APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROPER TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY PROBE POSITIONING BY USING CAMERA FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING

• US 20160150947A1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visera Technologies Company Limited (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visera Technologies Company Limited (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited)
• Inventors: Marmor, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00018 using electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2733 Oesophagoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects

Abstract

An apparatus, system and methods that comprise adding a removable or detachable carrier containing a camera and illumination to a TEE probe, thereby allowing the user to view the placement of the probe and minimize or reduce the risk of esophageal and pharyngeal complications during the positioning of the TEE probe into the patient'"'"'s esophagus. The reduction or minimization of complications occurs by allowing the cardiologist direct visualization of pharyngeal and esophageal structures during intubation. This device and procedure eliminate any “blind procedure”, whereby direct visualization of the pharyngeal structures and esophagus present a possible solution to these mechanical complications. Once the TEE probe has been properly positioned in the esophagus, the carrier is removed from the esophagus. The removable or detachable camera of the present disclosure can be used in other industries.

Claims

1. A Transesophageal Echocardiography Endoscopic (TEE) camera assist device for adding direct visualization of a patient'"'"'s esophagus during Transesophageal Echocardiography intubation, comprising:

a carrier, said carrier a proximal component, a mid-section lumen and a distal component, said distal component and a portion of said mid-section lumen to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s esophagus during intubation along with a TEE probe;

said distal component configured to removeably attach to a distal side of said TEE probe opposite the transducer;

said distal component further comprising a camera and a light source;

wherein, said distal component is removeably attached to said distal side of a TEE probe opposite the transducer prior to intubation of the TEE probe, thereby allowing camera view direct visualization during the intubation proceeding, and allowing detachment of the distal component from the distal side, and removal of said carrier from the esophagus while leaving the TEE probe in the esophagus.

2. The TEE camera assist device of claim 1, further comprising at least one wire, said at least one wire located inside an interior portion of said mid-section lumen, said at least one wire connected to said camera.

3. The TEE camera assist device of claim 2, further comprising a video monitor connected to said camera by said at least one wire, wherein said camera view visualization of the intubation proceeding is viewed on said video monitor.

4. The TEE camera assist device of claim 1, in which said camera sends signals wirelessly to a monitor.

5. The TEE camera assist device of claim 3, wherein said video monitor is a separate monitor from a TEE probe monitor.

6. The TEE camera assist device of claim 3, wherein said video monitor is the same monitor as a TEE probe monitor.

7. The TEE camera assist device of claim 1, wherein said distal component comprises a concave side, said concave side configured to removeably attach to said distal side of said TEE probe opposite the transducer.

8. The TEE camera assist device of claim 1, wherein said camera and said light source are combined as a single device.

9. The TEE camera assist device of claim 1, wherein said carrier is disposable after a single TEE intubation, while said camera can be re-used for additional TEE intubations.

10. The TEE camera assist device of claim 1, wherein said carrier and said camera are both disposable after a single TEE intubation.

11. A method of using a Transesophageal Echocardiography Endoscopic (TEE) camera assist device for adding direct visualization of a patient'"'"'s esophagus during Transesophageal Echocardiography intubation, the steps comprising:

prior to intubation, removeably attaching a carrier to a TEE probe, said carrier having a proximal component, a mid-section lumen and a distal component, said distal component configured to removeably attach to a distal side of said TEE probe opposite the transducer, said distal component and a portion of said mid-section lumen to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s esophagus during intubation along with the TEE probe, said distal component further comprising a camera and a light source;

intubating a patient with said TEE probe and said distal component removeably attached to said distal side of a TEE probe opposite the transducer, and said portion of said mid-section lumen;

viewing the intubation proceeding from the camera view;

detaching the distal component from the distal side of said TEE probe opposite the transducer;

removing said carrier from the esophagus while leaving the TEE probe in the esophagus.

12. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 11, further comprising at least one wire, said at least one wire located inside an interior portion of said mid-section lumen, said at least one wire connected to said camera.

13. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 12, further comprising a video monitor connected to said camera by said at least one wire, wherein said viewing the intubation proceeding from the camera view is viewed on said video monitor.

14. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 11, in which said camera sends signals wirelessly to a monitor.

15. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 13, wherein said video monitor is a separate monitor from a TEE probe monitor.

16. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 13, wherein said video monitor is the same monitor as a TEE probe monitor.

17. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 11, wherein said distal component comprises a concave side, said concave side configured to removeably attach to said distal side of said TEE probe opposite the transducer.

18. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 11, wherein said camera and said light source are combined as a single device.

19. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 11, wherein said carrier is disposable after a single use, while said camera can be re-used for additional TEE intubations.

20. The method of using a TEE camera assist device of claim 11, wherein said carrier and said camera are both disposable after a single TEE intubation.