Ultrasound systems and methods for orthopedic applications
First Claim
1. A medical diagnostic instrument, comprising:
- a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument;
an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and
a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe;
wherein the ultrasound transducer and the distal end are cooperatively configured, oriented, and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the ultrasound transducer and the distal end into a desired anatomical location to permit the operator to obtain thereat a corresponding two-dimensional image of the anatomical location for visual inspection by the operator for purposes of detecting ultrasonically-detectable anatomical properties; and
wherein the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe into the desired anatomical location to permit the operator to perform thereat a tactile inspection of the selected anatomical location.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Medical diagnostic instruments and systems are provided that include (i) a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; (ii) an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and (iii) a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip (e.g., a ball tip) defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe. Advantageous methods for use of the disclosed instruments and systems are also provided, e.g., for detecting breaches in cortical bones in connection with pedicle screw placement.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A medical diagnostic instrument, comprising:
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a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe; wherein the ultrasound transducer and the distal end are cooperatively configured, oriented, and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the ultrasound transducer and the distal end into a desired anatomical location to permit the operator to obtain thereat a corresponding two-dimensional image of the anatomical location for visual inspection by the operator for purposes of detecting ultrasonically-detectable anatomical properties; and wherein the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe into the desired anatomical location to permit the operator to perform thereat a tactile inspection of the selected anatomical location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A medical diagnostic system for use in conjunction with bone tissue, comprising:
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a medical diagnostic instrument, the instrument including; a handle, the handle being disposable proximate an operator of the instrument, the handle being further configured and dimensioned to permit the operator to manually grasp the instrument and manipulate the instrument relative to the spine of a human patient; an ultrasound probe, the ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of side-firing ultrasonic energy generation elements extending along the longitudinal shaft, wherein the ultrasound transducer and the distal end are cooperatively configured, oriented, and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the ultrasound transducer and the distal end into a pedicle screw pilot hole formed in the spine of the human patient such that the array of side-firing ultrasonic energy generation elements of the ultrasound transducer extends axially along, and is positioned against, a selected portion of a side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole, and to permit the operator to obtain thereat a corresponding two-dimensional image of the selected portion of the side wall for visual inspection by the operator for purposes of detecting ultrasonically-detectable cortical breaches located therein; a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally therefrom beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe, the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe being cooperatively configured and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe into the pedicle screw pilot hole such that the feeler probe tip is positioned against the selected portion of the side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole, and to permit the operator to perform thereat a tactile inspection of the selected portion of the side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole for purposes of detecting manually-detectable cortical breaches located therein; and a first cable assembly for carrying electrical signals to and from the ultrasound transducer in accordance with an ultrasonic imaging mode of use of the instrument, the cable assembly including a proximal end including a first electrical connector for connecting the instrument to a corresponding ultrasound console and current carrying wires extending distally from the electrical connector, through the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and to the ultrasound transducer; an ultrasound console including a processor for controlling the medical diagnostic instrument, a display for displaying two-dimensional ultrasonic images obtained therefrom by an operator thereof, and a port for receiving a corresponding cable connector; and a second cable assembly for carrying electrical signals to and from the ultrasound console, the second cable assembly including a second electrical connector coupled to a the port associated with the ultrasound console, a third electrical connector coupled to the first electrical connector, and current carrying wires extending therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of exploring a pedicle screw pilot hole formed in the spine of a human patient for cortical breaches located in the axially-extending side-walls thereof, the method including:
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presenting a medical diagnostic instrument, the instrument including; a handle; an ultrasound probe, the ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of side-firing ultrasonic energy generation elements extending along the longitudinal shaft; and a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally therefrom beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe; employing the handle to manually grasp and manipulate the medical diagnostic instrument relative to the spine of a human patient, including inserting the ultrasound transducer and the distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe, and the feeler probe tip and the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe into a pedicle screw pilot hole formed in the spine of the human patient; positioning the array of side-firing ultrasonic energy generation elements of the ultrasound transducer relative to a selected portion of a side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole such that the array of side-firing ultrasonic energy generation elements extends axially along, and is positioned against, the selected portion of a side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole; employing the array of side-firing ultrasonic energy generation elements of the ultrasound transducer to obtain a two-dimensional image of the selected portion of the side wall for visual inspection for purposes of detecting ultrasonically-detectable cortical breaches located therein; positioning the feeler probe tip of the tactile feeler probe relative to the selected portion of the side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole such that the feeler probe tip is positioned against the side wall of the pedicle screw pilot hole; employing the feeler probe tip of the tactile feeler probe to perform a tactile inspection of the selected portion of the side wall for purposes of detecting manually-detectable cortical breaches located therein; and performing the two positioning and the two employing steps without removing any of the ultrasound transducer or the distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe or the feeler probe tip of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe from the pedicle screw pilot hole. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification