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US 11,179,097 B2Granted
Tactile sensing device for lumbar punctures
AssigneeTexas Medical Center
InventorsNicole C. Moskowitz, Jessica Traver, Xavier Garcia-Rojas, Yashar Ganjeh
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Abstract
Tactile sensing devices, systems, and methods to image a target tissue location are disclosed. When force is applied to the tactile sensing device, voltage data is detected and visualized on a screen, indicating the target tissue location.
Claims20
A method for imaging a target tissue location and underlying bony landmarks therefrom in an individual in need thereof, comprising:
- a) placing a tactile sensing device on the individual, the tactile sensing device comprising:
- a sensor array comprising a first sensor comprising a first surface and a second sensor comprising a second surface;
- a frame comprising a needle guide having a proximal opening and a distal opening and a track therebetween;
- a display screen coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the sensor array;
- and
- a computing device comprising a processor operatively coupled to the sensor array and operatively coupled to the display screen, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium with a computer program including instructions executable by the processor;
- b) applying a first force to the first surface of the first sensor to generate a first voltage signal;
- c) applying a second force to the second surface of the second sensor to generate a second voltage signal;
- d) viewing a pressure map representing the underlying bony landmarks and the target tissue location in the individual on the display screen;
- e) viewing a projected subcutaneous location of a needle on the display screen;
- and
- f) guiding the needle towards the individual from the proximal opening of the needle guide to the distal opening of the needle guide, along the track,
- wherein the pressure map is generated by converting the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal received from the sensor array,
- wherein the projected subcutaneous location of the needle to be inserted into the individual is calculated based upon a trigonometric algorithm comprising:
- h=tan(θ)*d;
- where h is solved for and is an adjustment level relative to an original location of the needle at a skin level at the distal opening;
- d refers to a tissue depth;
- and θ is a cephalad angle at which the needle is inserted and where d is calculated based upon calculating a ratio between a maximum voltage reading of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and a minimum voltage reading of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and comparing the ratio to an empirically determined ratio based on a known depth.
15 more elements
A method for imaging a target tissue location and underlying bony landmarks therefrom in an individual in need thereof, comprising:
- a) in a tactile sensing device comprising:
- a sensor array comprising a first sensor comprising a first surface and a second sensor comprising a second surface;
- a frame comprising a needle guide having a proximal opening and a distal opening and a track therebetween configured to guide the needle towards the individual from the proximal opening of the needle guide to the distal opening of the needle guide, along the track;
- a display screen coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the sensor array;
- and
- a computing device comprising a processor operatively coupled to the sensor array and operatively coupled to the display screen, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium with a computer program including instructions executable by the processor,
- generating a first voltage signal in response to a first change in a first force applied to the first surface of the first sensor;
- b) generating a second voltage signal in response to a second change in a second force applied to the second surface of the second sensor;
- c) converting the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal received from the sensor array into a pressure map representing the underlying bony landmarks and the target tissue location in the individual;
- d) displaying the pressure map on the display screen e) calculating a projected subcutaneous location of a needle to be inserted into the individual;
- and
- f) displaying the projected subcutaneous location of the needle on the display screen wherein step e) is based upon a trigonometric algorithm comprising:
- h=tan(θ)*d;
- where h is solved for and is an adjustment level relative to an original location of the needle at a skin level at the distal opening;
- d refers to a tissue depth;
- and θ is a cephalad angle at which the needle is inserted and where d is calculated based upon calculating a ratio between a maximum voltage reading of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and a minimum voltage reading of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and comparing the ratio to an empirically determined ratio based on a known depth.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.