Device and method for locating anatomical cavity in a body

• US 7,922,689 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milestone Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Adrianus Jacobus Johannes Maas, Christianus Jacobus Maria Langenberg, Franklin Robert Christiaan Van Dorsten, Jan Van Niekerk, Leonardus Johannes Maria Teunissen, Maarten Gerardus Franciscus Van Wijk, Marinus Adriaan Drost, Timotheus Joan Marie Lechner
• Inventors: Lechner, Timotheus Joan Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US10/481,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,218 Days
• Field of Search: 604/6.11, 604/9, 604/65, 604/67, 604/123, 604/146, 604/188, 604/193, 604/194, 604/195, 604/196, 604/93.01, 417/4, 417/6, 417/14, 417/19, 417/25, 417/31, 417/38, 417/44.2, 417/44.3, 417/112, 417/115, 417/120, 417/142, 606/191
• US Class Current: 604/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/032 Spinal fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4896 Epidural space
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7415 Sound rendering of measured values, e.g. by pitch or volume variation A61B5/741 takes precedence

Abstract

A device (1) is designed for locating a region which is situated in a body (10). The device has a fluid-filled reservoir (30) which is closed off in a sealed manner by a displaceable plunger (32) and is connected to a hollow puncture needle (20). To measure the pressure prevailing in the fluid, the device has a pressure gauge (40). A signal converter (50) is used to convert a continuous pressure-measurement signal provided by the pressure gauge (40) into a form which is suitable for further processing. A synthesizer (60) is designed to process the converted pressure-measurement signal into a continuous sound signal which is representative of the pressure. If, during a displacement of the puncture needle (20), a needle point (21) reaches the anatomical cavity (15), the result is a readily perceptible change in the sound signal. The device records the pressure-measurement signal over the course of time.

Claims

1. Assembly for a device for locating a region which is situated in a body, comprising:

a hollow needle for locating the region;

a fluid-filled reservoir which is in communication with said needle; and

a pump for pressurizing the fluid;

a measuring device for creating a pressure-measurement signal which is related to pressure prevailing in the fluid-filled reservoir;

a signal-converter designed for converting said pressure-measurement signal created by said measuring device into a converted signal which is suitable for further processing; and

a reproduction device designed for processing the converted signal to emit an acoustic signal which is related to the converted signal;

wherein said converted signal and said acoustic signal are both continuously representative of the instantaneous pressure prevailing in the fluid in order to provide that the acoustic signal is always an acoustic reproduction of the instantaneous pressure prevailing in the fluid such that changes in said pressure directly lead to changes in the acoustic signal.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction device emits an acoustic signal having a volume that is continuously representative of the instantaneous pressure prevailing in the fluid.

3. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said signal-converter is designed to emit said pressure-measurement signal in the form of an electric voltage.

4. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction device comprises a synthesizer, an audio amplifier and a loudspeaker.

5. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction device comprises a visual reproduction device for continuously emitting a visual signal which is continuously representative of the instantaneous pressure prevailing in the fluid.

6. Assembly according to claim 5, wherein the visual reproduction device comprises an amplifier and a screen.

7. Assembly according to claim 1, comprising a recorder for recording the profile of said pressure-measurement signal over the course of time.

8. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pump comprises a displaceable plunger.

9. Assembly according to claim 8, wherein said pump comprises an automatic pump for automatically pumping fluid.

10. Assembly according to claim 9, wherein said automatic pump is designed to continuously deliver fluid.

11. Assembly according to claim 9, wherein said pump comprises a drive unit which is designed to displace said plunger in said reservoir.

12. Assembly according to claim 11, wherein said measuring device is designed to pick up the force which is exerted on said plunger by said drive unit.

13. Assembly according to claim 11, wherein said pump is provided with a displaceable connecting rod, one end of which is intended to bear against said displaceable plunger, and with a drive unit for effecting a displacement of said connecting rod.

14. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein said measuring device is provided with a force pick-up for picking up the force exerted on said connecting rod.

15. Assembly according to claim 14, wherein said signal-converter comprises a force-voltage converter.

16. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein at least a section of said connecting rod is provided with helical toothing.

17. Assembly according to claim 1, comprising a pressure-limiting device for limiting fluid pressure.

18. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing that defines a space which is located in the interior of said housing and is suitable for accommodating the fluid-filled reservoir which is connected to said pump;

wherein said assembly is capable of locating a region which is situated in a body.

19. Assembly according to claim 18, comprising a clamp for clamping said device to any desired object, said clamp disposed on the exterior of said housing.