Device for use in temporary insertion of a sensor within a patient's body

Abstract

A device for use in placing a non-sterile sensor probe (,) such as an ultrasound scanning transducer in a desired position within a patient's body (,), with a probe-receiving tube (,) having a closed distal end (,) so that a probe inserted within the tube through an open proximal end (,) located outside the patient's body is isolated from contact with or contamination of the interior of the patient's body. The probe-receiving tube is attached to and extends alongside an elongate support member (,) which aids in placement of the probe-receiving tube in a location proximate an organ to be observed by use of a sensor probe in the probe-receiving tube. The elongate support member may be a chest drain tube. Further, the device may have one or more of the following features: integrated fastening mechanisms (,) suitable to anchor the device within the patient's body; an attached sterile sensor (,) that may be attached directly to an interior blood vessel (,); an attached pair of sterile temporary pacing wires (,) that may be attached directly to a heart; a flexible extension sleeve (,) attached to the probe-receiving tube; at least one hydrostatic valve (,) positioned within the probe-receiving tube or the extension sleeve; and alternate sensors (,) such as an ultrasonic sensor, a light emitting sensor, or a multi-function combination sensor may be used in the probe-receiving tube. The device may also be a guidable surgical device such as a forward-looking guidable trocar (,), a laterally-looking guidable trocar (,), or a guidable biopsy needle (,) that have a probe-receiving tube (,) defined longitudinally therein that is suitable for receiving a sensor probe used for guiding the guidable device.