Abstract

A surgical system for destroying unwanted internal structures including a laser device, an ultrasonic probe and a computer system is described. The ultrasonic probe provides data signals that are processed by the computer system to provide an image of the structures involved in the laser irradiation procedure. The laser device can be inserted in the body and activated by the computer system to provide radiation capable of destroying internal tissue. By calibrating the effects of the laser device as a function of power, the surgical procedure can be controlled by including overlaying images of the regions already affected by the surgical procedures on the images previously provided by the ultrasonic probe. This image reconstruction can be performed in real time providing immediate feedback to the attending physician. The computer system can also monitor system parameters such as laser power. This system has particular application to procedures involving the prostate gland where the laser light guide can be inserted intraurethrally and the ultrasonic probe can be inserted intraurethrally or transrectally.

Other References

• "A Binocular Stereoscopic Display System for Echocardiography", Nakatani et al., IEEE Trans. Bio. Eng., Feb. 1979
• "High-Resolution Echocardiography", NASA, NASA Tech. Brief, 1979
• "A Computer-aided 3-D Display System for U.S. Diagnosis of a Breast Tumor, Itoh et al., Ultrasonics, Nov. 1979