U.S. patent application number 10/960667 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for transducer mounting assembly.
Invention is credited to James, Anthony, Krompasick, Donald E., Ludecker, Robert Scott, Rankhorn, Wayne, Talish, Roger J., Tanis, Kevin, Urgovich, Kenneth J..
Application Number | 20050096548 10/960667 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22916927 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050096548 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Talish, Roger J. ; et
al. |
May 5, 2005 |
Transducer mounting assembly
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for adjustably securing an
ultrasonic transducer to an orthopedic appliance, having: (a) an
optional adjustable clamp adapted to adjustably secure the
apparatus to an element of an orthopedic appliance; (b) a
transducer holder adapted to secure the transducer to the
apparatus; (c) an adjustable connector adapted to adjustably
connect the optional adjustable clamp to the transducer holder.
Inventors: |
Talish, Roger J.;
(Hillsborough, NJ) ; Urgovich, Kenneth J.;
(Clifton, NJ) ; Krompasick, Donald E.; (Bethlehem,
PA) ; James, Anthony; (Bartlett, TN) ;
Rankhorn, Wayne; (Rossville, TN) ; Tanis, Kevin;
(Pompton Lakes, NJ) ; Ludecker, Robert Scott;
(Freeport, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHIEF PATENT COUNSEL
SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
1450 BROOKS ROAD
MEMPHIS
TN
38116
US
|
Family ID: |
22916927 |
Appl. No.: |
10/960667 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10960667 |
Oct 7, 2004 |
|
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10029095 |
Oct 25, 2001 |
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60242994 |
Oct 25, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/459 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N 7/00 20130101; A61B
90/50 20160201; A61B 17/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/459 |
International
Class: |
A61F 005/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for adjustably securing an ultrasonic transducer to
an orthopedic appliance, comprising: (a) an adjustable clamp
adapted to adjustably secure the apparatus to an element of an
orthopedic appliance; (b) a transducer holder adapted to secure the
transducer to the apparatus; (c) an adjustable connector adapted to
adjustably connect the adjustable clamp to the transducer holder,
wherein the adjustable connector comprises a first leg adapted to
mount to the adjustable clamp and second leg adapted to mount to
the transducer holder.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer holder is
adjustable.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable clamp comprises
one or more hinge elements adapted to be rotatably disposed on a
rigid element of an orthopedic appliance.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hinge elements are adapted
to be moved along a longitudinal axis of the rigid element.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer holder
comprises a plate adapted to receive an ultrasonic transducer and
mountable on the adjustable connector.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable connector
comprises an angled plate having a first leg and a second leg
disposed at an angle to the first leg, wherein the first leg is
adapted to be mounted by the adjustable clamp, wherein the second
leg is adapted to be mounted by the transducer holder, and wherein
either or both of said legs are adjustably mountable.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first leg comprises at
least one slot adapted to receive an adjustable fastener connecting
the adjustable clamp to the first leg.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second leg comprises at
least one slot adapted to receive an adjustable fastener connecting
the transducer holder to the second leg.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the adjustable clamp
comprises one or more hinge elements adapted to be rotatably
disposed on a rigid element of an orthopedic appliance and adapted
to be moved along a longitudinal axis of the rigid element; the
transducer holder comprises a plate adapted to receive an
ultrasonic transducer and mountable on the adjustable connector;
and the adjustable connector comprises an angled plate, wherein the
first leg is disposed at an angle to the second leg, and wherein
either or both of said legs are adjustably mountable.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable connector
comprises an articulating arm extending between the clamp and the
transducer holder.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transducer holder
comprises a ball-and-socket joint affixed to a surface of the
transducer.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transducer holder
comprises a bracket affixed to one surface of the transducer and
attached to the articulating arm.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer holder
comprises a cap adapted to receive and retain the ultrasonic
transducer, and the adjustable connector comprises a shaft
extending from a surface of the cap and a barrel adapted to receive
the shaft.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the shaft is adjustable
relative to the barrel.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adjustable connector
further comprises an adjustment handle disposed on the shaft.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adjustable connector
further comprises a pin extending from the connector at an angle
relative to the barrel, wherein the pin is adapted to be adjustably
received by the adjustable clamp.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the angle is around
90.degree..
18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a biasing element
adapted to urge the transducer holder away from the adjustable
connector.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the biasing element is a
coil spring.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the transducer holder
comprises a cap adapted to receive and retain the ultrasonic
transducer; and the adjustable connector comprises a shaft
extending from a surface of the cap and adapted to cooperate with a
barrel adapted to receive the shaft, and a pin extending from the
connector at an angle of around 90.degree. relative to the barrel,
wherein the pin is adapted to be adjustably received by the
adjustable clamp.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the adjustable connector
comprises a first portion attached to the pin, and a second
portion, detachable from the first portion, attached to the
transducer holder.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second
portions are connected by a nonrotatable joint.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one of the first and second
portions contains a male element of D-shaped cross section and the
other portion contains a corresponding female element of D-shaped
cross section.
Description
[0001] This application claims benefit of the filing date of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/242,994, filed Oct. 25, 2000,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an apparatus for adjustably
mounting an ultrasonic transducer to an orthopedic appliance,
wherein the transducer can be adjustably positioned in a manner
appropriate for ultrasonic therapy.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The use of ultrasound therapy for the acceleration of
healing of bone injuries is known in the art. Similarly, the
acceleration of healing of soft tissue injuries, particularly
musculoskeletal tissues, by the application of ultrasound has also
been described Ultrasonic therapy generally involves placing an
ultrasonic transducer, usually associated with a conductive gel or
bladder, against or near the skin in the vicinity of the injury,
and driving the transducer with a signal generator, so that the
transducer delivers ultrasonic waves within a particular range of
therapeutically effective frequencies for a period of time and for
a sufficient number of applications to achieve effective results in
accelerating healing. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,273,864;
6,190,336; 5,762,616; and 5,520,612, the entire contents of each of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0006] Ultrasonic therapy can be particularly useful in treating
injuries, such as severe fractures or soft tissue injuries and the
like, that require either support or immobilization of a joint or
immobilization of bones relative to each other at a fracture site,
using some form of orthopedic appliance.
[0007] These types of injuries are often treated by the application
of a brace, fixator, cage, or other orthopedic appliance to the
site of the injury to immobilize the affected area or to limit the
range of motion during healing, e.g., occurring after orthopedic
surgery. Placement of ultrasonic transducer heads in positions most
appropriate for accelerating healing may be impeded by elements of
the orthopedic appliance when existing attachment techniques, such
as straps or bandages, are used.
[0008] In addition, ultrasonic treatment is often of great benefit
in speeding healing by patients that have been discharged from the
hospital and are convalescing. The frequency of treatments and the
difficulty patients often have with locomotion make home treatment
desirable. As a result, ultrasonic treatment is often
self-administered by the patient following physician instruction in
use of the device. However, existing attachment techniques rely on
patient compliance in accurately positioning the transducer.
Because patients can be inconsistent in positioning the transducer,
applying conductive gel to the proper location, etc., there exists
a need in the art for a mechanism for adjustably mounting an
ultrasonic transducer to an orthopedic appliance so that the
transducer can consistently and reliably be brought into contact
with the desired treatment site without interfering with or
interference from the appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The apparatus of the invention allows an ultrasonic
transducer to be secured to an orthopedic appliance in an
adjustable fashion, so that the transducer can be consistently and
reliably moved into the proper position for treatment, without
interference from or interfering with the elements of the
orthopedic appliance, and then can be moved out of the way or
removed during periods between treatments.
[0010] In one embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for
adjustably securing an ultrasonic transducer to an orthopedic
appliance, having:
[0011] (a) an optional adjustable clamp adapted to adjustably
secure the apparatus to an element of an orthopedic appliance;
[0012] (b) a transducer holder adapted to secure the transducer to
the apparatus;
[0013] (c) an adjustable connector adapted to adjustably connect
the optional adjustable clamp to the transducer holder.
[0014] The configuration of the optional adjustable clamp may take
various forms in order to allow the apparatus to be secured to a
variety of orthopedic appliances.
[0015] As described in more detail below, the apparatus may take
the form of one of several alternative embodiments, each of which
allow attachment to one or more elements of existing orthopedic
appliances, and allow the ultrasonic transducer to be adjustably
and reliably positioned relative to the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of
one embodiment of the invention secured to an element of an
orthopedic appliance.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two embodiments of the
invention secured to an external ring fixator.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus of
one of the embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 2, secured to
an external ring fixator.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
transducer holder according to the invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing two embodiments of the
apparatus of the invention secured to an external ring fixator.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
apparatus of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of
the invention illustrated in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The apparatus of the invention is intended to be attachable
to a variety of orthopedic appliances, ranging from external
fixators, such as Ilizarov rings, unilateral fixators, or spatial
frames (such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,030,386;
5,971,984; 5,891,143; 5,728,095; and 5,702,389, the entire contents
of each of which are incorporated herein by reference), to
orthopedic braces and the like. As a result, the particular
configuration of the adjustable clamp may be substantially
variable. It may be adjustable in the sense that it can be attached
to the orthopedic appliance in a variety of locations or positions,
or in the sense that the clamp allows movement relative to the
element of the orthopedic element to which it is attached, or in
the sense that the attachment point of the clamp to the adjustable
connector can be varied, or some combination thereof. The
adjustable clamp may, in fact, be available or sold with the
orthopedic appliance itself, and in that sense is optional.
[0024] As an example, when the apparatus of the invention is to be
affixed to the ring of an external ring fixator, a fixator clamp,
also known as a "Rancho cube," may be used to adjustably clamp the
apparatus to the ring. Another example of an adjustable clamping
mechanism includes one or more hinges, which may be used to secure
the device to various points on rods or other rigid elements of the
orthopedic appliance, such as the rods of a ring fixator. These
hinges may allow movement of the adjustable connector relative to
the attachment point as the hinges rotate. Other examples of
suitable clamps include bolts, screw clamps, spring clamps,
standard laboratory clamps, and the like, whose position on the
orthopedic appliance may be varied.
[0025] The transducer holder is adapted to attach the transducer to
the device. It may be removable from the transducer, such as a cap
into which the transducer may be inserted, or it may be permanently
affixed to the transducer. The transducer holder may be a threaded
opening in or threaded stud mounted on a nonoperative surface of
the transducer, with which a correspondingly threaded stud or
threaded opening on or attached to the adjustable connector may be
inserted. Other arrangements include non-threaded openings/studs
secured by set screws and the like, ball-and-socket joints affixed
to a nonoperative transducer surface, and the like.
[0026] The adjustable connector provides, in effect, an adjustable
link between the transducer holder and the adjustable clamp. The
connector may be adjustable in the sense that the attachment point
of the adjustable clamp can be varied, or in the sense that the
attachment point of the transducer holder may be varied, or in the
sense that the connector itself contains moveable parts whose
positioning can be adjusted, or in the sense that the connector
allows the transducer and transducer holder to be removed when not
in use, or any combination of these. In any event, the connector
allows for the position of the transducer holder, and thus of the
transducer, to be varied relative to the adjustable clamp.
[0027] One example of an adjustable connector is a plate, which may
be substantially flat or which may be angled, having one or more
slots for adjustable attachment of the adjustable clamp, the
transducer holder, or both. Another example is an articulating arm,
attached through an adjustable bracket, a threaded stud/opening
arrangement, or a ball-and-socket joint, to the transducer holder
at one end, and bolted or clamped to an element of the orthopedic
appliance at the other end. This articulating arm may be made from
a flexible articulated material having a plurality of joints, or
may be made from a few rigid elements having swivel joints and
lockable slide collars. Another example of an adjustable connector
includes a shaft secured to the transducer holder on one end and
having an optional handle at the other end, which is disposed in a
barrel assembly which allows the shaft to move within the barrel,
and which barrel assembly contains a pin which can be adjustably
secured by the clamp.
[0028] The invention will be further described by reference to
certain of its specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. This description and the drawings are not intended to be
limitative of the appended claims.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein optional
adjustable clamp contains hinge 10, which is rotatably attached to
an element of an orthopedic appliance 20. Hinge 10 is adjustable
because it can rotate about the longitudinal axis of element 20,
and may optionally also be moveable along its length. Hinge 10 can
be adjustably secured to adjustable connector 30 by a fastener 40,
illustrated as a threaded bolt and nut combination. The fastener 40
passes through hole 50 in hinge 10, and then passes through slot 60
in first leg 70 of the adjustable connector 30. This allows the
location of the hinge 10 along the first leg 70 to be adjusted by
sliding fastener 40 along slot 60 and tightening the fastener when
the hinge 10 and adjustable connector 30 are in the appropriate
relative position.
[0030] Transducer holder 80 comprises a plate affixed to transducer
90 and fastened to second leg 100 of adjustable connector 30 by a
fastener 120, which passes through hole 130 in plate 80, and which
also passes through slot 110 in second leg 100. The fastener
illustrated is a bolt which is secured by a correspondingly
threaded nut (not shown) after passing through slot 110. It will be
recognized that any fastener that can be tightened, loosened, and
retightened securely will function to provide the desired
adjustability in securing the transducer holder to the adjustable
connector, and in securing the clamp to the adjustable connector.
As illustrated, adjustable connector 30 contains an opening 150 to
accommodate a cable 140 powering the transducer 90 As illustrated,
adjustable connector 30 is a rectangular, angled plate having two
legs approximately perpendicular (oriented at about 90.degree.)
relative to each other. It will be recognized that other shapes and
orientations may be used and still fall within the spirit and scope
of the invention. For example plates that are circular or oval or
have another geometrical shape, or that are angled at acute or
obtuse angles, or that are substantially flat, could also be used
in the invention.
[0031] An example of an embodiment of the invention using a flat
plate 230 as the adjustable connector between transducer holder 240
and clamp 210 is shown in FIG. 2. Clamp 210, as illustrated,
secures the apparatus of the invention to an element of an external
ring fixator.
[0032] Also illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and shown secured to
a ring 270 of an external ring fixator, is another embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention wherein the adjustable connector
comprises a flexible arm 250, which connects clamp 260 to
transducer holder 280. As illustrated, flexible arm 250 is a
multi-jointed flexible articulating arm. Suitable materials for
such a flexible articulating arm include MEDIFLEX.RTM. (Flexbar
Machine Corp.), Lockline flexible arm materials, or other flexible
arm materials or "goosenecks." It is generally desirable that these
articulating arms be lockable, so that once oriented, their
reorientation requires application of suitable force. This allows
for adjustability but also helps to prevent the arms from being
inadvertently knocked out of position during treatment It is also
desirable that the articulating arm be such that additional
articulating joints can be added to the arm or removed from the arm
as needed, in order to adjust the length of the arm as necessary to
treat a particular injury.
[0033] Suitable transducer holders for use in connection with this
embodiment of the invention include a ball-and-socket joint affixed
to the non-operative surface of the transducer (or to a cap into
which the transducer can be inserted), and capable of attachment
to, and articulation with, the flexible arm. An alternative
embodiment of transducer holder is shown in FIG. 4, which shows a
bracket 290 attached to flexible arm 250 and also attached to a
transducer or cap for holding a transducer by suitable fastener 300
(e.g., a bolt, screw, or rivet). Desirably, the transducer-holder
is capable of holding an EXOGEN 3000 brand transducer or a similar
transducer.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a wingnut is used to
clamp one end of the flexible arm to the ring of the fixator; it
will be recognized that a hinged clamp, such as that shown in FIG.
1, could also be used to clamp the articulating arm to a vertical
rod of the fixator ring, or to a unilateral fixator or an
orthopedic brace within the scope of the invention. Alternatively,
a no-hole clamp, such as that shown in FIG. 5, which does not rely
on the presence of holes in the ring, or spring clamps, standard
laboratory clamps, screw clamps, or other clamp mechanisms could be
used to secure the apparatus to the orthopedic appliance.
[0035] FIG. 5 also illustrates an alternative configuration for the
apparatus of the invention, wherein a clamp 260 is used to secure
the apparatus to a ring of an external fixator, which may be any of
the clamp mechanisms described above for use with a flexible
articulating arm. Instead of the multi-jointed flexible
articulating arm described above, this configuration uses an
articulating arm 310 having a first swivel joint 320 adapted to be
secured by clamp 260 and attached to slide collar 330. Slide collar
330 can be adjustably positioned along rod 340, which is attached
to second swivel joint 350, which is adapted to attach to
transducer holder 280, which may be a threaded stud adapted to be
inserted into a correspondingly threaded opening on the
nonoperative surface of the transducer, or of a cap into which the
transducer may be inserted.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
apparatus of the invention, and FIG. 7 provides an exploded
perspective view of this embodiment. Transducer holder 280 is a cap
adapted to receive the transducer and hold it in place, either by
press fitting or by means of a set screw, and to attach to
adjustable connector 400 by shaft 410. Shaft 410 moves in barrel
420, so that the position of transducer holder 280 relative to
adjustable connector 400 can be varied. Adjustable connector 400
also contains pin 430, illustrated as extending orthogonally to
barrel 420, which is adapted to be received by a clamp. (not shown)
and adjustably secured thereby. Desirably, pin 430 is sized and
configured so as to be securable by a standard fixator or other
clamp, such as a rancho cube, where it can be secured by a set
screw at the desired level of the cube after being rotatably
positioned. The location of the cube on the orthopedic appliance
can also be varied or adjusted, providing additional flexibility in
use. Alternatively, the pin can be threaded and screwed onto a ring
of an external ring fixator using a wingnut or other fastener. Most
desirably, the pin may be threaded, but sized to fit a rancho cube,
enabling the apparatus to be secured in a variety of ways to a
variety of elements of the orthopedic appliance.
[0037] In addition, shaft 410 and barrel 420 may be correspondingly
threaded, so that the position of shaft 410 in barrel 420 may be
adjusted by rotating shaft 410 relative to barrel 420.
Alternatively, as illustrated, adjustable connector 400 may contain
a biasing element 440 (illustrated as a coil spring disposed around
the shaft 410) to urge the transducer holder away from the barrel
and against the body of the patient. Optional handle 450 is
provided in the illustrated embodiment for ease of adjustment of
the apparatus. If the shaft and barrel are threaded, turning the
handle will move the threaded shaft relative to the barrel, and
allow adjustment of the position of the transducer holder relative
to the patient. If a biasing element is present, the transducer can
be moved by pulling the shaft against the biasing force exerted by
the biasing element and locking the shaft in this retracted
position (engaging optional locking pin 460 with optional locking
slot 470, shown in FIG. 7) or by releasing the shaft when the
transducer is appropriately positioned relative to the patient, so
that the biasing element forces the transducer against the patient
during treatment.
[0038] As illustrated, adjustable connector is optionally jointed
at joint 480 (FIG. 6) in order to allow pin 430 to remain
positioned appropriately in the adjustable clamp, while the
remainder of adjustable connector 400 is removed between treatments
or for adjustment or repair. This joint is illustrated as a male
D-element (a male element having a D-shaped cross section) on the
barrel side of the adjustable connector, which corresponds to a
female D-element (a female element having a D-shaped cross section)
on the pin side of the adjustable connector. Retaining ball 500
holds the joint in place until the two sides of the adjustable
connector are forced apart. It will be recognized that, if this
removability feature is not desired or necessary, joint 480 can be
eliminated from the apparatus, and that different joint
configurations can be used, as long as they perform the function of
removably attaching the transducer holder to the pin without
allowing the joint to rotate, or the apparatus to rotate once it is
secured in the clamp.
[0039] The invention also relates to a method of using the device
described above. The device, or a portion thereof, can be attached
to an orthopedic appliance, typically to a rigid element of the
orthopedic appliance, via the clamp. The transducer can be attached
to the transducer holder (if detachable) and the clamp, adjustable
connector, and optionally the transducer holder adjusted to the
appropriate orientation to deliver suitable ultrasound therapy. The
adjustability of the device allows the transducer to be
consistently and reliably positioned at the appropriate location
without interference from or with the orthopedic appliance.
Ultrasonic therapy can be delivered, and the device moved away from
the treatment site and optionally detached (in some embodiments)
from the appliance. Alternatively, the transducer can be removed
from the device if desired
* * * * *