An ultrasonic probe is adapted to be implanted in a human or animal body in contact with a wall of an organ to allow exploration of the organ by ultrasonics, inter alia by the Doppler effect. It comprises a support for a piezo-electric transmitter/receiver transducer, and a cover which covers the transducer and at least that part of the support which is remote from the organ. The transmitting/receiving surface of the transducer is in contact with a surface of the support, which is interposed between the transducer means and the organ. The probe also has conductors attached to the transducer extending to the outside of the body to carry the information transmitted/received by the probe. The support and the cover have a configuration and shape such as to allow the probe to be removed from the body without a complex surgical operation, particularly by simply pulling from outside on the connecting means.
An implanted flow meter device for monitoring blood flow through a vascular graft is described. At the time that the vascular graft is implanted, a ring-like clip having Doppler crystal transducers mounted thereon is made to surround the graft with the acoustic axis of the transducers being generally longitudinally and internally directed relative to the graft. At the same time, an electrical plug-type connector is subcutaneously implanted at a desirable access site and electrical conductors connect terminals on that plug to the Doppler crystal transducers. When a blood flow reading is desired, a small incision can be made at the implant site to provide access to the plug-type connector, allowing a Doppler transmitter/receiver to be connected to that transducers via the plug connection.
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe to be inserted into the body of a subject for image-processing a diagnostic target thereof by ultrasonic waves transmitted to and received from the inside of the body and, more particularly, to an internal examination ultrasonic probe which can be directly installed on a palpation finger. The ultrasonic probe includes a transducer array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves; a housing for supporting the transducer array, which housing is provided with a device for installing a fingertip of an operator therein; and electric wiring members connected to the transducer array and extending from the housing to the outside so that transmission and reception signals of the ultrasonic waves are supplied therethrough. Alternatively, the ultrasonic probe includes a transducer array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves; a housing for supporting the transducer array, which housing is provided with a device for installing a fingertip of an operator therein; and electric wiring members connected to the transducer array so as to supply transmission and reception signals of the ultrasonic waves therethrough, and the electric wiring members extend from the housing to the outside in such a manner that they are located on a nail side of the fingertip or a side surface adjacent to the nail side when the fingertip is installed in the housing.
An implantable, extractable probe for attachment to a vessel or organ. The probe is made up of an elongate probe body having front and rear ends, and top and bottom sides, the elongate probe body terminating in a flexible tube. The probe has at least one biological sensor attached to the bottom side of the probe body with at least one lead wire connected to the biological sensor, and the lead wire extends through the flexible tube. The probe includes a suture attachment wire for attaching at least one suture to secure the probe body to a predetermined sensor site, the suture attachment wire being releasably connected to the front of the elongate probe body and extending through the flexible tube, at least a portion of the suture attachment wire extending between the front of the elongate probe body and the flexible tube such that it is spaced a predetermined distance from the probe body. The probe may be secured to a predetermined sensor site by attaching at least one suture to the suture attachment wire, such that when the suture attachment wire is released, the probe body is released for extraction from the body.
A parameter indicative of the status of fluid flow is remotely monitored in a vessel, a natural graft, or a synthetic graft. One or more transducers are provided either in a wall of a synthetic graft or adjacent to a vessel or natural graft to monitor the parameter. A conformal array transducer or a tilted element is used to monitor fluid flow or velocity through the graft or vessel based on the effect of the fluid on ultrasonic waves produced by the transducers. The conformal array transducer comprises a plurality of elements that curve around the graft or vessel and are excited with an input signal provided by an implantable electronics circuit, producing ultrasonic waves that propagate into the fluid flowing within the graft or vessel. Transit time or Doppler measurements are made using an appropriate number of these transducer to determine either fluid flow or velocity. Various implantable electronic circuits are provided that enable a selected transducer to be driven and to receive an ultrasonic signal or a pressure signal indicative of the status of fluid flow monitored by the transducer. The implanted electronic circuit is connected to an implanted radio frequency (RF) coil. An external coil that is connected to a power supply and monitoring console is coupled to the implanted RF coil to convey power and receive data signals from the transducer that are indicative of the parameter being monitored.
An epicardial multifunctional probe has been designed to measure blood flow velocity and muscle thickening with two sensors. The probe is implantable and remains inside the patient after surgery. The probe is removable through a small opening in the patient's chest.
