Proximity detector with a medical instrument

Details Proximity detector with a medical instrument Proximity detector with a medical instrument

1989-01-30

1992-01-14

Hindenburg, Max

Surgery

Truss

Pad

604116, A61B 814

Patent

active

050801040

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a proximity detector which is primarily, though not exclusively, applicable to surgical or medical implements.
In surgical operations there is a risk, however careful the surgeon may be, of accidentally incising or damaging parts of the body such as arteries, viscera or nerves. Likewise when giving an injection by means of a hypodermic needle or the like, there may be a similar risk of causing such damage, but more importantly the invention can be applied in a contrary sense to assist in penetrating the artery.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide an instrument with means for producing a warning or control signal which will assist the surgeon or medical personnel in avoiding such damage, and/or in locating an internal target such as an artery.
From one aspect the invention consists in a proximity detector in conjunction with a surgical or medical instrument or the like, comprising an audio transducer positioned on or adjacent to the implement or a part thereof for detecting sounds or changes in pressure levels in the surrounding zone, and a response or actuatory system coupled to the transducer to provide an output related to the position of the implement relative to another object or body of interest, such as an artery.
In one preferred form of the invention the detector is designed to sense pulses created or existing within the body being operated upon, and by appropriate electronic circuitry to sense or measure the proximity of the body from the source of the pulsing input to the transducer.
For example, in the case of a blood artery, the arterial pulses produce cyclic sound signals which can be detected by an audio-electronic transducer. In some preferred systems according to the invention the detector is arranged in conjunction with a surgical implement, the audio transducer being mounted on or in contact with the cutting blade or other tool. Alternatively, in the case of a hypodermic needle or syringe the transducer may be positioned in good acoustic contact with the needle.
To reduce or eliminate extraneous "noise" or other pressure variations, the transducer is preferably coupled or connected to a comparator circuit having a second input derived from a different point on the body of the patient or other zone, such that the comparator output is representative of the local sound signals only.
In any case, the apparatus preferably includes an amplifier coupled to the transducer and means responsive to the output of the amplifier to determine the distance between the implement and a pre-selected object.
In some forms of the invention the apparatus includes an audible, visual or tactile warning device to indicate proximity of the instrument to an artery or viscera. Alternatively, there may be an automatic control system or actuator for positively preventing further incision or penetration by the implement.
According to another preferred feature of the invention, the apparatus includes a radio transmission link between the audio transducer and a remote comparator, or warning, indicating or control device.
As previously mentioned the invention may be applied to a hypodermic syringe and needle, in which case the detector is used to assist the user in finding and penetrating an artery rather than avoiding it.
Broadly stated from this aspect the invention consists in a hypodermic syringe and needle including an audio transducer acoustically coupled with the needle to sense pressure changes or vibrations in tissue adjacent to the needle.
As applied to a hypodermic syringe and needle it is often useful or important for the user to know that the tip of the needle is in the proper position for making an injection, often into an artery. Thus the transducer is preferably arranged to detect and indicate proximity of the needle to an artery, and it may be arranged to detect when the needle has actually penetrated an artery.
In a particular preferred construction the transducer is located in close contact with the

REFERENCES:
patent: 3745989 (1973-07-01), Pinna
patent: 4175567 (1979-11-01), Patel
patent: 4248241 (1981-02-01), Tacchi
patent: 4344436 (1982-08-01), Kubota
patent: 4527569 (1985-07-01), Kolb
patent: 4535773 (1985-08-01), Yoon
patent: 4667679 (1987-05-01), Sahota
patent: 4804054 (1989-02-01), Howson et al.

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