Low capacitance measurement probe

• US 7,248,032 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioluminate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bioluminate, Inc.
• Inventors: Hular, Richard, Haughey, Bruce W., Da Silva, Liuz B., Chase, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld; Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US11/458,486
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 324/72.5, 324/72, 324/437, 324/445, 324/446, 324/449, 324/538, 324/539, 324/543, 324/688, 324/690, 324/696, 324/715, 324/724, 324/754, 324/755, 324/757, 324/758, 439/63, 439/322, 439/429, 439/482, 439/551, 439/578, 439/579, 439/584, 439/675, 600/11, 600/300, 600/459, 600/462, 600/587, 600/591, 600/595, 606/1, 606/170, 607/32, 607/41, 607/45, 607/48, 128/897, 128/898, 335/03, 335/04, 335/55, 335/56, 335/58, 335/59, 335/61
• US Class Current: 324/72.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6849 in combination with a needle set

Abstract

A low capacitance measurement probe having an outer conductor forming an outer wall; a non-conductive spacer forming a first wall between a conductive layer and the outer conductor; the conductive layer forming a second wall coupled to the interior of the first wall; an insulating layer forming a third wall coupled to the interior of the second wall; and an inner conductor forming an inner wall coupled to the interior of the third wall. The probe may include a knob or a button in the inner conductor at a tip of the probe to increase the surface area of the inner conductor in order to the sensitivity of the probe.

Claims

1. A low capacitance measurement probe comprising:

a proximate end and a distal end of said probe;

a tip on said distal end of said probe for injecting said probe into tissue;

an outer conductor forming an outer wall having an exterior and an interior;

a non-conductive spacer forming a first wall having an exterior and an interior, said non-conductive spacer coupled to said interior of said outer conductor;

a conductive layer forming a second wall having an exterior and an interior, said conductive layer coupled to said interior of said first wall;

an insulating layer forming a third wall having an exterior and an interior, said insulating layer coupled to said interior of said second wall;

an inner conductor forming an inner wall having an exterior and an interior, said inner conductor coupled to said interior of said third wall; and

a button of said inner conductor in said tip of said probe wherein said button is an area of said inner conductor that is exposed in said tip having an increased surface area to contact tissue.

2. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 1, wherein an electrical circuit is created when said outer conductor and said inner conductor electrically communicate responsive to contact with tissue.

3. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 1, further comprising wires coupled to said outer conductor, said conductive layer, and said inner conductor.

4. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 1, wherein the low capacitance measurement probe has a probe end and a control end.

5. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 4, further comprising a handle coupled to said control end.

6. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 4, further comprising:

control electronics configured to send electrical signals to the low capacitance measurement probe and configured to receive measurements for indication on a display, said control electronics disposed in said handle.

7. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 6, further comprising:

a user interface coupled to said control electronics.

8. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 1, further comprising:

a control electronics module configured to send electrical signals to the low capacitance measurement probe and configured to receive measurements for indication on a display.

9. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface coupled to said control electronics.

10. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 1, wherein said outer conductor, said inner conductor, and said conductive layer are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, platinum, gold, silver, copper, and conductive plastic.

11. The low capacitance measurement probe of claim 1, wherein said non-conductive spacer and said insulating layer are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, parylene, glass, epoxy, ceramic, and silicone.

12. A low capacitance measurement probe system comprising:

a low capacitance measurement probe having a tip on a distal end for injecting said probe into tissue comprising;

an outer conductor forming an outer wall having an exterior and an interior,

a non-conductive spacer forming a first wall having an exterior and an interior, said non-conductive spacer coupled to said interior of said outer conductor,

a conductive layer forming a second wall having an exterior and an interior, said conductive layer coupled to said interior of said first wall,

an insulating layer forming a third wall having an exterior and an interior, said insulating layer coupled to said interior of said second wall,

an inner conductor forming an inner wall having an exterior and an interior, said inner conductor coupled to said interior of said third wall, and

a button of said inner conductor in said tip of said probe wherein said button is an area of said inner conductor that is exposed in said tip having an increased surface area to contact tissue; and

control electronics electrically coupled to said low capacitance measurement probe, said control electronics having a display.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein an electrical circuit is created when said outer conductor and said inner conductor electrically communicate responsive to contact with tissue.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising wires coupled to said outer conductor, said conductive layer, and said inner conductor.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said low capacitance measurement probe has a probe end and a control end.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a handle coupled to said control end.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said control electronics are disposed in said handle.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said low capacitance measurement probe is configured to send electrical signals to said control electronics.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said control electronics are disposed in a module.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said control electronics are configured to receive measurements and configured to indicate said measurements on said display.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein said outer conductor, said inner conductor, and said conductive layer are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, platinum, gold, silver, copper, and conductive plastic.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein said non-conductive spacer and said insulating layer are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, parylene, glass, ceramic, epoxy, and silicone.

23. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a user interface coupled to said control electronics.