Finger mounted imaging probe and skin broaching assembly
An ultrasound finger-mounted probe assembly that has a sensor unit, including: a multi-conductor cable, electrically connected to the connector-half; a finger clip, adapted to be mounted on a human finger; and an ultrasound finger probe supported by the finger clip. Also, a processing unit is adapted to be worn on a human forearm. This processing unit has a data processing unit, electrically connected to the multi-conductor cable and adapted to extract imagery from an ultrasound signal and an RF transmitter unit, adapted to send the extracted imagery to an further RF receiver.
1 . An ultrasound finger-mounted probe assembly, comprising:
a) a sensor unit, including:
i. a multi-conductor cable, electrically connected to said connector-half;
ii. a finger clip, adapted to be mounted on a human finger; and
iii. an ultrasound finger probe supported by said finger clip; and
b) a processing unit adapted to be worn on a human forearm, including:
i. a data processing unit, electrically connected to said multi-conductor cable and adapted to extract imagery from an ultrasound signal; and
ii. an RF transmitter unit, adapted to send said extracted imagery to a an RF receiver.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , further including a connector between said multi-conductor cable and said processing unit, so that said multi-conductor cable can be unplugged from said processing unit.
3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said RF transmitter unit, also includes a receive capability for receiving instructions from an RF transmitter.
4 . A method of imaging a portion of the human body, comprising:
a) providing an ultrasound finger-mounted probe assembly, including:
i. a sensor unit, having multi-conductor cable, electrically connected to said connector-half; finger clip, adapted to be mounted on a human finger; and an ultrasound finger probe supported by said finger clip; and
ii. a processing unit adapted to be worn on a human forearm, having a data processing unit, electrically connected to said multi-conductor cable and adapted to extract imagery from an ultrasound signal; and an RF transmitter unit, adapted to send said extracted imagery to an RF receiver;
b) using said ultrasound finger mounted probe assembly to image a portion of the human body.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said ultrasound finger mounted probe assembly is used to determine the presence of plaque in a patient's aortal arch and ascending aorta.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said ultrasound finger probe assembly is used to locate cardiac arteries in a patient in which said cardiac arteries are buried beneath tissue.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said ultrasound finger probe assembly is used to image an anterior portion of a patient's heart.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said ultrasound finger probe assembly is used to image a patient's heart in lieu of transesophagial imaging for a patient with a diseased esophagus.
9 . An ultrasound finger probe assembly, comprising:
a) a finger clip, adapted to be mounted on a human finger;
b) an ultrasound probe, supported by said finger clip and having a front and a back and an upper surface; and
c) a skin broaching device physically associated to said ultrasound probe, so that imagery from said ultrasound could be used by a medical professional to guide said skin broaching to a desired location in the body.
10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said skin broaching device is a hypodermic needle.
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein said hypodermic needle is in fluid communication with a syringe.
12 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein said skin broaching device is a canula.