Detection of anatomic passages using infrared emitting catheter
OwnerMark G. Fontenotinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for reducing the danger of cutting into a passage or organ of the body during a surgical procedure by inserting a catheter into the passage or organ, the catheter having interiorly thereof an infrared radiator and employing an infrared detection system that produces a detectable signal indicative of the proximity of an infrared probe to the passage or organ the proximity of the probe to the passage or organ being a function of the approach of the surgical procedure to the passage or organ. The position of the infrared source and the probe may be reversed. Further a system for viewing the sight of the procedure and displaying the body into which the catheter is inserted is provided.
Claims29
The method of locating or reducing the danger during surgery or other invasion of a body of injury to body members into which a catheter may be inserted comprising the steps of
- inserting a catheter into the body member,
- inserting an elongated infrared light guide having a region that emits such light into the catheter,
- directing infrared light energy into the light guide,
- indicating the proximity of an ongoing surgical procedure to the body member by determining the intensity of the infrared radiation exiting the body member at the surgical site.
Apparatus for detecting the proximity to at least one body member adjacent an anatomical body on which a surgical procedure is being conducted comprising
- a catheter for insertion into a body member,
- a light guide having means to emit light transverse to its length along a length thereof inserted into said catheter,
- a source of infrared light energy located to direct infrared light energy into said light guide,
- an infrared light energy detector located such as to detect infrared light energy emitted by said light guide, and
- means responsive to the intensity of the infrared light energy detected by said detector for producing a signal of an intensity indicative of the proximity of the surgical procedure to the body member,
- a signal generating device,
- means for applying said signal to said signal generating device,
- said signal generating device having means for producing an indication of the intensity of said signal.
The method of determining during surgery or other intentional invasion of the body, the proximity of an instrument to a body member other than the body member on which a procedure is to be conducted, comprising the steps of
- inserting into the body a source of infrared light energy,
- inserting into the body an infrared light guide,
- inserting one of said source and guide into said body member other than the body member on which a procedure is to be performed,
- establishing the position of the other of the source and guide as a function of the position of the instrument relative to the latter body member, and
- indicating the proximity of the other of said guide and source relative to said latter body member.
Apparatus for detecting the proximity of an instrument to at least one body member adjacent an anatomical body on which a procedure is to be performed comprising
- a source of infrared energy,
- an infrared detector,
- a light guide connected to said infrared detector for guiding infrared energy impinging thereon to said infrared detector,
- one of said source and light guide adapted to be inserted into the body member proximate the anatomical body,
- the other of said source and light guide positioned relative to the said one of said source and light guide such that infrared energy from said source impinges upon said light guide, and
- means for producing a signal displaying the proximity of an instrument to the body member.
Apparatus for detecting the proximity of an instrument to at least one body member adjacent an anatomical body on which a procedure is being conducted comprising
- a light guide having means to emit light transverse to its length along a length thereof adapted to be inserted into a body member to be protected during procedures being conducted on the anatomical body by an instrument adjacent to the body member,
- a light source having infrared energy located to direct light energy into said light guide,
- an infrared detector located such as to detect infrared energy emitted by said light guide, and
- a signal generator having circuitry circuit means responsive to the intensity of the light energy detected by said detector for producing a signal indicative of the proximity of the procedure to the body member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.