Gamma probe with hand-piece control of detection parameters
Apparatus, techniques and systems are described for facilitating identification of a target area during a probe-guided radio-localization surgical procedure. The described apparatus, techniques and systems can be used to implement a nuclear-uptake mode controller integrated into a probe to allow a user to instantly switch between multiple nuclear-uptake modes directly from the probe hand-piece. For example, a nuclear-uptake mode controller integrated into the probe can be used to instantly switch between a high-sensitivity nuclear-up-take mode and a high-resolution nuclear-uptake mode to effectively identify the target area in the presence of interfering nuclear signals by better matching the probe's nuclear detection parameters to a search task for that target area.
1. A method of monitoring a nuclear-uptake surgical system, the method comprising:
receiving from a handheld probe of the nuclear-uptake surgical system, at a probe system control unit, a selection of a photon energy acceptance window of the handheld probe, wherein a nuclear-uptake mode controller disposed in the handheld probe is communicatively coupled to the probe system control unit; and
displaying, on the probe system control unit, the selected energy acceptance window of the handheld probe.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handheld probe is communicatively coupled to the probe system control unit via a cable.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handheld probe is communicatively coupled to the probe system control unit via a wireless link.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wireless link comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy circuit.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the selected energy acceptance window further comprises emitting at least one of a visual indicator and an audio indicator.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe system control unit comprises at least one of a computer, a laptop, a smart phone, and a wearable device.
7. A handheld nuclear-uptake surgical probe comprising:
a handle;
a nuclear-uptake mode controller configured to selectively set a photon energy acceptance window of the handheld surgical probe, wherein a first setting of the photon energy acceptance window corresponds to a scan mode and a second setting of the photon energy acceptance window corresponds to a search mode; and
a count rate controller configured to obtain a count rate during each of the scan mode and the search mode.
8. The handheld nuclear-uptake surgical probe of claim 7 , wherein the count rate controller is configured to detect an extended count rate during the scan mode.
9. The handheld nuclear-uptake surgical probe of claim 8 , further comprising an audible indicator communicatively coupled to the count rate controller.
10. The handheld nuclear-uptake surgical probe of claim 9 , wherein the audible indicator is configured to broadcast a message upon the detection of the extended count rate during the scan mode.
11. The handheld nuclear-uptake surgical probe of claim 7 , wherein the count rate controller comprises a button disposed on the handle.
12. The handheld nuclear-uptake surgical probe of claim 7 , further comprising a switch disposed on the handle and communicatively coupled to the nuclear-uptake mode controller to selectively initiate the setting of the photon energy acceptance window.