Ultrasonic ventriculostomy stylet.
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.
Gomez
C R
CR
Souers Stroke Institute, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, Missouri, USA.
D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D014159:Transducers; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*