Transperineal stepper including rotatable transducer probe and shaft with internal cable

Abstract

A device includes an ultrasound probe including an elongated neck insertable in a patient and rotatable around a first longitudinal axis, an ultrasound transducer, and an elongated body rotatable around a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to and offset from the first longitudinal axis. The elongated body is removably attached to a probe mounting structure. A shaft is attached to the probe mounting structure, where rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the probe mounting structure and the attached elongated body of the ultrasound probe. The shaft defines a longitudinal shaft channel in an interior portion and a longitudinal shaft groove extending from a surface of the shaft to the longitudinal shaft channel. A cable is insertable into the longitudinal shaft channel through the longitudinal shaft groove, and enters an internal channel of the ultrasound probe through the longitudinal shaft channel enabling electrical connection with the ultrasound transducer.

1 . A transperineal stepper, comprising:
 an ultrasound probe comprising at least one ultrasound transducer connected to a distal end of the ultrasound probe, and a cable attached to a proximal end of the ultrasound probe for providing electrical connection to the at least one ultrasound transducer;   a probe mounting structure to which the ultrasound probe is attached; and   a shaft connected to a proximal end of the probe mounting structure, the shaft defining a longitudinal shaft channel in an interior portion of the shaft and a longitudinal shaft groove extending from a surface of the shaft to the longitudinal shaft channel, enabling placement of the cable in the longitudinal shaft channel,   wherein rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the probe mounting structure and the ultrasound probe attached to the probe mounting structure, while the cable remains in the longitudinal shaft channel, to position the at least one ultrasound transducer at a desired angle.   
     
     
         2 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe comprises:
 an elongated neck rotatable around a first longitudinal axis, the at least one ultrasound transducer being connected to a distal end of the elongated neck; and   an elongated body connected to a proximal end of the elongated neck and rotatable around a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to and offset from the first longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the probe mounting structure and the elongated body of the ultrasound probe around the second longitudinal axis, and the rotation of the elongated body causes corresponding rotation of the elongated neck around the first longitudinal axis to position the at least one ultrasound transducer at the desired angle. 
     
     
         4 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft is a rotatable around a third longitudinal axis that is parallel to and longitudinally aligned with the first longitudinal axis of the elongated neck. 
     
     
         5 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a shaft housing containing the shaft, the shaft being rotatable around the third longitudinal axis within the shaft housing, wherein the shaft housing defines a longitudinal housing groove that is alignable with the longitudinal shaft groove in the shaft to enable placement of the cable within the longitudinal shaft groove.   
     
     
         6 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a handle containing the shaft housing and connected to the shaft, rotation of the handle causing corresponding rotation of the shaft around the third longitudinal axis within the shaft housing.   
     
     
         7 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 6 , wherein the handle defines a longitudinal handle groove alignable with the longitudinal housing groove and aligned with the longitudinal shaft groove, enabling placement of the at least one cable in the longitudinal shaft groove, and
 wherein the handle groove remains aligned with the longitudinal shaft groove during rotation of the shaft within the shaft housing around the third longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         8 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a base; and   a longitudinal translation device comprising at least one longitudinal bore in the base, and at least one rod attached to the shaft housing at a proximal end of the at least one rod, and configured to move longitudinally through the at least one longitudinal bore in the base, enabling longitudinal movement, as a unit, of the shaft housing, the shaft contained in the shaft housing, the probe mounting structure attached to the shaft, and the ultrasound probe secured to the probe mounting structure.   
     
     
         9 . The transperineal stepper of  claim 8 , wherein a grid plate is connected to a distal end of the base, the grid plate comprising an array of grid holes, wherein at least one needle is guided through at least one hole of the array of grid holes during operation of the at least one ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         10 . A device, comprising:
 an ultrasound probe comprising at least one ultrasound transducer connected to a distal end of the ultrasound probe, and a cable attached to a proximal end of the ultrasound probe for providing electrical connection to the at least one ultrasound transducer;   a probe mounting structure to which the ultrasound probe is removably attached;   a shaft connected to a proximal end of the probe mounting structure, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal shaft channel in an interior portion of the shaft and a longitudinal shaft groove extending from a surface of the shaft to the longitudinal shaft channel;   a shaft housing, the shaft being rotatable within the shaft housing, wherein the shaft housing defines a longitudinal housing groove that is alignable with the longitudinal shaft groove in the shaft; and   a handle connected to the shaft, wherein the handle defines a longitudinal handle groove that is in a fixed alignment with the longitudinal shaft groove and alignable with the longitudinal housing groove in a neutral position of the shaft, to enable placement of the cable within the longitudinal shaft groove,   wherein rotation of the handle causes corresponding rotation of the shaft within the shaft housing, and wherein the rotation of the shaft causes corresponding rotation of the probe mounting structure and the ultrasound probe attached to the probe mounting structure, while the cable remains in the longitudinal shaft channel.