title: Ultrasonic ventriculostomy stylet.
abstract: I describe my design for a ventriculostomy stylet fitted with a phase array ultrasonic imaging device in its tip. Theoretically, this would allow identification of the ventricles and their exact location at the bedside, without the need for expensive stereotactic equipment. A device such as this could potentially facilitate the placement of ventriculostomy catheters in patients with small ventricles, and it could even contribute to the education of neurosurgery residents. At present, a prototype of the device is being manufactured.
authors.affiliation: Souers Stroke Institute, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D014159:Transducers; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*