Patent ID: 6485422
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for assisting a surgeon in placing cryoprobes in the prostate of a human patient, wherein the cryoprobes are inserted through the skin of the perineal area of the patient and into the prostate, including the anterior lobe of the prostate and the posterior lobe of the prostate, said method comprising the steps of:providing a first cryoprobe, a second cryoprobe, a third cryoprobe, a fourth cryoprobe, a fifth cryoprobe and a sixth cryoprobe, and a cooling system for cooling the cryoprobes to cryosurgically effective temperatures; providing an ultrasound imaging system including a transrectal ultrasound probe and ultrasound display; said ultrasound imaging system being capable of creating a first image of the prostate on a first plane and a second image of the prostate in a second plane; providing a computer system capable of accepting input from an operator identifying the outline of the prostate in reference to the first image and the second image of the prostate displayed by the ultrasound imaging system; said computer system being programmed with software capable of performing the following steps; computing an optimal position for placement of a first cryoprobe and second cryoprobe in the anterior lobe of the prostate gland; computing an optimal position for placement of a third cryoprobe and fourth cryoprobe in the posterior lobe of the cryoprobe; computing the need for the sixth cryoprobe, and upon determining the need for the sixth cryoprobe, computing an optimal position for placement of the fifth cryoprobe and the sixth cryoprobe in the posterior lobe of the prostate; alternately, upon determining that a sixth cryoprobe is unnecessary, computing an optimal position for placement of the fifth cryoprobe in the posterior lobe of the prostate; displaying a first set of graphical markers on the display of the first image at positions corresponding to the computed optimal positions for each of the first cryoprobe, the second cryoprobe, the third cryoprobe, the fourth cryoprobe, the fifth cryoprobe and the sixth cryoprobe; displaying a second set of graphical markers on the display of the second image at positions corresponding to the computed optimal positions for each of the first cryoprobe, the second cryoprobe, the third cryoprobe, the fourth cryoprobe, the fifth cryoprobe and the sixth cryoprobe; permitting the operator to selectively display the first image and the second image.