Patent ID: 7662099
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A combination therapy and imaging instrument, the instrument comprising: a therapy probe for producing energy to alter tissue, the therapy probe comprising a side surface and an energy transmitting surface adapted to be in contact with the surface of the tissue, wherein the energy produced is at least one of ultrasonic energy and an electrical current; an imaging probe for imaging the tissue altered with the therapy probe using ultrasonic energy, the imaging probe comprising a side surface adapted to appose the side surface of the therapy probe and an ultrasonic energy transmitting surface adapted to be in contact with the surface of the tissue, wherein the imaging probe and the therapy probe are adapted to permit simultaneous energy production and imaging of the tissue during tissue alteration; and connection means including a key formed on one of the side surface of the therapy probe and the side surface of the imaging probe and a mating keyway formed on the other of the side surface of the therapy probe and the side surface of the imaging probe, for releasably connecting the therapy probe to the imaging probe and apposing the side surface of the therapy probe and the side surface of the imaging probe, wherein, when the key and the keyway mate with each other to releasably connect the therapy probe and the imaging probe and appose the side surface of the therapy probe and the side surface of the imaging probe, the energy transmitting surface of the therapy probe and the ultrasonic energy transmitting surface of the imaging probe are aligned with each other to define a continuous unitary energy transmitting surface adapted to be in contact with the surface of the tissue for performing simultaneous tissue alteration and tissue imaging.