Abstract:
A surgical or medical implement including a proximity detector to indicate the distance from an internal organ or member such as an artery. In one form the invention is applied to a surgical scalpel (12) with an audio transducer in contact with the blade (11) and connected to an electrical circuit (18) for providing a warning signal. In another form the invention is applied to a hypodermic syringe (50) with a transducer (60) in contact with the needle (56) and connected through circuitry (62) with a warning lamp or buzzer (63, 64).
Abstract:
The device for localizing metal objects in a human or animal body comprises an oscillator (1) of which the oscillating output (1A) is arranged in a hand probe (B), the oscillator being connected to one of the order/actual value inputs of a comparison circuit (3) of which the output is connected to a regulation circuit (5 and/or 8). The output of the regulation circuit (5, 8) is connected to the input of the oscillator (1) which delivers the actual value signal. The signal coming out of the comparison circuit (3) is treated in a further operation, preferably to provide a sound signal.
Abstract:
In a method for locating a measurement and/or treatment catheter (4) in a vessel or organ of a patient relative to a fixed catheter (8), also positioned within the patient (12) in the vicinity of the measurement and/or treatment catheter signals are transmitted from one of said catheters and received at the other one. The position and direction of the measurement and/or treatment catheter relative to the fixed catheter is then determined from the received signals. An arrangement comprises a measurement and/or treatment catheter, intended to be positioned in a vessel or organ (2) of a patient (12), and a fixed catheter (8), also intended to be positioned within the patient in the vicinity of the measurement and/or treatment catheters. One of the catheters has signal transmitting means (14 or 16) and the other one has receiving means (16 or 14) for receiving signals from the transmitting means. A unit (26) is arranged to determine from the received signals the position of the measurement and/or treatment catheter relative to the fixed catheter.
Abstract:
Use of an implant having magnetic properties for reproducible determination of the position of a patient in time in relation to external treatment equipment, and an apparatus for reproducibly determining the position of a patient in relation to external treatment equipment. The apparatus comprises at least one magnetic device (1) which is so designed that it can be attached to a body part, the position in relation to the intended treatment target is substantially constant, and at least one sensor means (4) which is capable of detecting magnetic fields and/or changes of magnetic fields for determining the position of the patient in the space based thereon.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for diagnosis and treatment of abnormal tissues (14) is described in which a catheter (10) with one or more optical fibers (16) is either introduced into a body cavity (12) or through an intervening body medium with the distal end positioned opposite the treatment area (14) and wherein the proximal end (18) of the catheter (10) and optical fibers (16) are coupled to a source of optical radiation (20) as well as to a method for photoelectronically sensing a particular optical characteristic of the tissue within the treatment area. Specifically, the diagnostic system and guidance is based upon sensing inelastically scattered Raman radiation in a manner which permits rapid tissue diagnosis through a computerized process of pattern recognition. Tissues which may be diagnosed encompass both normal as well as abnormal conditions including vascular occlusive diseases, in situ tumors or neoplastic conditions, lithiasis and calculi or any other abnormal tissue.
Abstract:
A device for protecting vessels during surgical interventions has a catheter (10) which can be inserted into the vessel and is characterised in that several probes (12) for inductively sensing metals and/or electromagnetic fields are distributed throughout the whole length of the catheter.
Abstract:
A locating system for determining the location and orientation of an invasive medical instrument, for example a catheter (10) or endoscope, relative to a reference frame, comprising: a plurality of field generators (18, 20, 22) which generate known, distinguishable fields, preferably continuous AC magnetic fields, in response to drive signals; a plurality of sensors (30, 32, 34) situated in the invasive medical instrument (10) proximate the distal end thereof which generate sensor signals in response to said fields; and a signal processor (26) which has an input for a plurality of signals corresponding to said drive signals and said sensor signals and which produces the three location coordinates and three orientation coordinates of a point on the invasive medical instrument.
Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting a surgical implement (16) in human or animal tissue has means for defining a transmitting zone (14) encompassing a surgical wound (12) in the tissue. A battery powered marker (20) is secured to a surgical implement (16) positioned within the wound (12). Field generating means (27) are provided for generating within the transmitting zone (14) an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency band. A signal generating (22) means generates a signal having a predetermined frequency band. The signal generating (22) means is operative to cause the field generating (27) means to generate the electromagnetic field, providing the marker (20) with signal identity. A detecting means (30) having an antenna (32) located within the transmitting zone (14) of the marker (20) detects the marker (20) signal irrespective of the marker's orientation therewithin.
Abstract:
A device for endoscopically exploring the body has a support (4) upon which the body (24) to be explored may be placed and a coil device (14, 16) for generating a magnetic field having a first partial coil device (14) with a first axis (18) and a second partial coil device (16) with a second axis (20). The first and second axes lie at an angle and the energy supply to both partial coil arrangements is adjustable so that a magnetic field having the desired orientation is generated. The support (4) and the coil arrangement (14, 16) are movable with respect to each other in the three directions in space. An endoscopic probe (30) is equipped with a magnetically sensitive material (49, 50) so that it is orientated along the magnetic field and is subjected to a force in its longitudinal direction within the magnetic field. The support (4) and the coil arrangement (14, 16) can be rotated with respect to each other around an axis.