Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic-fiberoptic imaging ventricular catheter

US5690117A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
10References
15Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 20, 1995
Grant dateNov 25, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 20, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M25/0102
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A rigid ultrasonic-fiberoptic stylet situated within a modified intracranial silastic catheter allows indirect and direct real time visualization through the tip of the catheter, The stylet is provided with fiberoptics and an ultrasound transducer which allows viewing through the end of the catheter. The ultrasonic portion of the stylet allows the surgeon to correctly aim the stylet and catheter towards the ventricle by giving the surgeon a 2-dimensional echogram view of the ventricle and allows the surgeon to maintain the proper trajectory or path towards the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle as the stylet and catheter are passed through the brain. The fiberoptic portion of the stylet allows the surgeon to directly view the interior of the anterior horn of lateral ventricle once the ventricle is punctured.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.