Device and method for locating anatomical cavity in a body

• US 20040215080A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/463
• 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

The invention describes a device (1) for locating an anatomical cavity (15) inside a body (10). The device comprises 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 comprises 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 comprises recording means for recording the pressure-measurement signal over the course of time.

Claims

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

a hollow needle;

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

pump means for pressurizing the fluid;

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

signal-conversion means for converting said pressure-measurement signal created by said measuring means into a form which is suitable for further processing, and

reproduction means for emitting an acoustic signal which is related to said pressure-measurement signal which has been converted by said signal-conversion means, wherein

said reproduction means are designed to emit said acoustic signal which is representative of the pressure prevailing in the fluid.

2. Device according to claim 1, herein the pitch of said acoustic signal is representative of the pressure prevailing in the fluid.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the volume of said acoustic signal is representative of the pressure prevailing in the fluid.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein said signal-conversion means are designed to emit said pressure-measurement signal in the form of an electric voltage.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction means comprise a synthesizer, an audio amplifier and a loudspeaker.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized by visual reproduction means which are designed to emit a visual signal which is representative of the pressure prevailing in the fluid.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the visual reproduction means comprise an amplifier and a screen.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized by recording means which are designed to record the profile of said pressure-measurement signal over the course of time.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein said pump means comprise a displaceable plunger.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized by automatic pump means.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein said automatic pump means are designed to continuously deliver fluid.

12. Device according to claim 10, wherein said pump means comprise a drive unit which is designed to displace said plunger in said reservoir.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein said measuring means are designed to pick up the force which is exerted on said plunger by said drive unit.

14. Device according to claim 1, wherein pressure-limiting means are provided for the purpose of limiting the fluid pressure.

15. Measuring and signalling device, intended in particular for use in a device according to claim 1, comprising:

a housing;

a space which is located in the interior of said housing and is suitable for accommodating a fluid-filled reservoir which is connected to pump means for pressurizing the fluid, said reservoir being designed to be connected to a hollow needle;

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

signal-conversion means for converting said pressure-measurement signal created by said measuring means into a form which is suitable for further processing; and

reproduction means which are designed to emit an acoustic signal which is representative of said pressure-measurement signal which has been converted by said signal-conversion means.

16. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 15, wherein said pump means comprise a displaceable plunger.

17. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 16, wherein automatic pump means are provided.

18. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 17, wherein said pump means are designed to deliver fluid continuously.

19. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 17, wherein said pump means comprise a drive unit for displacing said plunger.

20. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 19, wherein said measuring means are designed to create said pressure-measurement signal on the basis of the force exerted on said plunger by said drive unit.

21. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 19, wherein said pump means are 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.

22. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 21, wherein said measuring means are provided with a force pick-up for picking up the force exerted on said connecting rod.

23. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 22, wherein said signal-conversion means comprise a force-voltage converter.

24. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 21, wherein at least a section of said connecting rode is provided with helical toothing.

25. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 15, wherein said acoustic reproduction means comprise a synthesizer and a loudspeaker.

26. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 15, characterized by visual reproduction means for emitting a visual signal which is representative of said pressure-measurement signal.

27. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 26, wherein said visual reproduction means comprise an amplifier and a screen.

28. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 15 characterized by recording means which are designed to record the profile of said pressure-measurement signal over the course of time.

29. Measuring and signalling device according to claim 15, characterized by clamping means which are provided on the exterior of the housing for clamping said device to any desired object.

35. Assembly for a device according to claim 1, comprising:

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

signal-conversion means for converting said pressure-measurement signal created by said measuring means into a form which is suitable for further processing; and

reproduction means which are designed to emit an acoustic signal which is representative of said pressure-measurement signal which has been converted by said signal-conversion means.

30. Device for locating a region which is situated in a body, comprising:

a hollow needle;

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

pump means for pressurizing the fluid;

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

signal-conversion means for converting said pressure-measurement signal created by said measuring means into a form which is suitable for further processing, characterized by

recording means which are designed to record said pressure-measurement signal over the course of time.

31. Device according to claim 30, wherein said recording means comprise an electronic memory which is designed to store said pressure-measurement data.

32. Device according to claim 30, wherein said recording means comprise a magnetizable storage means, which is designed to store said pressure-measurement data.

33. Method for signalling pressure in a body at the location of a needle point of a hollow needle located in said body to an observer, comprising the following steps:

introducing fluid into the needle;

applying an elevated pressure to the fluid;

measuring the pressure in the fluid; and

generating an acoustic signal which is representative of the instantaneous pressure in the fluid.

34. Method according to claim 33, characterized by the generation of a visual signal which is representative of said instantaneous pressure in the fluid.