GB2157828A
Expired / Lapsed
GB
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and surgical instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-04-19
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An invasive instrument is provided with an ultrasonic transducer (4) which is responsive to ultrasonics 6 used for imaging. The instrument provides an active response by means of which the image formed by a scanner may be enhanced. The active response signal may be emitted as an ultrasonic pulse for detection by the imaging scanner (6), or may comprise an electrical signal which is electrically correlated with the scanning ultrasonic beam to provide location information. A method of making the instrument is also disclosed. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Lesny
- 👤 Joseph Aindow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
GB
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/223; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3403; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833; A61B8/0841; A61B2017/3413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An invasive instrument for providing an active response to an ultrasonic imaging signal, comprising a hollow member for insertion, in use, in a patient, a transducer positionable at a predetermined postion in the hollow member and being connected to means for feeding electrical signals to and from the transducer, the transducer being responsive to the ultrasonic signal for providing a signal indicative of said predetermined position and the member being positionable, in use, independent of the position of the source of the ultrasonic signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An invasive instrument for providing an active response to an ultrasonic imaging signal, comprising a hollow member for insertion, in use, in a patient, a transducer positionable at a predetermined postion in the hollow member and being connected to means for feeding electrical signals to and from the transducer, the transducer being responsive to the ultrasonic signal for providing a signal indicative of said predetermined position and the member being positionable, in use, independent of the position of the source of the ultrasonic signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transducer is mounted on a support or guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An instrument as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the support is a hollow needle and the signal feeding means comprises a conductor disposed within the needle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transducer is mounted on the member at said predetermined position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the hollow member is a hyperdermic needle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of
Claims 1 to 4, wherein the member is a catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the predetermined position is the tip of the hollow member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the transducer is connected to a transponder unit for sensing detection of the ultrasonic signal by the transducer and returning an electrical pulse to the transducer for conversion to a further ultrasonic signal detectable by an ultrasonic imaging device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of
Claims 1 to 7, wherein the transducer is connected to a correlation unit connectable to the source of the ultrasonic signal, for measuring a time delay between the transmission of the ultrasonic signal and the detection thereof by the transducer, the time delay being indicative of said predetermined position, and for providing an output signal indicative of said predetermined position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the transducer is formed from polyvinyl vinylidene diflouride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of
Claims 1 to 9, wherein the transducer is formed from lead zirconate titanate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising at least one further transducer, the transducers being disposed at different said predetermined positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Ultrasonic apparatus comprising an invasive instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims and further comprising an ultrasonic source and imaging device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
An invasive instrument for providing an active response to an ultrasonic imaging signal comprising a hollow member for insertion, in use, in a patient, a transducer positionable at a predetermined position in the hollow member and being connected to means for feeding electrical signals to and from the transducer, the transducer being responsive to the ultrasonic signal for providing a signal indicative of said predetermined position and further comprising a transponder unit for sensing detection of the ultrasonic signal by the transducer and returning an electrical pulse to the transducer for conversion to a further ultrasonic signal detectable by an ultrasonic imaging device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
An invasive instrument for providing an active response to an ultrasonic imaging signal comprising a hollow member for insertion, in use, in a patient, a transducer positionable at a predetermined position in the hollow member and being connected to means for feeding electrical signals to and from the transducer, the transducer being responsive to the ultrasonic signal for providing a signal indicative of said predetermined position and further comprising a transponder unit for sensing detection of the ultrasonic signal by the transducer and returning an electrical pulse to the transducer for conversion to a further ultrasonic signal detectable by an ultrasonic imaging device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of forming a transducer assembly for an invasive instrument comprising the steps of:
providing a support containing an electrical conductor
mounting a PVDF transducer element on the conductor so as to form an electrical connection to one surface of the element
applying electrically insulating material to insulate the surface opposed to said one surface from said one surface
sputtering an electrically conducting material over the element and at least part of the support; and
electroplating a metallic layer on top of the conducting material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of forming a transducer assembly for an invasive instrument comprising the steps of:
providing a support containing an electrical conductor
mounting a PVDF transducer element on the conductor so as to form an electrical connection to one surface of the element
applying electrically insulating material to insulate the surface opposed to said one surface from said one surface
sputtering an electrically conducting material over the element and at least part of the support; and
electroplating a metallic layer on top of the conducting material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An invasive instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An invasive instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An invasive instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An invasive instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
Ultrasonic apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
Ultrasonic apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
Ultrasonic apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
Ultrasonic apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 and, optionally, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
24 words
A method of forming a transducer element for an invasive instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
24 words
A method of forming a transducer element for an invasive instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1462147A
Cited
EP0083973A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.