US 6,805,669 B2 · Method and device for marking skin during an ultrasound examination

Abstract

A method and device for marking a patient's skin during an ultrasound examination to denote a feature of interest. The device comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted for attachement of the device to an ultrasound transducer. The second portion is adapted for marking the skin of the patient to denote the feature of interest. The first and second portions are rotatably attached to each other. During an ultrasound examination of the patient to locate the feature of interest, the second portion is rotated so that it is spaced away from the patient's skin. The ultrasound examination is conducted in the normal manner until the feature of interest is located, at which time the second portion is rotated so that it contacts and marks the patient's skin to denote the feature of interest.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An ultrasound accessory for marking a patient's skin comprising:

(a) a first element adapted to be attached to an ultrasound transducer;
(b) a second element adapted for rotation with respect to said first element, said 5 second element contacting a surface subject to ultrasound examination, wherein at least one of said first element and said second element are comprised of an ultrasound permeable material, and wherein at least one of said first element and said second element are rotatably attached by a hinge;
(c) a marking element capable of marking a patient's skin with ink, paint, crayon or grease, said marking element attached to said second element, said marking element comprising a substantially perpendicularly-centered projection on said second element of said ultrasound accessory;
and
(d) a means for aligning said ultrasound accessory to assure a mark made by said marking element corresponds to an ultrasound image produced by said transducer.

2 more elements

A method of marking a patient's skin at a feature of interest during an ultrasound examination comprising:

(a) locating a feature of interest by conducting an ultrasound examination of a patient using an ultrasound device, said device comprising an ultrasound transparent ultrasound accessory having a first element rotatably attached to a second element, a marking element capable of marking a patient's skin at a point directly beneath an ultrasound transducer attached to said second element, said first element being adapted for attachment to said ultrasound transducer and said second element being rotatable into contact said patient;
(b) rotating said second element of said ultrasound accessory to contact said patient's skin with said marking element;
and,
(c) marking said patient's skin to denote a feature of interest.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for marking skin during an ultrasound examination

Life of this patent

Method and device for marking skin during an ultrasound examination

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26