Patent ID: 7585302

Claim:
An instrument for implanting a sensor in a body part of a subject, comprising: a guide sheath having a first end and a second end, a bore extending along the length of guide sheath between the first end and the second end, a guide handle located at the second end and extending about the circumference of the guide sheath, and a slot extending along the length between the first end and the second open end and through the guide handle; a delivery sheath having a first end and a second end, a bore extending along the length of the delivery sheath between the first end and the second end, a delivery handle located at the second end and extending about the circumference of the delivery sheath, a slot that extends along its length between the first end and the second end, wherein the delivery sheath is configured to be slidably disposed within the bore of the guide sheath; a sensor having a cord extending therefrom, the sensor configured to be mounted on the first end of the delivery sheath and, when assembled with the delivery sheath, having the cord extending from the sensor within the delivery sheath bore; and a reference pad attached to the cord, the reference pad being configured to be attached to the body of the subject, and farther being configured to be at least partially disposed within the delivery sheath handle; wherein the slots of the guide and delivery sheaths are configured to be aligned to allow the cord to be removed through the slot in the guide sheath; and wherein when the guide sheath, the delivery sheath, the sensor and the reference pad are assembled, the delivery sheath is partially disposed within the guide sheath, and the reference pad is matingly engaged with the delivery sheath, and the guide handle and the delivery handle have inter-engaging formations that are shaped such that the delivery sheath can only be fully received in the guide sheath when the slots of the guide sheath and the delivery sheath are aligned.