Ultrasonic finger probe

• US 20040267133A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Podany, Vaclav O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,128,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/53 connected to the surgeon's body, e.g. by a belt
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An ultrasonic finger probe including: a body having an ultrasonic transducer disposed therein, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator; and a securing device for securing the body to one or more fingers of an operator.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic finger probe comprising:

a body having an ultrasonic transducer disposed therein, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator; and

securing means for securing the body to one or more fingers of an operator.

2. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic generator is remote from the ultrasonic transducer and operatively connected thereto by wiring.

3. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 1, wherein the body has a surface configured for creating lesions in tissue.

4. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 1, wherein the body of the ultrasonic transducer is an elongated bar and has a length sufficient to span the joints of the one or more fingers to which it is secured.

5. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises one or more elastic loops fastened to the body and configured for securing the one of more fingers to the body, the one or more elastic loops being fabricated from an elastic material.

6. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 5, wherein the elastic material is selected from a group consisting of an elastomer, a fabric, and a composite elastic/fabric.

7. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 5, wherein the one or more elastic loops comprises two elastic loops and the one or more fingers comprises one finger.

8. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises one or more loops, each of the loops having two free ends, one of the free ends having a hook material and the other of the free ends having a loop material, the free ends being wrapped around the one or more fingers and the hook material being secured to the loop material.

9. The ultrasonic finger probe of claim 8, wherein the one or more loops comprises two loops and the one or more fingers comprises one finger.

10. A method for applying ultrasound energy to tissue, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasonic finger probe having a body with an ultrasonic transducer disposed therein, the body having a surface for applying ultrasonic energy to tissue;

securing the ultrasonic finger probe to one or more fingers of an operator;

applying the surface of the ultrasonic finger probe to the tissue; and

generating ultrasonic energy and supplying the same to the ultrasonic transducer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying comprises applying the ultrasonic finger probe on a surface of the heart.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating comprises generating ultrasonic energy and supplying the same to the ultrasonic transducer in an amount sufficient to create lesions on at least the surface of the heart.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising repeating the applying and generating steps to create a plurality of lesions by manipulating the ultrasonic finger probe with the at least one finger secured thereto.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the manipulating comprises joining the plurality of lesions to form a single long lesion.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising stabilizing the heart with fingers of a same hand other than the one or more fingers secured to the ultrasonic finger probe.

16. An ultrasonic finger probe comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator; and

securing means for securing the ultrasonic transducer to one or more fingers of an operator.