Integrated nerve stimulator and ultrasound imaging device

• US 7,789,833 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Penrith Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Engle, Lawrence A., Urbano, Joseph A., Cannon, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernandez; Katherine L
• Application Number:
  US11/560,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/554, 600/373, 600/393, 600/462
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics see also A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467

Abstract

An integrated ultrasound and nerve stimulation system, ultrasound probe and method are provided. The system may include a transcutaneous electrode adapted for external placement on a patient, a percutaneous electrode having an electrically-conducting tip adapted for percutaneous placement proximate a nerve in the patient and a control for causing a current to flow between the electrodes. The system may also include a probe having an ultrasound transducer that transmits ultrasound waves into the patient and receives reflected ultrasound waves from the patient. The probe also has a communication interface for transmitting a signal representative of the received reflected ultrasound waves to a main unit. The main unit is in operative communication with the communication interface and includes a display and a processor, which receives the signal from the probe and causes the display to display an image in accordance with the received signal.

Claims

1. An ultrasound imaging and electrical stimulation system, comprising:

a transcutaneous electrode adapted for external placement on a patient;

a percutaneous electrode having an electrically-conducting tip adapted for percutaneous placement proximate a nerve in the patient;

a probe comprising;

an ultrasound transducer that transmits ultrasound waves into the patient and receives reflected ultrasound waves from the patient;

a communication interface, the communication interface transmitting a signal representative of the received reflected ultrasound waves to a main unit;

an enclosure; and

a first control, the first control causing a current to flow between the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes, and the first control being at least partially disposed within the enclosure, and

wherein the main unit is in operative communication with the communication interface, and wherein the main unit comprises a display and a processor, wherein the processor receives the signal from the probe and causes the display to display an image in accordance with the received signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the main unit further comprises a second control, the second control causing the current to flow between the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes are operatively connected to the probe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes are operatively connected to the main unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display further displays control information relating to the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display further displays control information relating to an ultrasound operating condition.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe receives control information from the main unit via the communication interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises a power supply that powers the transducer and communication interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power supply further powers the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the main unit further comprises a speaker that outputs an audible representation of a Doppler shift determined from the signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the main unit further comprises a microphone for receiving audio information from a user.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the main unit further comprises a control interface that enables a user to control the main unit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe is adapted for use in a sterile field.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the percutaneous electrode is formed as part of a hypodermic needle that is adapted to inject an anesthetic proximate the nerve.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the current is adapted to induce a response from the nerve.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ultrasound transducer or the communication interface is at least partially disposed within the enclosure.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control includes at least one input, the at least one input being disposed proximate to an external surface of the enclosure.

19. A method for performing a nerve block on a patient, the method comprising:

placing a transcutaneous electrode on the patient;

inserting a percutaneous electrode into the patient and proximate a nerve to be blocked;

positioning an ultrasound probe on the patient, the ultrasound probe comprising;

an ultrasound transducer that transmits ultrasound waves into the patient and receives reflected ultrasound waves from the patient;

an enclosure; and

a first control, the first control causing a current to flow between the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes to stimulate the nerve, and the first control being at least partially disposed within the enclosure;

transmitting via a communications interface a signal representative of the received reflected ultrasound waves to a main unit;

operating the first control to cause the current to flow between the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes to stimulate the nerve; and

administrating the nerve block.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising viewing an ultrasound image that represents a region of the patient as represented by the received reflected ultrasound waves on a display of a main unit that is operatively connected to the probe.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the main unit comprises a second control, the second control causing the current to flow between the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes to stimulate the nerve.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising viewing control information relating to the ultrasound image on the display.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising viewing control information relating to the transcutaneous and percutaneous electrodes on the display.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating the control to adjust the operation of the ultrasound transducer.

25. The method of claim 19, in which the administrating the nerve block further comprises injecting an anesthetic proximate the nerve using a hypodermic needle of which the percutaneous electrode is a part.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the injection of the anesthetic is performed in accordance with information displayed in the ultrasound image and the response of the nerve.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the ultrasound transducer is at least partially disposed within the enclosure.

28. An ultrasound probe, comprising:

an ultrasound transducer that transmits ultrasound waves into a patient and receives reflected ultrasound waves from the patient;

a transcutaneous electrode interface adapted for connection to a transcutaneous electrode;

a percutaneous electrode interface adapted for connection to a percutaneous electrode;

an enclosure;

a control, the control being at least partially disposed within the enclosure and the control being operable to;

control the ultrasound transducer, and

cause a current to flow between the transcutaneous electrode interface and percutaneous electrode interface; and

a communication interface for transmitting a signal representative of the received reflected ultrasound waves to a main unit for generation of an image in accordance with the received ultrasound waves.

29. The probe of claim 28, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

30. The probe of claim 28, wherein the communication interface receives control information from the main unit.

31. The probe of claim 28, wherein the probe further comprises a power supply that powers the transducer and communication interface.

32. The probe of claim 31, wherein the power supply further powers the transcutaneous electrode interface and percutaneous electrode interface.

33. The probe of claim 28, wherein the probe is adapted for use in a sterile field.

34. The probe of claim 28, wherein the current is adapted to induce a response from a nerve.

35. The probe of claim 28, wherein at least one of the ultrasound transducer, the communications interface, the transcutaneous electrode interface, or the percutaneous electrode interface is at least partially disposed within the enclosure.