US4373532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic marker for physiologic diagnosis and method of using same
Assignee: Sutter Health
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Filing: 1980-07-07
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Granted: 1983-02-15
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Expires: 2000-07-07
Abstract
Abstract For non-invasive diagnosis of conditions subsequent to a medical operative procedure, at the time of operation a "target" is sutured to tissue. Later, by use of an ultrasonic imaging system or other diagnostic instrument, the location of the target can be accurately determined. Thereupon, non-invasive techniques may be used in the target area to determine changes in physiology subsequent to implanting the target. For example, a target consisting of a fused array of small stainless steel balls is sutured to a coronary artery bypass graft. Later, to determine if the bypass graft is patent, by ultrasonic methods the location of the target and hence the bypass graft is determined. Then, using a Doppler-effect flowmeter, flow through the bypass graft may be measured and compared with prior measurements. The marking technique is also believed to be useful in postoperative determination of tumor growth at the locus of said marker.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce C. Hill
- 👤 Roger A. Stern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B5/00; A61B5/07; A61B5/076; A61B5/103; A61B5/107; A61B8/12; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A marker for ultrasonic diagnosis comprising a body which provides, upon being subjected to a beam of ultrasonic energy, a reflected, transmitted or scattered acoustic signal distinct from the signal produced by surrounding tissue and means for chronically securing said marker to animal tissue for implantation during surgery, said body comprising an array of balls tangent to a plurality of adjacent balls and attached at the points of tangency, said balls being metallic and fused to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A marker for ultrasonic diagnosis comprising a body which provides, upon being subjected to a beam of ultrasonic energy, a reflected, transmitted or scattered acoustic signal distinct from the signal produced by surrounding tissue and means for chronically securing said marker to animal tissue for implantation during surgery, said body comprising an array of balls tangent to a plurality of adjacent balls and attached at the points of tangency, said balls being metallic and fused to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A marker according to claim 1, in which said body is substantially planar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A marker according to claim 1 in which said attachment means for securing comprises the interstices between said balls through which a surgical needle and suture may pass.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of non-invasive, post-operative diagnosis of conditions at the locus of an anatomical structure not having ultrasonic characteristics distinguishable from adjacent structure, comprising performing an incision and medical operative procedure at said locus, implanting an ultrasonically detectable marker to tissue at said locus, and subsequently aiming by means of an ultrasonic diagnostic instrument an ultrasonic transducer beam in the region of said marker and recording on the screen of said instrument the image of said marker, thereby indicating said locus, said marker, upon being subjected to a beam of ultrasonic energy reflecting, scattering or transmitting an acoustic signal distinguishable from the signal produced by surrounding anatomical structure, said marker comprising a planar array of balls joined at their tangencies and in which the screen of said instrument shows a reverberatory pattern signature which indicates the direction and depth of said marker.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of non-invasive, post-operative diagnosis of conditions at the locus of an anatomical structure not having ultrasonic characteristics distinguishable from adjacent structure, comprising performing an incision and medical operative procedure at said locus, implanting an ultrasonically detectable marker to tissue at said locus, and subsequently aiming by means of an ultrasonic diagnostic instrument an ultrasonic transducer beam in the region of said marker and recording on the screen of said instrument the image of said marker, thereby indicating said locus, said marker, upon being subjected to a beam of ultrasonic energy reflecting, scattering or transmitting an acoustic signal distinguishable from the signal produced by surrounding anatomical structure, said marker comprising a planar array of balls joined at their tangencies and in which the screen of said instrument shows a reverberatory pattern signature which indicates the direction and depth of said marker.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4, which further comprises obtaining a Doppler-shift flowmeter analysis of blood flow in the region of said marker.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 4, in which said operative procedure is an artery bypass graft operation and said marker is sutured to said graft and which further comprises obtaining Doppler-shift analysis of blood flow at said marker and thereby determining whether said graft is patent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4010759A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-14 | 1986-08-16 | 1987-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-14 | 1990-08-16 | 1991-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-14 | 1994-08-16 | 1995-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |