Ultrasonic probe with positioning device for examination devices and operation devices

• US 20040092821A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovacell Biotechnologie AG
• Original Assignee: Innovacell Biotechnologie AG
• Inventors: Marksteiner, Rainer, Strasser, Hannes, Hering, Steffen
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe with an ultrasonic head (K), which is arranged on or in a shaft (S) and is moveable with or in this shaft, and a positioning apparatus (P) for at least one examination or operating device is described, which is connected with the shaft. Also, medical operating apparatuses with examination probes and uses of the ultrasonic probe and the medical implements are described.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe with an ultrasonic head (K), which is attached to a shaft (S) and is moveable with the shaft (S) or is arranged in a shaft (S) and is moveable in the shaft (S), and a positioning apparatus for at least one examination or operating device,

characterized in that,

the positioning apparatus has at least one puncture guide (F) with at least one tube or slot-shaped lumen (L) for receiving the examination or operating device (M), wherein the lumen (L) is adjustable with a deflection device (AV) with a predetermined angle relative to an axis of the shaft (S) and/or is displaceable at a predetermined distance parallel to the axis of the shaft (S).

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, in which the lumen (L) with the deflection device (AV) is displaceable with a predetermined orientation relative to the ultrasonic head (K).

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, in which the positioning apparatus is arranged on an outer side of the shaft (S).

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, in which the positioning apparatus is arranged in the shaft (S) and/or between the shaft (S) and the ultrasonic head (K).

5. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, in which the deflection device (AV) can be actuated with a control device (SV), wherein the control device (SV) is connected with a calculating unit for determining relative coordinates of the lumen, the exit opening of the lumen, or the examination or operating device (M) inserted in the lumen in an operating state with reference to the ultrasonic head (K) and a coordinate generator.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, which is equipped with an image-generating system and a display device for representing an ultrasonic image, whereby the coordinate generator is connected with the image-generating system and the display device and is arranged for transferring image data to the image-generating system that are characteristic for relative coordinates determined by the calculating unit.

7. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, in which a needle-receiving device is located on the exit of the puncture guide (F) and/or the lumen (L).

8. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, in which the puncture guide (F) is releasably connected with the ultrasonic probe.

9. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, in which the puncture guide (F) comprises sterilizable and reusable material or a one-way material, preferably, plastic.

10. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with an endoscope.

11. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, in which an exit nozzle is provided on the end of the lumen (L).

12. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with a perfusion channel or perfusion catheter with a free end near or in front of the ultrasonic head (K).

13. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped on a free end of the shaft (S) with a pressure sensor (D) and/or a vibration or displacement device.

14. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with an electrode device with at least one stimulus electrode and/or at least one electro-myogram electrode (D).

15. The ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims, which has at least one removable hook and/or at least one inflatable balloon, with which the ultrasonic head (K), the positioning apparatus and/or the shaft (S) can be releasably fixed to a tissue or organ to be analyzed or treated.

16. A medical apparatus, which has an ultrasonic probe according to one of the preceding claims and at least one examination or operating device (M) arranged in the positioning apparatus.

17. The medical apparatus according to claim 16, in which the examination or operating device includes a biopsy needle, a pipette, a catheter, an injection needle, a surgical implement, a working probe, preferably, a laser-, coagulation-, high frequency-, radio frequency- or cryo-probe, an ultrasonic probe, and/or an endoscope.

18. The medical apparatus according to claim 17, which is equipped with a hydro-pneumatic system, with which pharmaceuticals, solutions, suspensions, and/or living

representing of the position and/or movement distance of the examination or operating device as a puncture aid marking on the display device,

wherein the puncture aid marking is shown on the relative coordinates supplied from the coordinate generator;

and

inserting of the examination or operating device into the positioning apparatus.

28. The method for injection of living cells in a carrier medium and/or biomaterials or biocompatible substances in an organism, wherein an ultrasonic probe or a medical apparatus according to one of claims 1 through 22 is used.

29. The method according to claim 28, in which a transurethral or transrectal injection for therapy of urinary incontinence or stool incontinence takes place.

30. The method according to claim 29, in which myoblasts, fibroblast, bulking agents, for example, collagen, pharmacological substances and/or growth factors are injected.

31. The method according to claim 29 or 30, in which a measurement with a pressure sensor of the urethra pressure profile takes place during or after the injection.

32. The method according to one of claims 29 through 31, in which, with a stimulating electrode, a field stimulus of muscle fibers in the surrounding environment of the sonic head and a detection of contractibility parameters in an ultrasonic image take place.

33. The method according to one of claims 29 through 32, in which an electro-myogram is recorded with an electro-myogram electrode.

34. The method according to one of claims 29 through 33, in which tissue in the surrounding environment of the ultrasonic head (K) is mechanically stimulated with a vibration or displacement device and an ultrasonic elastograph measurement takes place.

35. The method for producing a puncture aid marking on a display device of a image-generating system of an ultrasonic probe according to one of claims 5 through 15, in which image data of the puncture aid marking from the relative coordinates of the lumen, the exit opening of the lumen, or an operating state of the examination or operating device (M) inserted in the lumen with reference to the ultrasonic head (K) are determined.

24. The method according to claim 23, in which a selective positioning of the examination or operating device in the organism takes place.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, in which the ultrasonic probe, the medical implement, or the positioning apparatus is fixed with at least one hook and/or at least one inflatable balloon temporarily in the organism.

26. The method according to one of claims 23 through 25, in which the ultrasound probe is inserted in a hollow organ, such as, for example, the gastrointestinal tract, the urogenital tract, the nose and sinus cavities, airways, joints, body cavities, such as for example, the abdominal cavity, the chest cavity, cranium cavities, the pelvic cavity, in a puncture channel, vessels, or intra-operatively in an operation area.

27. The method according to one of claims 23 through 26, in which into the organism, pharmaceuticals, liquids, solutions, suspensions with biological or biocompatible material and/or suspensions with living cells, in particular, with or without carrier materials, are applied.