Abstract: A surgical probe wherein a heat sterilizable and reusable detector component is combined with a disposable handle and cable assembly. The reusable detector component incorporates a detector crystal and associated mountings along with preamplifier components. It is formed having a positioning shaft extending therefrom to a contact supporting surface carrying a pattern of electrical contact surfaces. Two orientation bosses are formed with the positioning shaft. The disposable handle employs an insert member having a receiving cavity. The electrical contact carrying tip of the shaft engages an elastomeric seal and moves into electrical engagement with a pattern of electrical contacts mounted within the handle in conjunction with a permanently affixed flexible cable.

Abstract: System and apparatus particularly suited for tracking a radiopharmaceutical present within a lymph duct and locating a sentinel node within which the radiopharmaceutical has concentrated. A smaller, straight, hand-held probe is employed carrying two hand actuable switches. For tracking procedures, the probe is moved in an undulatory manner wherein the location of the radiopharmaceutical containing duct is determined by observing a graphics readout developed preferably employing a circularly accessed data memory. When the region of the sentinel node is approached, a switch on the probe device is actuated by the surgeon to carry out a sequence of squelching operations until a small node locating region is defined. At that point in the procedure, the straight small probe will be pointed at and in adjacency with the radiopharmaceutical containing sentinel node. The probe-mounted switches are configured to apply preset current levels upon the probe pre-amplifier power supply.

Abstract: The method for identifying a sentinel lymph node located within a grouping of regional nodes at a lymph draininage basin associated with neoplastic tissue wherein a radiopharmaceutical is injected at the situs of the neoplastic tissue. This radiopharmaceutical migrates along a lymph duct toward the drainage basin containing the sentinel node. A hand-held probe with a forwardly disposed radiation detector crystal is maneuvered along the duct while the clinician observes a graphical readout of count rate amplitudes to determine when the probe is aligned with the duct. The region containing the sentinel node is identified when the count rate at the probe substantially increases. Following incision, the probe is maneuvered utilizing a sound output in connection with actuation of the probe to establish increasing count rate thresholds followed by incremental movements until the threshold is not reached and no sound cue is given the surgeon.

Abstract: A probe instrument which is formed having a unitary housing with indented switch actuating surfaces intended for surgical procedures employs internally disposed piezoelectric switching components within an elongate internally disposed switch receiving channel. The forward end of the instrument supports a crystal containing detector assembly with a preamplifier and associated leads which extend within a detector signal channel spaced from the switch receiving channel and protected therefrom by a shield wall. The piezoelectric components are held in preloaded association adjacent outwardly disposed switch actuating surfaces by a dual wedge switch support assembly. An elongate cable is permanently attached to the rearward end of the housing component through the utilization of a medical grade silicone seal and relief component.

Abstract: Intended for use in a pathology laboratory, the apparatus includes a multi-segment crystal array over which is positioned a platform supported receiving region with a pattern carrying indicia emulating and in registry with the pattern of the crystal array segments. The tissue carrying a radiolabeled locator is positioned on the receiving region and the photon emission count values for each segment are compiled and displayed at a computer monitor or as a print-out in conjunction with crystal segment identification. Observation of the count values by a pathologist then shows the location over a segment of highest count value at which locator is more likely to be concentrated. Sectioning then is carried out at that location.

Abstract: A system for detecting photon emissions wherein a detector serves to derive electrical parameter signals having amplitudes corresponding with the detected energy of the photon emissions and other signal generating events. Two comparator networks are employed within an energy window defining function to develop an output, L, when an event based signal amplitude is equal to or above a threshold value, and to develop an output, H, when such signal amplitude additionally extends above an upper limit. Improved reliability and accuracy is achieved with a discriminator circuit which responds to these outputs L and H to derive an event output upon the occurrence of an output L in the absence of an output H. This discriminator circuit is an asynchronous, sequential, fundamental mode discriminator circuit with three stable states.

Abstract: A crystal containing detector particularly suited for use in immunoguided surgery capable of detecting gamma emissions present at tumor sites. The instrument utilizes a cadmium-zinc-telluride detector crystal which may be retained within a finger mount positioned over the surgeon's finger. Within this mount there also is incorporated a first preamplification stage designed to accumulate charge signals from the detector as well as to drive a relatively short length of cable to a second preamplification stage located, for example, within a housing at the surgeon's upper arm. The small finger mounted probe may be moved between operative orientations at the underside of the tip of the finger to stand-by orientations at the top of the finger adjacent the knuckles. In an additional embodiment, the finger probe incorporates a sodium iodide crystal, the scintillations from which are transmitted via a short length of fiber optic cable to an upper arm mounted housing which contains a photomultiplier tube.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument is provided having a hand-grippable base to which an elongate accessing tube is connected which extends to a tip. Extending inwardly from the tip is a detection support region within which is formed a radiation transmissive window. Immediately spaced from and behind the window there is positioned a detecting crystal such as cadmium telluride which is retained in a crystal mount structure having an architecture designed for minimizing noise generation occasioned from microphonic (piezoelectric) phenomena and the like.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is described for determining the treatment modality for neoplastic (cancer) tissue within the peritoneal cavity of a patient. The method utilizes a laparoscope with a visual display output as well as a radiation responsive instrument. These instruments are employed first to carry out a visual survey of the colon and then a radionuclide survey of the colon to locate concentrations of radiolabeled locator. A next survey is carried out with the radiation responsive instrument to determine the location of lymph node involvement in the cancer as well as other metastatic disease. Should the latter involvement be found, open laparotomy is indicated as the treatment modality. On the other hand, where no lymph node involvement is determined and the region of locator concentration can additionally be visualized, then conventional laparoscopic resection procedure is the determined treatment modality.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a hand manipular probe suited for use in immuno-guided surgery calling for the detection of very faint gamma emissions for the purpose of localizing cancerous tumor. The probe contains a crystal such as cadmium telluride which is secured in a light-tight environment. A noise immune structuring of the probe and crystal combination includes the utilization of electrically conductive, compliant cushion layer located at one face of the crystal in conjunction with freely abutting biasing and ground contacts. A nylon, resilient retainer is positioned in tension over the assemblage of crystal, ground and biasing contacts and compliant layers to achieve a compressively retained assemblage. With the method, dead air space is developed between the forward facing window of the probe and the crystal retaining assemblage.

Abstract: A detector particularly suited for use in immuno-guided surgery capable of detecting very faint gamma emissions and thereby localizing cancerous tumor. The detector employs a hand manipular probe within which is contained a crystal such as cadmium telluride which is secured in a light-tight environment. A noise immune structuring of the probe and crystal combination includes the utilization of electrically conductive, compliant cushion layer located at one face of the crystal in conjunction with freely abutting biasing and ground contacts. A nylon, resilient retainer is positioned in tension over the assemblage of crystal, ground and biasing contacts and compliant layers to achieve a compressively retained assemblage. A dead air space is developed between the forward facing window of the probe and the crystal retaining assemblage.

Abstract: A detector particularly suited for use in immuno-guided surgery capable of detecting very faint gamma emissions and thereby localizing cancerous tumor. The detector employs a hand manipular probe within which is contained a crystal such as cadmium telluride which is secured in a light-tight environment. A noise immune structuring of the probe and crystal combination includes the utilization of a resilient compressible shock cushion layer located at one face of the crystal in conjunction with a biasing surface. Additionally, an elastomeric retainer is positioned over the assemblage of crystal, cup, and shock cushion layer to form a sub-assembly for retention within the device. A dead air space is developed between the forward facing window of the probe and the crystal remaining assemblage.

Abstract: A hand-held gamma radiation probe is employed to locate radiation concentrations in animal tissue in conjunction with a control function providing an enhanced audio output particularly suited for cuing the user as to source position. The probe is positioned at a location on the animal body representing background radiation and a squelch low count rate is developed therefrom. The squelch low count rate is multiplied by a range factor to develop a squelch high count rate and frequencies are developed from a look-up frequency table from lowest to highest in correspondence with the developed high and low squelch count rates. Slew rate limiting of the count rates is provided by development of a squelch delta value representing the difference between the squelch high and low count rates divided by a time element. Selection of frequencies for audio output from the frequency table is limited by the value of the squelch delta value.

Abstract: A detector particularly suited for use in immuno-guided surgery capable of detecting very faint gamma emissions and thereby localizing cancerous tumor. The detector employs a hand manipular probe within which is contained a crystal such as cadmium telluride which is secured in a light tight compressively restrained environment employing compliant yet conductive components which also serve to exhibit varying accoustical impedance to impinging microphonic effects. A preamplifier is incorporated within the probe device itself which employs an integrator stage front end combining a field effect transistor and bipolar device with a very small feedback capacitance of less than one picofarad. A bootstrap technique is utilized to enhance the amplification of the bipolar amplification stage. Pulse related signals outputted from the device are normalized and compared to produce pulse data which are analyzed. In one mode of operation a siren effect is employed to guide the surgeon towards emission sources.

Abstract: The present invention is addressed to a method for the improved localization, differentiation, and removal of neoplastic tissue in animals. In particular, one aspect of the present invention involves a surgical procedure wherein an animal suspected of containing neoplastic tissue is surgically accessed and the tissue therein examined visually and by palpation for evidence of neoplastic tissue. The improved methodology commences with the administering to the animal of an effective amount of a labelled antibody specific for neoplastic tissue and labelled with a radioactive isotope exhibiting specific photon emissions of energy levels. Next, and importantly, the surgial procedure is delayed for a time interval following said administering for permitting the labelled antibody to preferentially concentrate in any neoplastic tissue present in the animal so as to increase the ratio of photon emissions from neoplastic tissue to background photon emissions in said animal.