Remotely controlled apparatus and system for tracking and locating a source of photoemissions
US5857463A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/873
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
System and apparatus particularly suited for tracking a radiopharmaceutical present within a lymph duct and locating a sentinel node within which the radiopharmaceutical has concentrated. A smaller, straight, hand-held probe is employed carrying two hand actuable switches. For tracking procedures, the probe is moved in an undulatory manner wherein the location of the radiopharmaceutical containing duct is determined by observing a graphics readout developed preferably employing a circularly accessed data memory. When the region of the sentinel node is approached, a switch on the probe device is actuated by the surgeon to carry out a sequence of squelching operations until a small node locating region is defined. At that point in the procedure, the straight small probe will be pointed at and in adjacency with the radiopharmaceutical containing sentinel node. The probe-mounted switches are configured to apply preset current levels upon the probe pre-amplifier power supply. These levels are detected, identified by a discriminator and emulating signals are generated. A sterilizable remote switch provides a squelch threaded level trim function.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.