Claims
- 1. A method for guiding and placing an implant within a region of tissues characterized by defined differences in acoustical impedence comprising
introducing into the region a transducer and receiver for ultrasound or audio signals and monitoring differences in acoustical impedence as the transducer and receiver are moved through the region.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the region is bone and the tissues are cortical bone and cancellous bone.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the region is a joint and the tissues are soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons or cartilage and bone.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises locating an implant in the region.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the implant is a metal, ceramic, biological or polymeric implant.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the implant is screw or pin.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the implant is placed into the spinal pedicles.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is used to guide the placement of pedicle screws across a vertebral body during anterior spinal deformity corrective surgery.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is used to measure or provide analysis of one or more factors or variables selected from the group consisting of Bone mineral density (BMD), Histology of bone, disease, water content, cartilage composition, lesions, vascular defects, neoplasms, and areas of avascular necrosis.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is used to determine areas of bony non-union, fracture, or regions between bone.
- 11. A bone drill bit comprising a transducer and receiver.
- 12. The bone drill bit of claim 11 further comprising a means for producing a signal when the drill bit encounters regions having different acoustic impedence.
- 13. A system for use in guiding and placing an implant within a region of tissues characterized by defined differences in acoustical impedence comprising
a transducer and receiver for ultrasound or audio signals and means for monitoring differences in acoustical impedence as the transducer and receiver are moved through the region.
- 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the region is bone and the tissues are cortical bone and cancellous bone, and the system produces a signal when differences in density between the cortical bone and the cancellous bone are detected.
- 15. The system of claim 13 wherein the device further includes means for cutting tissue or bone.
- 16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a sensor that detects changes in acoustical impedence.
- 17. The system claim 16 wherein the sensor produces a detectable signal when there is a change in acoustical impedence.
- 18. A method of measuring bone characteristics in a region comprising
introducing into the region a transducer and receiver for ultrasound or audio signals and monitoring differences in acoustical impedence as the transducer and receiver are moved through the region.
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bone characteristic is thickness.
- 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the bone characteristic is identification and confirmation of pseudoarthrosis in failed spinal fusions.
- 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the bone characteristics is bone-to-avascular-necrosis interface.
- 22. The method of claim 18 wherein the bone characteristic is an osteoid osteoma or vascular lesion.
- 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the vascular lesion is a aneurismal bone cyst.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This applications claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/348,446 filed Oct. 24, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60348446 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10280305 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10403326 |
Mar 2003 |
US |