Patent ID: 8206306
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A medical diagnostic instrument, comprising: a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe; at least one hollow receiver member mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe; wherein the ultrasound transducer and the distal end are cooperatively configured, oriented, and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the ultrasound transducer and the distal end into a desired anatomical location to permit the operator to obtain thereat a corresponding two-dimensional image of the anatomical location for visual inspection by the operator for purposes of detecting ultrasonically-detectable anatomical properties; wherein the at least one hollow receiver member is configured and dimensioned to receive a K-wire to permit the instrument to be slidably mounted thereto for purposes of guiding the ultrasound and tactile feeler probes axially relative to the desired anatomical location; wherein the tactile feeler probe is configured and dimensioned to permit the operator to insert the tactile feeler probe into the desired anatomical location to permit the operator to perform thereat a tactile inspection of the selected anatomical location.