Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
  • A61B8/42—Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
  • A61B8/4272—Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
  • A61B8/4281—Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
  • A61B8/10—Eye inspection
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
  • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
  • G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
  • G01N21/3581—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation

Definitions

• This invention relates to ultrasonic devices and more particularly to ultrasound diagnostic probes tips used in ophthalmology.
• A-Scan and B-Scan ultrasound diagnostic devices are used.
• A-Scan biometry uses a relatively small probe and measures the distances between, and thicknesses of, various structures within the eye, such as lens thickness (L), anterior chamber depth (AC), posterior chamber depth (V) and overall axial length (AL). These measurements are useful in determining the required power of the artificial intraocular lens which is implanted during cataract surgery.
• B-Scan ultrasound uses a larger probe having an internal motor that wobbles the ultrasound crystal contained within the handpiece.
• B-Scan ultrasound creates a real time image of the eye and is used to detect the presence of retinal or choroidal detachments, artifacts in the vitreous, tumors or foreign bodies in the eye or to view the posterior segment of the eye when visualization is obscured.
• B- Scan ultrasound will also make the same measurements made by A-Scan ultrasound.
• Measurements using either A-Scan or B-Scan probes are usually performed using the contact method, during which the operative end of the probe is placed in contact with the cornea of the eye under anesthesia.
• a special ultrasound fluid or gel is used to couple acoustically the probe with the lid or cornea of the eye. This acoustic coupling fluid can make it difficult to align the probe properly, and the gel may irritate the eye tissue.
• the probe needs to be cleaned between uses, a difficult and time-consuming step. Even when the probe is cleaned adequately to minimize the spread of any pathogens, the fluid used to clean the probe can irritate eye tissue.
• the contact method may not provide precise measurements due to corneal depression resulting from probe contact.
• a second technique used to make A-Scan or B-Scan measurements is the immersion technique.
• the immersion technique With the immersion technique, the eye is anesthetized and small cup is placed on the eye. The cup is then filled with an acoustic coupling fluid and the probe is inserted into the cup.
• the immersion technique is considered to be 5 more accurate that the contact method because the probe does not contact and partially depress the eye.
• the immersion technique is difficult to perform and time consuming and requires that the patient be laying down.
• bubbles in the coupling fluid can cause inaccuracies in the measurements.
• the present invention improves upon prior art methods by providing a soft, s partially solidified, water-based ultrasound conductive cap sided and shaped to fit over the operative end of an ultrasound probe.
• the thickness of the cap may be varied to change the focal point during B-Scan biometry.
• Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound conductive cap that allows for more accurate ultrasound measurements.
• Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound 5 conductive cap that helps prevent the spread of pathogens.
• Yet another objective of the present invention is to allow for a biometry procedure that is simple and faster than the contact method and with the precision of the immersion method.
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the probe cap of the present invention useful with an A-Scan ultrasound probe.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the probe cap of the present invention taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the probe cap of the present invention useful with an B-Scan ultrasound probe.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the probe cap of the present invention taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 a schematic representation of the cap illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 being used to take a measurement of an eye.
• FIG. 6 a schematic representation of the cap illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 being used to take a measurement of an eye. '
• probe tip 10 and 10' of the present invention are generally cup-shaped in cross-section, with wall 12 and 12' and end cap 14 and 14', end caps 14 or 14' closing off one end of wall 12 or 12', respectively.
• Tip 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 5 is suitable for use with an A-Scan probe and tip 10' illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 is suitable for use with a B-Scan probe.
• Tips 10 and 10' are preferably made of a water-based gel such as a cross-linked cellulose derivative, but any suitable material may be used. Suitable gels are commercially available for sources such as Pharmaceutical Innovations, Inc., Newark, New Jersey.
• tip 10 suitable for use on an A-Scan probe may be of any suitable inner and outer diameter, but will generally have an inner radius R, of between 0.15 inches and 0.70 inches, with approximately 0.25 inches being preferred, and an outer radius R 0 of between 0.25 inches and 0.85 inches, with approximately 0.45 inches being preferred.
• Wall 12 may be of any suitable height W h necessary to hold tip 10 on probe 16, but will generally be between 0.10 inches and 0.80 inches high, with approximately 0.40 inches being preferred.
• vent hole 18 may be provided having a diameter D of between 0.01 inches and 0.10 inches, with 0.05 inches being preferred.
• End cap 14 may have any suitable thickness EC t , but preferably is between 0.10 and 0.40 inches thick, with approximately 0.12 inches being preferred. End cap 14 also preferably is formed with a curved shape to fit probe 16 and eye 20 securely with minimal rocking and good acoustic contact, with an inner radius R 2 of between 0.75 inches and 1 .25 inches with approximately 0.90 inches being preferred and an outer radius R 3 of between 0.60 inches and 1.40 inches, with approximately 1 .00 inches being preferred. Wall 12 and end cap 14 are preferably joined by internal radius R 4 which is preferably between 0.01 inches and 0.05 inches, with 0.03 inches being preferred and external radius R 5 which is preferably between 0.05 inches and 0.1 5 inches, with 0.10 inches being preferred.
• internal radius R 4 which is preferably between 0.01 inches and 0.05 inches, with 0.03 inches being preferred
• external radius R 5 which is preferably between 0.05 inches and 0.1 5 inches, with 0.10 inches being preferred.
• tip 10' suitable for use on an B-Scan probe may be of any suitable inner and outer diameter, but will generally have an inner radius R of between 0.50 inches and 1 .50 inches, with approximately 0.70 inches being s preferred, and an outer radius R 0 ' of between 0.85 inches and 1 .70 inches, with approximately 0.90 inches being preferred.
• Wall 12' may be of any suitable height W h ' necessary to hold tip 10' on probe 22, but will generally be between 0.20 inches and 0.80 inches high, with approximately 0.25 inches being preferred.
• vent hole 18' may be provided having a diameter D' 0 of between 0.01 inches and 0.10 inches, with 0.05 inches being preferred, located a distance W 1 from end cap 14' of between 0.01 inches and 0.10 inches, with 0.05 inches being preferred, from end cap 14'.
• End cap 14' may have any suitable thickness EC t , but preferably is between 0.10 and 0.40 inches thick, with approximately 0.12 inches being preferred.
• End cap 14 also preferably is formed with flat internal face 1 5 and 5 curved outer face 1 7 with and an outer radius R 3 ' of between 0.60 inches and 1.40 inches, with approximately 1 .00 inches being preferred.
• Wall 12' and end cap 14' are preferably joined by internal radius R 4 ' which is preferably between 0.03 inches and 0.07 inches, with 0.05 inches being preferred and external radius R 5 ' which is preferably between 0.10 inches and 0.30 inches, with 0.20 inches being preferred. o
• internal radius R 4 ' which is preferably between 0.03 inches and 0.07 inches, with 0.05 inches being preferred
• external radius R 5 ' which is preferably between 0.10 inches and 0.30 inches, with 0.20 inches being preferred.
• tip 10 or 10' may be place on the end of A- Scan probe 16 or B-Scan probe 22, respectively and used to make ultrasound measurements of eye 20 or 20'. Tips 10 and 10' may be shipped individually, or may be shipped in a multiple egg carton-like container (not shown).
• probe tips of the present invention has been described with reference to ophthalmic ultrasound probes, the present invention may also be useful when used in combination with phased array cardiology probes, linear array, curved array and annual array radiology probes

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
• Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-07-23 BR BR0112687-3A patent/BR0112687A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-07-23 EP EP01955922A patent/EP1303217A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-23 IL IL15385001A patent/IL153850A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-07-23 AU AU2001277972A patent/AU2001277972A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-23 MX MXPA03000022A patent/MXPA03000022A/es unknown
  • 2001-07-23 WO PCT/US2001/023192 patent/WO2002007590A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-07-23 CA CA002412577A patent/CA2412577A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-23 JP JP2002513335A patent/JP2004504091A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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