EP0083973A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasound probe locator
Assignee: Technicare Corp
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Filing: 1983-01-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-01-06
Abstract
Abstract Techniques for locating the tip of a hollow needle probe are disclosed. The needle (101) contains a conduit for conducting ultrasonic energy to energy receiving means outside the body. In one embodiment the conduit comprises a sonically conductive rod (102). When directional information is desired, a plurality of conduits may be used, or a single conduit including a plurality of detector transducers located near the needle tip. A system for irradiating the probe is shown and a method for use of the present invention is provided. The conduit may also be insulated from the needle by a packing of microspheres.
Inventors
- 👤 William S. N. Trimmer
- 👤 Bayard Gardineer, Jr.
- 👤 Andreas Hadjicostis
- 👤 David H. R. Vilkomerson
- 👤 Wayne C. Robbins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3403; A61B1/00; A61B1/00142; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833; A61B8/0841; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320088; A61B2017/3413; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3925; A61B2090/3929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
In a system for deriving an image of a region of a body by applying ultrasound energy to the region by means of an external transducer probe locator apparatus comprising: a) hollow needle means for insertion into the body; b) conduit means, carried within said needle means, for detecting ultrasound energy near the tip region of said needle means and for conveying said energy through said needle means and outside the body; and c) means coupled to receive energy from said conduit means outside the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a system for deriving an image of a region of a body by applying ultrasound energy to the region by means of an external transducer probe locator apparatus comprising: a) hollow needle means for insertion into the body; b) conduit means, carried within said needle means, for detecting ultrasound energy near the tip region of said needle means and for conveying said energy through said needle means and outside the body; and c) means coupled to receive energy from said conduit means outside the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises a solid, sonically conductive rod extending inside said needle means and terminating in an oblique surface cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said conduit means includes a matching layer, attached to said cross-section, for coupling incident sonic energy to said rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said conduit means forms an annular liquid tight seal near the inserted extremity of said needle means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said conduit means comprises plural solid rods carried within said needle means and extending respective plural different distances into the body, thereby providing means for sensing the timed receipt of sonic pulses at said distances, and hence the direction and propagation speed of sonic energy in the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said rod makes periodic, relatively short contacts with the inner surface of said needle means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said rod defines periodic annular ridges spanning a gap between said rod and said needle means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said rod is helical in configuration, thereby making periodic contact with the inner surface of said needle means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising acoustic insulation of said conduit means from the means for inner surface of said needle means, wherein said means for insulation comprises a packing of microspheres in the void between said conduit means and the inner surface of said needle means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Insulation means as described in claim 9 wherein said microspheres are hollow, composed of plastic material, and sized in the range less than 0.1 mm. diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Insulation means as described in claim 10 wherein said conduit means is composed of solid, sonically conductive material, and said microspheres are bonded to said conduit menas and to one another by low viscosity, sonically non-conductive epoxy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: said conduit means includes a plurality of detector transducers disposed at selected locations near the tip region of said needle means; said energy receiving neans comprises circuit means electrically coupled to said 'detector transducers for sensing the sequence of arrival of ultrasonic waves at said locations; and further comprising a pulse-echo ultrasound imaging system for imaging a scan area of the body which includes said selected locations, said imaging means including an imaging transducer for acoustic coupling to the exterior of the body, whereby the relative directional position of said hollow needle means with respect to said scan area may be determined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising indicator means for indication of said relative directional position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said circuit means comprises a phase comparator means for determining the sequence of arrival of said waves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said circuit means further comprises bistable means driven by said comparator means for selectively maintaining the relative directional indication of said indicator means until a different arrival sequence is detected by said phase comparator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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