Insertion detector for medical probe
AssigneeHelen of Troy Limited
InventorJacob Fraden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insertion detector for monitoring a position of a medical probe relative to a body cavity of a patient, the probe incorporates a proximity sensor that is responsive to a predetermined property of the patient's body. The proximity sensor may include a light emitter and a light detector. When the medical probe is inserted into the body cavity, a light flux between the light emitter and light detector is changed due to either obstruction by the cavity walls or reflection by the patient's skin. A response from the proximity sensor may be used to adjust a temperature measured from the body cavity to correct for errors due to non-insertion or partial insertion of the probe into the body cavity.
Claims31
A medical probe for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
- a probe body having a sidewall laterally circumscribing a longitudinal axis and enclosing an inner space, the sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a sensor coupled to the probe to provide a signal relating to a condition of the body cavity of the patient;
- a proximity sensor coupled to the probe, the proximity sensor configured to provide a signal indicating proximity of the probe to the body cavity or insertion of the probe into the body cavity.
A medical probe for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
- a probe body having a sidewall laterally circumscribing a longitudinal axis and enclosing an inner space, the sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a functional sensor coupled to the probe to provide a signal relating to a condition of the body cavity of the patient;
- a proximity sensor coupled to the probe, the proximity sensor configured to provide a signal indicating proximity of the probe to the body cavity or insertion of the probe into the body cavity.
A medical probe for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
- a curved probe body comprising:
- a sidewall laterally circumscribing a longitudinal axis and enclosing an inner space, the sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a circumferential flange portion coupled to the proximal end of the sidewall, the flange portion having a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and facing the distal end;
- an optical transmitter coupled to a first position on the flange portion, the optical transmitter oriented to transmit an optical signal toward the distal end of the sidewall;
- an optical receiver coupled to a second position on the flange portion, the optical receiver oriented to receive an optical signal from the distal end of the sidewall;
- a sensor coupled to the distal end of the probe to provide a signal relating to a condition of the body cavity of the patient, the sensor oriented to sense the condition along the longitudinal axis.
A method for detecting an insertion of a medical probe into a body cavity of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting, from a transmitter, a signal toward the body cavity;
- receiving, at a receiver, a return signal from a direction from the body cavity;
- and
- monitoring a flux of the return signal for a change in strength,
- wherein a path from the transmitter to the receiver is at least partially blocked when the medical probe is inserted into the body cavity such that the flux of the return signal changes when the medical probe is inserted into the body cavity.
A method for detecting an insertion of a medical probe, the medical probe having a longitudinal axis, into a body cavity of a patient along the longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a signal along a first direction angularly offset from the longitudinal axis;
- receiving a return signal from a second direction, the second direction angularly offset from the longitudinal axis;
- and
- monitoring a flux of the return signal for an increase in strength,
- wherein the flux of the return signal changes in strength above a predetermined threshold when the medical probe is inserted into the body cavity.
A method of displaying the temperature of a body cavity of a living being, comprising the steps of:
- measuring a base temperature of the cavity by use of a temperature sensor;
- measuring a proximity of the temperature sensor to the body cavity;
- measuring an ambient temperature in an area adjacent to the temperature sensor;
- computing a computed temperature of the body cavity in accord with a predetermined function of the base temperature, the proximity, and the ambient temperature;
- and
- displaying the computed temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.