Body lumen measuring instrument

US5010892A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Triangle research & Development Corporation · US
• THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · US
• Medical Evaluation Devices & Instruments Corp. · US

Inventors

• David P. Colvin · Apex, US
• Raymond A. Whitney · Raleigh, US
• Bernard R. Marsh · Upperco, US
• William M. Kline · Gloversville, US
• Ronald R. Rizzo · Gloversville, US
• Mark E. Orlosky · Gloversville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 4, 1988
• Grant date: Apr 30, 1991
• Expiry date: May 4, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B5/1076
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A body lumen measuring instrument for insertion into a body passageway such as a bronchial tube or the like in order to determine the interior lumen diameter and/or axial length of the passageway at a predetermined location. This instrument can also be used to aid selection of a radioisotope capsule of proper size to be properly positioned at a specific location for tumor treatment. The measuring instrument includes a flexible sleeve having a handle secured to one end. A cable is slidably positioned within the sleeve and secured at one end to a slide actuator within the handle and at the other end terminates in a probe adapted for determining body passageway size under endoscopic observation. A measurement scale is associated with an indicator on the slide actuator in order to display the passageway size.