| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for determining accurately, both during and after insertion, the full length position of catheters (including implanted ports (64)), tubes (30) and placement guidewires (22) within biological tissue is disclosed including a transmitter/detector unit (2) having an alternating current (AC) radio-frequency (RF) transmitter with antenna (14), and a radio signal transmitter in the form of a continuous or segmented fine wire receiving antenna (28, 32, 74) situated along the full length of the catheter, guidewire, and implanted port assemblies (22, 30, 64). The guidewire apparatus also includes a tip antenna. These antennae are connected by a removable clip (18) to a wide-band RF detector circuit, situated within the transmitter/detector unit (2). The RF transmitter/detector circuit provides a voltage output that is a direct function of the relative spatial proximity of the transmitting antenna. This proximity is displayed visually to the operator using a sequential linear LED array (8) whose sensitivity is controlled by a gain control knob (10). An audible tone is also produced by a miniature speaker (12), and whose tone frequency is varied as a direct function of the transmitter proximity. Also shown is a method and apparatus for locating the full length position of implanted port (64) mounted catheters (72), and a method and apparatus for simultaneous infusion into an implanted port assembly 64 and detecting the full length position of the port mounted catheter (72).
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