Ultrasound-guided near infrared spectrophotometer

• US 6,690,958 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nostix, LLC (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nostix, LLC (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nelson, Peter E., Zellers, R. Dale, Walker, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KREMER, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US10/143,248
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309-310, 600/322-324, 600/473, 600/476, 600/437, 600/407, 600/313, 600/338
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0242 for varying or adjusting the optical path length in the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1464 specially adapted for foetal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• 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 8/445 Details of catheter construction

Abstract

A diagnostic apparatus includes a near infrared spectrophotometer (NIRS) and an ultrasound transducer that operate in combination to improve diagnostic measurements. The diagnostic apparatus includes a near infrared spectrophotometer that measures an analyte, for example tissue oxygenation, in an optical sample volume and an ultrasound imager to accurately position the optical sample volume in biological tissue or vessels. In one example, the diagnostic apparatus includes an optical source, a linear array of ultrasound transducers, and an optical photodetector arranged in the same plane so that the ultrasound sample volume interrogated by the ultrasound transducers intersects the optical sample volume formed by the optical source and detector.

Claims

1. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a near infrared spectrophotometer comprising one or more optical sources and one or more optical detectors capable of interrogating one or more optical source volumes;

an ultrasound transducer capable of interrogating an ultrasound source volume, the optical sources, the optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer being configured in a line so that the one or more optical source volumes and the ultrasound source volume are coplanar and the one or more optical source volumes intersect the ultrasound source volume; and

a moveable fixture coupled to the one or more optical sources, the one or more optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer, and capable of adjustment to vary optical source-detector distances of respective one or more optical sources and one or more optical detectors.

2. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the moveable fixture is capable of adjustment to vary distances between the ultrasound transducer and the one or more optical sources and the one or more optical detectors.

3. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a detector coupled to the moveable fixture and capable of detecting one or more of the position of one or more of the optical sources, one or more of the optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer; and

a processor coupled to the detector and capable of determining a source-detector distance based on the one or more positions.

4. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

an optical source of the one or more optical sources and a corresponding optical detector of the one or more optical detectors comprise a near infrared spectrophotometer that is capable of determining optical properties of tissue in the optical sample volume.

5. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the near infrared spectrophotometer is an absorption spectroscopy device that comprises:

an optical source capable of being positioned on a tissue and emitting infrared light into the tissue at a plurality of selected wavelengths; and

a photodetector capable of detecting the selected wavelengths of light from the tissue, the photodetector being positioned on the tissue removed from the optical source but sufficiently close in proximity to the optical source to contact the same general tissue,

the near infrared spectrophotometer being capable of detecting measurable changes in absorbance of a plurality of wavelengths of analytes of interest within the tissue.

6. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the near infrared spectrophotometer is an intensity modulation spectroscopy device that comprises:

an optical source capable of being positioned on a tissue and emitting infrared light into the tissue at a plurality of selected wavelengths;

a photodetector capable of detecting the selected wavelengths of light from the tissue, the photodetector being positioned on the tissue removed from the optical source but sufficiently close in proximity to the optical source to contact the same general tissue; and

an oscillator coupled to the optical source and providing intensity modulation controlling the optical source, the optical source being responsive to the modulation by emitting the plurality of selected wavelengths, the selected wavelengths being selected to generate measurable changes in absorbance of analytes of interest within the tissue.

7. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the near infrared spectrophotometer is a differential spectroscopy device that comprises:

an optical source capable of being positioned on a tissue and emitting infrared light into the tissue at a plurality of selected wavelengths; and

a photodetector capable of detecting the selected wavelengths of light from the tissue, the photodetector being positioned on the tissue removed from the optical source but sufficiently close in proximity to the optical source to contact the same general tissue,

the near infrared spectrophotometer being capable of producing a wavelength shift of a plurality of wavelengths to generate measurable changes in absorbance of analytes of interest within the tissue.

8. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

an trigger capable of detecting a preselected oxygenation level; and

an annunciator capable of generating a warning signal when the trigger detects the preselected oxygenation level.

9. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a catheter coupled to the one or more optical sources, the one or more optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer.

10. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a near infrared spectrophotometer comprising one or more optical sources and one or more optical detectors capable of interrogating one or more optical source volumes;

an ultrasound transducer capable of interrogating an ultrasound source volume, the optical sources, the optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer being configured in a line so that the one or more optical source volumes and the ultrasound source volume are coplanar and the one or more optical source volumes intersect the ultrasound source volume;

first and second lateral members coupled respectively to the one or more optical sources and to the one or more optical detectors;

a pivot coupling the first and second lateral members; and

position detectors for determining a relative angle between the ultrasound transducer and one or more optical sources, and a relative angle between the ultrasound transducer and the one or more optical detectors.

11. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a near infrared spectrophotometer comprising one or more optical sources and one or more optical detectors capable of interrogating one or more optical source volumes;

an ultrasound transducer capable of interrogating an ultrasound source volume, the optical sources, the optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer being configured in a line so that the one or more optical source volumes and the ultrasound source volume are coplanar and the one or more optical source volumes the ultrasound source volume;

a plurality of concentrically-arranged catheters in a telescopic configuration; and

position detectors for determining relative positioning of the plurality of catheters.

12. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

the optical sources, the optical detectors, and thie ultrasound transducer are mounted on one or more of the plurality of concentrically-arranged catheters.

13. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a near infrared spectrophotometer comprising one or more optical sources and one or more optical detectors capable of interrogating one or more optical source volumes;

an ultrasound transducer capable of interrogating an ultrasound source volume, the optical sources, the optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer being configured in a line so that the one or more optical source volumes and the ultrasound source volume are coplanar and the one or more optical source volumes intersect the ultrasound source volume;

a first lateral member coupled to the one or more optical sources;

a second lateral member coupled to the one or more optical detectors, the ultrasound transducer being coupled to the first lateral member and the second lateral member;

one or more position sensors for detecting an angle between the first lateral member and the ultrasound transducer, and for detecting an angle between the second lateral member and the ultrasound transducer; and

a processor coupled to the one or more position sensors and capable of determining a source-detector distance.

14. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising:

a display, the processor being capable of controlling the display to display an image of the ultrasound sample volume and to display an image of the optical sample volume relative to the ultrasound sample volume image as a function of the source-detector distance and optical properties of interrogated tissue.

15. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a near infrared spectrophotometer comprising one or more optical sources and one or more optical detectors capable of interrogating one or more optical source volumes;

an ultrasound transducer capable of interogating an ultrasound source volume, the optical sources, the optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer being configured in a line so that the one or more optical source volumes and the ultrasound source volume are coplanar and the one or more optical source volumes intersect the ultrasound source volume;

a fixture for holding one or more optical sources, the one or more optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer, the fixture including a plurality of catheters,

one or more position sensors coupled to the plurality of catheters; and

a processor coupled to the one or more position sensors and capable of determining a source-detector distance.

16. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising:

a display, the processor being capable of controlling the display to display an image of the ultrasound sample volume and to display an image of the optical sample volume relative to the ultrasound sample volume image as a function of the source-detector distance and optical properties of interrogated tissue.

17. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:

the fixture is configured to extend, retract, and rotate the optical sources, optical detectors, and ultrasound transducer.

18. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising:

a balloon capable of inflation for securing the optical source, the optical detector, and the ultrasound transducer against tissue.

19. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

at least one optical source;

at least one optical detector;

at least one ultrasound transducer;

a first lateral member coupled to the at least one optical source;

a second lateral member coupled to the at least one optical detector, the at least one ultrasound transducer being coupled to the first lateral member and the second lateral member;

at least one position sensor for detecting an angle between the first lateral member and the at least one ultrasound transducer, and for detecting an angle between the second lateral member and the at least one ultrasound transducer; and

a processor coupled to the at least one position sensor and capable of determining a source-detector distance, the first and second lateral members, the at least one optical source, the at least one optical detector, and the at least one ultrasound transducer being configured for determining fetal brain oxygenation.

20. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising:

a display, the processor being capable of controlling the display to display an image of the ultrasound sample volume and to display an image of the optical sample volume relative to the ultrasound sample volume image as a function of the source-detector distance and optical properties of interrogated tissue.

21. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

one or more optical sources;

one or more optical detectors;

an ultrasound transducer;

a fixture for holding the one or more optical sources, the one or more optical detectors, and the ultrasound transducer, the fixture including a plurality of catheters;

one or more position sensors coupled to the plurality of catheters; and

a processor coupled to the one or more position sensors and capable of determining a source-detector distance, the fixture, optical source, optical detector, and ultrasound transducer being configured for determining tissue oxygenation.

22. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

a display, the processor being capable of controlling the display to display an image of an ultrasound sample volume and to display an image of an optical sample volume relative to the ultrasound sample volume image as a function of the source-detector distance and optical properties of interrogated tissue.

23. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 21 wherein:

the fixture is configured to extend, retract, and rotate the optical sources, optical detectors, and ultrasound transducer.

24. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

a balloon capable of inflation for securing the optical source, the optical detector, and the ultrasound transducer against tissue.

25. A diagnostic apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising;

an trigger capable of detecting a preselected oxygenation level; and

an annunciator capable of generating a warning signal when the trigger detects the preselected oxygenation level.