Medical devices

The present invention relates to a device to allow access of a medical sensor probe to a selected location within a patient's body. A disposable elongated tubular sheath (2) is releasably attached at its closed distal end (10) to the wall of a blood vessel (1) during surgery. The sheath leads out of the patient's body and provides an access path through which a sensor probe, such as an ultrasound probe (3), can be introduced in order to allow monitoring of blood flow within the vessel. The probe can be easily removed and replaced without contamination. When monitoring is complete, the releasable attachment means are operated and the sheath can be pulled out of the patient's body without further surgery.

I claim:

1. A device for allowing access of a medical sensor probe to a selected perivascular location within a patient's body, comprising:

an elongated tubular sheath having a first portion and a second portion, the two portions to be positioned respectively inside and outside the patient's body, said first portion being shaped to fit against a blood vessel wall;

a tubular passageway extending through said sheath, said passageway being closed to the exterior in the first portion and having an opening in the second portion to allow access and removal of a medical sensor probe therethrough whilst said sheath remains indwelling within the patient's body, said closed passageway in said first portion preventing any contact between the patient's interior and said probe; and

attachment means located on said first portion for securing said sheath at said selected perivascular location.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said sheath has a distal end portion provided with a partially concave external surface to fit against the blood vessel wall.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means is releasable by operation from outside the patient's body.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said releasable attachment means comprises fixing means securable to the selected location, and a tractable element co-operable with said fixing means, said tractable element being guidable in use by guide means associated with said sheath.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said fixing means comprises one or more sutures, said guide means is a bore within a wall of said sheath and said tractable element is a wire.

6. A device according to claim 3 comprising tamper-indicating means for indicating whether or not said releasable attachment means has been operated.

7. A device for allowing access of a medical sensor probe to a selected location within a patient's body, comprising:

an elongated tubular sheath having a first portion and a second portion, the two portions to be positioned respectively inside and outside the patient's body;

a tubular passageway extending through said sheath, said passageway being closed to the exterior in said first portion and having an opening in said second portion to allow access and removal of a medical sensor probe therethrough whilst said sheath remains indwelling within the patient's body, said closed passageway in said first pro%ion preventing any contact between the patient's interior and said probe, said first portion having an internal form for accommodating a probe of predetermined shape in a prescribed orientation in said sheath; and

attachment means located on said first portion for securing said sheath at said selected location.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said tubular passageway is non-circular.

9. A medical sensor probe kit, comprising:

a Doppler ultrasound probe; and

at least one elongated tubular sheath for allowing access of said probe to a selected perivascular location within a patient's body, said sheath having a first portion and a second portion, the two portions to be positioned respectively inside and outside the patient's body, said sheath having a tubular passageway extending therethrough, closed to the exterior in the first portion and having an opening in said second portion to allow access and removal of said probe therethrough whilst said sheath remains indwelling within the patient's body, said first portion of said sheath preventing any contact between the patient's interior and said probe, said first portion being shaped to fit against a blood vessel wall and having attachment means for securing said sheath at said selected perivascular location.

10. A method for locating a medical sensor probe to position said probe at a selected perivascular location within a patient's body, said method comprising:

positioning an elongated tubular sheath against a blood vessel wall, said sheath having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being positioned inside the patient's body and said second portion being positioned outside the patient's body, said sheath having a tubular passageway extending therethrough, said passageway being closed to the exterior in the first portion and having an opening in the second portion for allowing access and removal of a medical sensor probe therethrough whilst the sheath remains indwelling within the patient's body, the first portion preventing any contact between the patient's interior and the probe, the sheath having attachment means located on said the first portion for securing the sheath at the selected perivascular location;

attaching the tubular sheath to the vessel via the attachment means; and

inserting a medical probe into the tubular sheath to position the probe at the selected perivascular location.