Image guided catheter having remotely controlled surfaces-mounted and internal ultrasound transducers
First Claim
1. A. system for use in a minimally invasive medical procedure comprisinga manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly configured to provide a transducer range of imaging a human body from a skin surface of the human body when in use, the manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly for wirelessly communicating with a remote workstation including a display wherein said assembly comprises at least one transducer element for collecting ultrasound images within the transducer imaging range, the manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly further comprising:
- a motor configured for rotating said at least one transducer element responsive to motor control data received from said remote workstation, the motor configured to rotate the at least one transducer in a plane parallel to a body part of the human body to be imaged when said manipulatable transducer assembly is located at the external human body skin surface during use, anda housing for said at least one transducer element and said motor, said housing having a relatively smooth surface configured for fixation to said external human body skin surface; and
the system further comprisingan image guided catheter configured for internal human body imaging structurally interconnected to said manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly, the image guided catheter for communicating with said remote workstation including said display, the image guided catheter comprising an elongate body having a tapered tip at a distal end of the elongate body and an ultrasound transducer element located at an outer periphery of the tapered tip of the elongate body and oriented to provide a forward imaging zone, the forward imaging zone including an image of an insertable needle extending from an end aperture at the distal end of the tapered tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely manipulatable ultrasound transducer element or transducer array permits an operator of an ultrasound system to be remotely located from a patient and yet remotely control the location of the element or array on a patient'"'"'s body such as on the skin surface or within a body cavity. The transducer element or transducer array associated with motors and control circuits comprises an assembly within a housing for fixation to or within a human body. The transducer assembly may be fixed to a ring surrounding an image guided catheter and may rotate about the image guided catheter or move along its length to an anchoring position proximate the surface skin. Two embodiment systems for pericardial access may comprise surface and internal vision or ultrasound guidance systems that are wireless or wired one operating on suction and another on mechanical grasping of the pericardial lining.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A. system for use in a minimally invasive medical procedure comprising
a manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly configured to provide a transducer range of imaging a human body from a skin surface of the human body when in use, the manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly for wirelessly communicating with a remote workstation including a display wherein said assembly comprises at least one transducer element for collecting ultrasound images within the transducer imaging range, the manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly further comprising: -
a motor configured for rotating said at least one transducer element responsive to motor control data received from said remote workstation, the motor configured to rotate the at least one transducer in a plane parallel to a body part of the human body to be imaged when said manipulatable transducer assembly is located at the external human body skin surface during use, and a housing for said at least one transducer element and said motor, said housing having a relatively smooth surface configured for fixation to said external human body skin surface; and
the system further comprisingan image guided catheter configured for internal human body imaging structurally interconnected to said manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly, the image guided catheter for communicating with said remote workstation including said display, the image guided catheter comprising an elongate body having a tapered tip at a distal end of the elongate body and an ultrasound transducer element located at an outer periphery of the tapered tip of the elongate body and oriented to provide a forward imaging zone, the forward imaging zone including an image of an insertable needle extending from an end aperture at the distal end of the tapered tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification