18524605. ACOUSTICAL GUIDANCE AND MONITORING SYSTEM simplified abstract (Covidien LP)

From WikiPatents
Jump to navigation Jump to search

ACOUSTICAL GUIDANCE AND MONITORING SYSTEM

Organization Name

Covidien LP

Inventor(s)

Jeffrey Mansfield of Bloomington IN (US)

Laura Lyons of Carmel IN (US)

Sven Schreiber of West Lafayette IN (US)

David Gunn of Katy TX (US)

Thomas Bumgardner of Roswell GA (US)

ACOUSTICAL GUIDANCE AND MONITORING SYSTEM - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18524605 titled 'ACOUSTICAL GUIDANCE AND MONITORING SYSTEM

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an apparatus for acoustically detecting the location of a distal end of a tube relative to a body conduit during insertion. The apparatus includes a speaker to generate a sound pulse in the tube and a sensor to detect the sound pulse at a distal position and generate a corresponding signal.

  • Speaker generates sound pulse in the tube
  • Sensor detects sound pulse at distal position
  • Sensor generates signal corresponding to detected sound pulse

Potential Applications

This technology could be used in medical procedures such as endoscopies or catheter insertions to accurately track the position of the tube within the body.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of accurately determining the location of the distal end of a tube within a body conduit during insertion, which can be crucial in medical procedures to avoid complications.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved accuracy in tube placement, reduced risk of complications during medical procedures, and potentially shorter procedure times.

Potential Commercial Applications

One potential commercial application of this technology could be in the development of medical devices for minimally invasive procedures, where precise tube placement is essential for successful outcomes.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be existing systems that use imaging techniques such as X-rays or ultrasound to track the position of tubes within the body during medical procedures.

Unanswered Questions

How does the apparatus differentiate between the sound pulse generated by the speaker and other ambient noises in the body during the procedure?

The apparatus may use signal processing techniques to filter out ambient noises and focus on detecting the specific sound pulse generated by the speaker.

What is the range of detection for the sensor in relation to the distance between the speaker and the distal end of the tube?

The range of detection may vary depending on factors such as the size of the tube, the properties of the body conduit, and the sensitivity of the sensor. Further research and testing may be needed to determine the optimal range for different applications.


Original Abstract Submitted

An apparatus for acoustically detecting the location of a distal end of a tube relative to a body conduit into which the tube is being inserted is provided. The apparatus including a speaker positioned to generate a sound pulse in the tube and a sensor for detecting a sound pulse in the tube at a distal position relative to the speaker, and for generating a signal corresponding to the detected sound pulse.