US 2012/0239018 A1 · VARIABLE CRYOSURGICAL PROBE PLANNING SYSTEM

Abstract

A cryosurgical system for assisting an operator in placing and operating cryosurgical probes in the prostate of a human patient. The cryosurgical system includes a computer system being programmed with software capable of performing the following steps: a) capturing a plurality of transverse views of the prostate; b) capturing a sagittal view of the prostate; c) outlining the capsule of the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall of the patient with the assistance of the operator, utilizing the captured plurality of transverse views and the captured sagittal view; d) constructing a 3-dimensional model of the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall utilizing the outlines of step c), above; and, e) utilizing the 3-dimensional model of the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall to determine i) the number of cryosurgical probes to be utilized; ii) probe settings; and, iii) probe placement positions. The resultant ice thus produced by the cryosurgical probes is optimized for a specific patient.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A depth guide display format for a display system of a cryosurgical system, comprising:

a) a first scale having a plurality of spaced markers;
and,
b) a cryosurgical probe icon representing a cryosurgical probe, the cryosurgical probe icon being positioned adjacent to the first scale, the cryosurgical probe icon defining a kill zone and a non-lethal zone of the cryosurgical probe, the kill zone representing a lethal temperature range and the non-lethal zone representing a temperature above the lethal temperature range, wherein the kill zone and non-lethal zone in combination with the spaced markers provide a visual guide for placing at least one cryosurgical probe, the kill zone and non-lethal zone being dependent on variable settings of the cryosurgical probe.

A cryosurgical system for assisting an operator in placing and operating at least one cryosurgical probe in the prostate of a human patient, the system comprising:

a computer system programmed with software configured to perform the following steps:
a) capturing a plurality of transverse views of the prostate;
b) capturing a sagittal view of the prostate;
c) outlining a capsule of the prostate, a urethra and a rectal wall of the patient with the assistance of the operator;
d) constructing a 3-dimensional model of the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall utilizing the plurality of transverse views and sagittal views of the prostate;
e) utilizing the 3-dimensional model of the prostate, the urethra and the rectal wall to determine i) the number of cryosurgical probes to be utilized;
ii) cryosurgical probe settings;
and, iii) cryosurgical probe placement locations;
and
f) providing a graphical overlay on an ultrasound image for directing cryosurgical probe placement,
wherein resultant ice produced by the at least one cryosurgical probe is optimized for a specific patient.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable cryosurgical probe planning system

Life of this patent

Variable cryosurgical probe planning system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18