US6081741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Infrared surgical site locating device and method
Assignee: Vector Medical Inc
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Filing: 1999-05-19
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Granted: 2000-06-27
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Expires: 2019-05-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for guiding a surgical instrument within and around the human body. During surgery on the body it is often necessary to approach a specific anatomical location precisely and directly in order to minimize unwanted surgical trauma and to place a soft tissue incision or a bone drill hole in an accurate location. The invention employs a light emitter an array of light sensors and a display to accurately locate an anatomical feature into which the light emitter has been placed. The light emitted from the emitter is detected after passing through a thickness of bone and/or soft tissue by the sensor array. The signal from the sensor array is processed and information indicating the relative direction of the emitter from the sensor is displayed. The surgeon then can proceed in the direction indicated. The system can be used for surgical aiming, locating and guidance to direct cutting, vascular surgeries or various types of visceral surgeries or brain surgery where the emitter catheter is guided into an area where surgery is performed. Other applications would not necessitate advancing through tissue but would be used for locating the position on the surface of a body overlying the emitter. An example of this would be to aim a radiation beam for cancer treatment. The sensor may be placed around a drill guide and the directional indicators used in orthopaedic surgery to locate an emitter placed within an intramedullary rod.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Marcus Hollis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/17; A61B17/1725; A61B17/1703; A61B5/00; A61B5/06; A61B5/061; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B17/34; A61B17/3403; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3937; A61B2090/3945; A61B2090/397; A61B2090/3975; A61B2090/3979; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A guidance system for locating points in a living body having passages therein comprising: a. an emitter for emitting light of a predetermined frequency and means for introducing said emitter into a selected passage in said living body, b. a detector having a plurality of individual sensors mounted in a sensor array such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors of said sensor array and produces an electrical signal proportional to the light impinging thereon, c. a processor for processing intensity of light from said light emitter passing through said body tissue and falling on each sensor, respectively, in said sensor array, and d. an indicator display connected to said processor for indicating the relative intensity of light impinging on said sensors, respectively, as a function of a location of said light emitter in said living body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A guidance system for locating points in a living body having passages therein comprising: a. an emitter for emitting light of a predetermined frequency and means for introducing said emitter into a selected passage in said living body, b. a detector having a plurality of individual sensors mounted in a sensor array such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors of said sensor array and produces an electrical signal proportional to the light impinging thereon, c. a processor for processing intensity of light from said light emitter passing through said body tissue and falling on each sensor, respectively, in said sensor array, and d. an indicator display connected to said processor for indicating the relative intensity of light impinging on said sensors, respectively, as a function of a location of said light emitter in said living body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidance system defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined frequency is infrared.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidance system defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing includes a catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The guidance system defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing is adapted to position said emitter at the target zone for radiation treatment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a bone drill guide for guiding a drill bit to specific point for drilling a hole in bone having an intramedullar canal, comprising a guidance system for locating a point in said bone including: a. an emitter for emitting infrared light and means for introducing said emitter into said intramedullar canal, b. a detector having a plurality of individual sensors mounted in a sensor array adapted to surround said drill bit such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors of said sensor array and produces an electrical signal proportional to the light impinging thereon, c. a processor for processing intensity of light from said light emitter passing through bone tissue and falling on each sensor, respectively, in said sensor array, and d. an indicator display connected to said processor for indicating the relative intensity of light impinging on said sensors, respectively, as a function said specific point and location of said light emitter in said bone tissue for guiding said drill bit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a bone drill guide for guiding a drill bit to specific point for drilling a hole in bone having an intramedullar canal, comprising a guidance system for locating a point in said bone including: a. an emitter for emitting infrared light and means for introducing said emitter into said intramedullar canal, b. a detector having a plurality of individual sensors mounted in a sensor array adapted to surround said drill bit such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors of said sensor array and produces an electrical signal proportional to the light impinging thereon, c. a processor for processing intensity of light from said light emitter passing through bone tissue and falling on each sensor, respectively, in said sensor array, and d. an indicator display connected to said processor for indicating the relative intensity of light impinging on said sensors, respectively, as a function said specific point and location of said light emitter in said bone tissue for guiding said drill bit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bone drill guide defined in claim 5 wherein said means for introducing includes a hollow infrared opaque hollow rod having one or more apertures therein for passing infrared light from said emitter through bone to said sensors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A guidance system for locating a point in a living body having passages therein comprising: a. emitter for emitting light of a predetermined frequency and means for introducing said emitter into a selected passage in said living body, b. a detector having a sensor array constituted by at least three individual sensors mounted in an array such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors in said sensor array, c. a processor connected to said sensor array for determining the location of the emitter and said point relative to the sensor array, and d. an indicator connected to said processor for indication of direction of emitter relative to said sensor array to precisely locate said point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A guidance system for locating a point in a living body having passages therein comprising: a. emitter for emitting light of a predetermined frequency and means for introducing said emitter into a selected passage in said living body, b. a detector having a sensor array constituted by at least three individual sensors mounted in an array such that light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body impinges on one or more sensors in said sensor array, c. a processor connected to said sensor array for determining the location of the emitter and said point relative to the sensor array, and d. an indicator connected to said processor for indication of direction of emitter relative to said sensor array to precisely locate said point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The guidance system defined in claim 7 wherein said means for introducing includes a hollow rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidance system defined in claim 7 wherein said means for introducing includes a catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A surgical guidance method for locating a point in a living body having passages therein comprising the steps of: a. introducing an emitting infrared light emitter into a selected passage in said living body, b. providing a detector having a plurality of individual infrared light intensity sensors mounted in a predetermined pattern and detecting light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body which impinges on one or more sensors in said sensors in said predetermined pattern, and c. displaying a relative light intensity of light detected by each sensor in said predetermined pattern in such a manner to provide an accurate indication of a relative direction of movement to achieve alignment and orientation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
A surgical guidance method for locating a point in a living body having passages therein comprising the steps of: a. introducing an emitting infrared light emitter into a selected passage in said living body, b. providing a detector having a plurality of individual infrared light intensity sensors mounted in a predetermined pattern and detecting light from said emitter passing through tissue in said living body which impinges on one or more sensors in said sensors in said predetermined pattern, and c. displaying a relative light intensity of light detected by each sensor in said predetermined pattern in such a manner to provide an accurate indication of a relative direction of movement to achieve alignment and orientation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-27 | 2003-12-27 | 2004-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-27 | 2007-12-27 | 2008-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-27 | 2011-12-27 | 2012-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |