizations may also be provided.

Claims

1. A device for diagnosing internal disc disruption in an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine comprising:

a needle for injecting a contrast media with increasing pressure into the nucleus pulposis of one of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral discs suspected to be disrupted;

a display having a screen;

a speaker;

a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the contrast media during injection into the suspected intervertebral disc and transmitting said pressure measurements to said display;

a camera for capturing images of the patient'"'"'s facial expression during said injection and transmitting said images to said display;

means for taking x-ray images of the suspected intervertebral disc and transmitting said x-ray images to said display during injection of said media under increasing pressure; and

a microphone for capturing the patient'"'"'s vocalizations and transmitting said vocalizations to said speaker, said device simultaneously displaying at the display said pressure, x-ray images, facial expressions during injection of said media; and

a recorder to record said display and vocalizations to define an objective record concerning said suspected disc.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the recorder is a video cassette recorder.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said speaker is disposed in said display.

4. A device for diagnosing internal disc disruption in an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine including a fluid contrast media visible in x-ray images, said device comprising:

a source of contrast media under pressure;

a hollow needle in fluid communication with said source, said needle inserted into the nucleus pulposis of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc suspected to be disrupted;

a valve disposed between said source and said needle to control the pressure of contrast media delivered through said needle to the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc;

a display having a screen;

a speaker;

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said needle for measuring the pressure of the contrast media delivered to the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc and transmitting said pressure measurements to said display for display of the pressure as said contrast media is delivered to the disc;

a video camera for taking photographic images of the patient'"'"'s facial expression and transmitting said photographic images to said display to display with said pressure;

an x-ray camera for taking x-ray images of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc suspected of being disrupted and transmitting said x-ray images to said display to display with said pressure, said x-ray images and injected contrast media show disc disruption and the pressure at such disruption as well as the patient'"'"'s expression at disruption; and

a microphone for capturing the patient'"'"'s vocalizations and transmitting said vocalizations to said speaker, and

a video cassette recorder for recording the vocalizations and the displays of said pressure measurements, photographic images, and x-ray images.

5. A device for diagnosing internal disc disruption in an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine including a fluid contrast media visible in x-ray images, said device comprising:

a source of liquid contrast media under pressure;

a needle in fluid communication with said source, said needle inserted into the nucleus pulposis of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc suspected to be disrupted;

a valve to increase the pressure of contrast media delivered through said needle to the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc and to relieve the pressure;

a display having a screen;

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said needle for measuring the pressure of the contrast media delivered to the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc and transmitting said pressure measurements to said display for display of the pressure as said contrast media is delivered to the disc;

a video camera for taking photographic images of the patient'"'"'s facial expression and transmitting said photographic images to said display to display with said pressure;

an x-ray camera for taking x-ray images of the patient'"'"'s intervertebral disc suspected of being disrupted and transmitting said x-ray images to said display to display with said pressure as said pressure of the contrast media is increased, said x-ray images and injected contrast media showing disc disruption and the pressure at such disruption as well as the patient'"'"'s expression at disruption; and

a microphone for capturing the patient'"'"'s vocalizations and transmitting said vocalizations to said speaker; and

a video cassette recorder for recording the vocalizations and the displays of said pressure measurements, photographic images, and x-ray images.