Imaging probe adapter

Abstract

An imaging probe adapter for measuring the properties of a lumen like the vaginal canal, the rectum, or anal sphincter. The device has an adapter body with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the adapter body may be formed into an insertion tip capable of easy insertion into the appropriate lumenal structure. An inflatable pressure chamber covers the distal end of the adapter body. A baseplate formed on the proximal end of the adapter body incorporates fluid channels for inflating the pressure chamber and a probe channel that receives an ultrasound probe or other suitable imaging probe. The device is used to measure and model lumenal biomechanical properties such as stiffness, compliance, elastic versus viscous contributions to overall stiffness, and total displacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of measuring the properties of a lumen, comprising:
 providing an imaging probe adapter comprising:
 an adapter body with a proximal end and a distal end, where the distal end is adapted for insertion into the lumen and the proximal end forms a baseplate adapted to remain outside the lumen; 
 a pressure chamber capable of being demountably attached to the adapter body and inflated with a fluid; 
 a probe channel formed in the adapter body for insertion and removal of an imaging probe having a first open end at the proximal end of the adapter body and a second closed end disposed towards the distal end of the adapter body, and 
 one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate in communication with the pressure chamber such that the pressure chamber can be inflated and deflated; 
   inserting the imaging probe adapter into the lumen;   inserting the imaging probe into the probe channel of the adapter body; and   measuring a geometry of the pressure chamber with the imaging probe; wherein   the imaging probe is not mechanically attached to the imaging probe adapter and the imaging probe can be inserted and removed from the imaging probe adapter when the imaging probe adapter is inserted into the lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the pressure chamber comprises:
 a body formed from an elastic material within which the adapter body is inserted; 
 a first sealed end; and 
 a second open end; 
   the adapter body further comprises:
 a first mounting point disposed towards the proximal end of the adapter body; and 
 a second mounting point disposed towards at the distal end of the adapter body, and the pressure chamber is assembled with the adapter body by a process comprising: 
 inserting the adapter body into the second open end of the pressure chamber such that the distal end of the adapter body is proximate the first sealed end and the proximal end of the adapter body is proximate the second open end; 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the first mounting point of the adapter body with a first demountable attachment; and 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the second mounting point of the adapter body with a second demountable attachment. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the pressure chamber comprises:
 a body formed from an elastic material within which the adapter body is inserted; 
 a first end sealed end; and 
 a second open end; 
   the adapter body further comprises:
 a first mounting point disposed towards the proximal end of the adapter body; 
 a second mounting point disposed towards at the distal end of the adapter body; and 
 one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate; 
   the pressure chamber is assembled with the adapter body by a process comprising:
 inserting the adapter body into the second open end of the pressure chamber such that the distal end of the adapter body is proximate the first sealed end and the proximal end of the adapter body is proximate the second open end; 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the first mounting point of the adapter body with a first demountable attachment; and 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the second mounting point of the adapter body with a second demountable attachment; 
   the one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate are in fluid communication with an interior portion of the body of the pressure chamber which is sealed against the adapter body by the first demountable attachment and the second demountable attachment; and   the pressure chamber when inflated with the fluid only inflates around that portion of the adapter body between the first mounting point of the adapter body and the second mounting point of the adapter body.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the pressure chamber is assembled over the adapter body and demountably attached to the adapter body at a first location proximate the distal end of the adapter body and a second location proximate the proximal end of the adapter body;   the adapter body further comprises one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate which are in fluid communication with an interior portion of the pressure chamber; and   each flow channel of the one or more flow channels has:
 a first opening disposed on a surface of the baseplate disposed away from the distal end of the adapter body; and 
 a second opening disposed on another surface of the baseplate disposed towards the distal end of the adapter body; and 
   each second opening of the one or more flow channels is between the first location and the second location.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the imaging probe is an ultrasonic image probe;   the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to ultrasound signals generated by the ultrasonic imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from or coated with a material reflecting the ultrasound signals generated by the ultrasonic imaging probe; and   the imaging probe is coated with ultrasound gel before it is inserted into the probe channel.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to signals generated by the imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from an elastic material; and   either the elastic material or another material coating one of an interior surface of the pressure chamber or an exterior surface of the pressure chamber reflect signals generated by the imaging probe.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to signals generated by the imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from a non-compliant material; and   either the non-compliant material or another material coating one of an interior surface of the pressure chamber or an exterior surface of the pressure chamber reflect signals generated by the imaging probe.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to signals generated by the imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from a non-compliant material;   either the non-compliant material or another material coating one of an interior surface of the pressure chamber or an exterior surface of the pressure chamber reflect signals generated by the imaging probe; and   an interior volume of the pressure chamber is larger than the volume of the lumen having its properties measured such that the pressure chamber can be filled to a volume that distends the lumen.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the adapter body further comprises a plurality of flow channels formed in the baseplate;   a first subset of the flow channels are for providing the fluid to an interior volume of the pressure chamber; and   a second subset of the flow channels are ports for conducting components through the baseplate into the interior of the pressure chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 inflating the pressure chamber at a rate; and   establishing pressure, volume and deformation data during inflation of the pressure chamber in dependence upon measurements performed with the imaging probe.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 inflating the pressure chamber at a rate;   establishing pressure, volume and deformation data during inflation of the pressure chamber in dependence upon measurements performed with the imaging probe; and   creating at least one of a load versus displacement curve, a stress versus strain curve, a load versus time curve, a derivative of the load versus displacement curve, a derivative of the stress versus strain curve, and a derivative of the load versus time curve.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 inflating the pressure chamber to a target pressure or target volume; and   when the inflation is to a target volume performing the steps of:
 maintaining the pressure chamber at pressure for a predetermined period of time; and 
 establishing stress relaxation of the lumen in dependence upon measurements performed with the imaging probe; and 
   when the inflation is to a target pressure performing the steps of:
 rapidly inflating the pressure chamber to a target pressure; 
 continuously maintaining the target pressure; and 
 establishing creep of the lumen in dependence upon measurements performed with the imaging probe. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 pressuring the pressure chamber; and   inserting the imaging probe to a plurality of positions between the first open end of the probe channel and the second closed end of the probe channel;   measuring the geometry of the pressure chamber with the imaging probe at each position of the plurality of positions; and   establishing a three-dimensional volumetric geometry of the pressure chamber from the geometries of the pressure chamber at a subset of the plurality of positions.   
     
     
         14 . A method of measuring the properties of a lumen, comprising:
 providing an imaging probe adapter comprising:
 an adapter body with a proximal end and a distal end, where the distal end is adapted for insertion into the lumen and the proximal end forms a baseplate adapted to remain outside the lumen; 
 a pressure chamber capable of being demountably attached to the adapter body and inflated with a fluid; 
 a probe channel formed in the adapter body for insertion and removal of an imaging probe having a first open end at the proximal end of the adapter body and a second closed end disposed towards the distal end of the adapter body, and 
 one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate in communication with the pressure chamber such that the pressure chamber can be inflated and deflated; 
   inserting the imaging probe adapter into the lumen;   inserting the imaging probe into the probe channel of the adapter body; and   measuring a geometry of the pressure chamber with the imaging probe.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the pressure chamber comprises:
 a hollow body; 
 a first sealed end; and 
 a second open end into which the adapter body is inserted; 
   the adapter body further comprises:
 a first mounting point disposed towards the proximal end of the adapter body; and 
 a second mounting point disposed towards at the distal end of the adapter body, and 
   the pressure chamber is assembled with the adapter body by a process comprising:
 inserting the adapter body into the second open end of the pressure chamber such that the distal end of the adapter body is proximate the first sealed end and the proximal end of the adapter body is proximate the second open end; 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the first mounting point of the adapter body with a first demountable attachment; and 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the second mounting point of the adapter body with a second demountable attachment. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the pressure chamber comprises:
 a hollow body; 
 a first sealed end; and 
 a second open end into which the adapter body is inserted; 
   the adapter body further comprises:
 a first mounting point disposed towards the proximal end of the adapter body; 
 a second mounting point disposed towards at the distal end of the adapter body; and 
 one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate; 
   the pressure chamber is assembled with the adapter body by a process comprising:
 inserting the adapter body into the second open end of the pressure chamber such that the distal end of the adapter body is proximate the first sealed end and the proximal end of the adapter body is proximate the second open end; 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the first mounting point of the adapter body with a first demountable attachment; and 
 demountably attaching the pressure chamber to the second mounting point of the adapter body with a second demountable attachment; 
   the one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate are in fluid communication with an interior portion of the body of the pressure chamber which is sealed against the adapter body by the first demountable attachment and the second demountable attachment; and   the pressure chamber when inflated with the fluid only inflates around that portion of the adapter body between the first mounting point of the adapter body and the second mounting point of the adapter body.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the pressure chamber is assembled over the adapter body and demountably attached to the adapter body at a first location proximate the distal end of the adapter body and a second location proximate the proximal end of the adapter body;   the adapter body further comprises one or more flow channels formed in the baseplate which are in fluid communication with an interior portion of the pressure chamber; and   each flow channel of the one or more flow channels has:
 a first opening disposed on a surface of the baseplate disposed away from the distal end of the adapter body; and 
 a second opening disposed on another surface of the baseplate disposed towards the distal end of the adapter body; and 
   each second opening of the one or more flow channels is between the first location and the second location.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the imaging probe is an ultrasonic image probe;   the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to ultrasound signals generated by the ultrasonic imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from or coated with a material reflecting the ultrasound signals generated by the ultrasonic imaging probe; and   the imaging probe is coated with ultrasound gel before it is inserted into the probe channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to signals generated by the imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from an elastic material or a non-compliant material; and   either the elastic material or another material coating one of an interior surface of the pressure chamber or an exterior surface of the pressure chamber reflect signals generated by the imaging probe.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the adapter body is formed from a material transparent to signals generated by the imaging probe;   the pressure chamber is formed from a non-compliant material;   either the non-compliant material or another material coating one of an interior surface of the pressure chamber or an exterior surface of the pressure chamber reflect signals generated by the imaging probe; and   an interior volume of the pressure chamber is larger than the volume of the lumen having its properties measured such that the pressure chamber can be filled to a volume that distends the lumen.