Ultrasound-guided injection method and device for the temporomandibular joint cavity of experimental mice

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection method and device for experimental mice, which relates to the field of experimental mouse experimental technology. The device includes a support column, a first cantilever is provided on the support column, an external auditory canal positioning piece is provided on the first cantilever, and further includes: a second cantilever, the second cantilever is slidably provided on the first cantilever, the second cantilever can rotate around its end close to the first cantilever, and the second cantilever is used to be parallel to the orbital ear plane of the experimental mouse; a carrying mechanism, the carrying mechanism is slidably provided on the second cantilever, and the carrying mechanism is used to drive the ultrasonic probe and the syringe to the position of the joint cavity. The present invention guides the injection of the experimental mouse joint cavity based on the image collected by the ultrasonic probe, and can observe and adjust the position, angle and depth of the syringe needle in real time. Compared with the blind puncture in the prior art, it can greatly improve the success rate of the injection, reduce the number of puncture attempts, and effectively improve the uniformity of the experimental mouse samples.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of experimental mouse experimental technology, and in particular to an ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection method and an injection device for experimental mice. Background Art

[0002] The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the most complex joint in the human body, comprising the articular surface of the temporal bone, the articular disc, the condyle, the joint capsule, and the ligaments. The TMJ coordinates left and right, supporting jaw movements such as chewing, swallowing, speech, and some facial expressions. Compared to other joints in the body, the TMJ has distinct morphology, function, biomechanics, and biological properties, and can only withstand limited loads.

[0003] Laboratory mice are important animal models for studying human diseases. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a collective term for a group of diseases that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding muscle function. It is the leading cause of non-odontogenic pain in the oral and maxillofacial region, primarily manifested by joint pain, joint clicking, and mandibular functional movement disorders, severely impacting patients' quality of life. Currently, the cause of the disease is not fully understood. To study TMD and other temporomandibular joint diseases, it is necessary to establish an animal model using laboratory mice. Injecting reagents into the mouse joint cavity can induce the disease, or injecting drugs into the joint cavity can intervene in specific disease processes. This helps researchers gain a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis, pathogenic factors, and disease progression of TMD, as well as identify effective treatments.

[0004] The inventor team disclosed a temporomandibular joint positioning device for experimental mice in patent CN114392000B. The device uses an ear hole positioning piece to locate the ear hole, and then uses a buckle and connecting strip to simultaneously fix the relative position of the zygomatic bone and skin, ensuring that the entire device is fixed at two points: the external auditory canal and the zygomatic bone. This allows important bony anatomical points to be projected onto the surface of the experimental mouse, indirectly locating the bony landmark points on the body surface and improving the accuracy of joint cavity positioning.

[0005] While existing technologies can accurately locate the surface location of the temporomandibular joint cavity, the position of the needle tip within the cavity cannot be visually observed during injection. The temporomandibular joint cavity of experimental mice is small, and even with accurate surface location, a deviation in the needle insertion angle can lead to insertion failure. Furthermore, the skin of the experimental mice can shift during injection, making joint cavity injection difficult. Injecting drugs into the surrounding muscle or subcutaneous tissue based on experience-based blind puncture can cause inflammation or local necrosis. Furthermore, ineffective or erroneous injections can lead to poor sample uniformity in the experimental mice, making experimental results unreliable. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice. The injection device can accurately position the ultrasound probe and the syringe in the joint cavity, thereby allowing the ultrasound probe to be used to observe and guide the needle insertion in the joint cavity in real time, significantly improving the accuracy of the needle insertion position, reducing damage to the tissue in the joint cavity during the needle insertion and injection process, making the establishment of the animal model more controllable, and improving the accuracy of the experimental results.

[0007] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0008] An ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice comprises a support column, a first cantilever is provided on the support column, an external auditory canal positioning member for insertion into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse is provided on the first cantilever, and further comprises:

[0009] a second cantilever, the second cantilever being slidably disposed on the first cantilever, the second cantilever being capable of rotating around an end thereof close to the first cantilever, and the second cantilever being used to be parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse;

[0010] The carrying mechanism is slidably arranged on the second cantilever, and is used to drive the ultrasonic probe and the syringe to move to the position of the joint cavity.

[0011] In the present technical solution, similar to the prior art, the injection device includes a support column. In some embodiments, the support column can be set on a work plate for fixing the experimental mouse, or can be set on an independent base. A first cantilever is provided on the support column. The first cantilever can be fixedly installed at a specific height of the support column, and the height of the first cantilever can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the support column; the first cantilever can also be slidably provided on the support column and fixed to the support column when adjusted to a suitable height. By adjusting the height of the first cantilever, the external auditory canal positioning piece connected to the first cantilever can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse, which not only helps to fix the head of the experimental mouse, but also determines the position of one end of the first cantilever away from the support column.

[0012] Unlike the prior art, this technical solution features a second cantilever mounted on the first cantilever. This second cantilever is not only movable along the first cantilever but also pivots a certain angle around its connection to the first cantilever, allowing it to pivot parallel to the mouse's orbito-auricular plane. The orbito-auricular plane of the mouse refers to the plane connecting the lowest point of the lower edge of the mouse's eye socket with the highest point of the external auditory canal. The second cantilever being parallel to the orbito-auricular plane means that the central axis of the second cantilever, extending from its connection to the first cantilever to its movable end, is parallel to the orbito-auricular plane.

[0013] In this technical solution, after the support column and the external auditory canal determine the extension direction of the first cantilever, the second cantilever is moved along the first cantilever to the vicinity of the external auditory canal to determine the highest point of the mouse's external auditory canal. The second cantilever is then rotated so that its movable end pivots around the connection between the second cantilever and the first cantilever until the movable end of the second cantilever passes the lower edge of the eye socket, i.e., the bottom of the mouse's eyeball. At this point, the second cantilever is parallel or approximately parallel to the mouse's orbito-auricular plane.

[0014] After the second cantilever is parallel to the orbito-auricular plane of the experimental mouse, the extension direction of the second cantilever and the movement direction of the carrying mechanism are determined. In this technical solution, the carrying mechanism is used to carry the ultrasound probe and the syringe, and drive the ultrasound probe and the syringe to move synchronously to the joint cavity. When the second cantilever is parallel to the orbito-auricular plane, the second cantilever is translated along the first cantilever, that is, the orbito-auricular plane of the experimental mouse is translated. Subsequently, the carrying mechanism moves along the second cantilever, that is, moves along the orbito-auricular plane, so that the ultrasound probe and the syringe can be quickly positioned in the area where the joint cavity is located.

[0015] Finally, after the ultrasound probe obtains the image of the joint cavity, the position, angle, and depth of the syringe needle are observed and adjusted in real time through the ultrasound image. Compared with the existing technology of blind puncture based on experience after locating the joint cavity on the body surface, this can greatly improve the success rate of injection, reduce the number of puncture attempts, protect the tissue in the joint cavity, shorten the operation time, improve experimental efficiency, and effectively improve the uniformity of experimental mouse samples.

[0016] In this technical solution, the external auditory canal positioning member is used to locate the position of the external auditory canal and the extension direction of the first cantilever, and the second cantilever can be used to quickly and accurately locate the position of the orbito-auricular plane, so that the carrying mechanism that moves along the second cantilever also moves along the orbito-auricular plane, thereby allowing the ultrasound probe and syringe to be quickly and accurately moved to the position of the joint cavity of the experimental mouse during the experiment. The ultrasound probe is used to clearly show the boundary of the joint cavity, and the insertion of the syringe can be observed in real time. This not only greatly increases the success rate of injection and improves the efficiency of the experiment, but also effectively protects the joint cavity and surrounding tissues, making the establishment of the animal model more controllable and improving the accuracy of subsequent experimental results.

[0017] Furthermore, the first cantilever is provided with a first slide extending along the first cantilever, a first slider is slidably provided in the first slide, the first slider is provided with a limiting member located above the first cantilever, and a second locking member located below the first cantilever, the second locking member is threadedly connected to the first slider, and the second cantilever is connected to the first slider.

[0018] In this technical solution, the first slide extends along the length direction of the first cantilever, and the first slider arranged in the first slide can move along the first slide, thereby driving the second cantilever connected thereto to move along the first slide.

[0019] In order to enable the first slider to be fixed at any position in the first slideway, in this technical solution, the top end of the first slider extends to the top of the first cantilever, and the bottom end of the first slider extends to the bottom of the first cantilever. A limit member is provided on the first slider, and the bottom surface of the limit member contacts the upper surface of the first cantilever, thereby supporting the first slider. At the same time, a second locking member is provided on the first slider and is located below the first cantilever. Through a threaded connection with the first slider, the second locking member can be moved toward or away from the first cantilever along the first slider by rotation. When it is necessary to fix the position of the second cantilever on the first cantilever, the second locking member can be rotated until it finally rotates to a position abutting the bottom surface of the first slider. At this time, the second locking member and the limit member jointly clamp the first cantilever; conversely, when it is necessary to move the first cantilever, the second locking member is rotated in the opposite direction until the second locking member no longer abuts the first cantilever.

[0020] In this technical solution, the second cantilever is connected to the first slider. The second cantilever and the first slider can be connected directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the second cantilever is directly connected to the first slider, for example, the upper surface of the second cantilever is directly connected to the bottom end of the second cantilever. In this case, in order to enable the second cantilever to rotate relative to its connection end with the first cantilever, the first slider needs to be a cylindrical structure. After the second cantilever moves to the desired position, the first slider is rotated to adjust the angle between the second cantilever and the first cantilever. In some embodiments, the second cantilever and the first slider are indirectly connected via a rotating member. In one or more embodiments, the top end of the rotating member is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the first slider, and the bottom end of the rotating member is rotatably connected to the upper surface of the second cantilever; or, conversely, the top end of the rotating member is rotatably connected to the bottom end of the first slider, and the top end of the rotating member is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the second cantilever, thereby allowing the second cantilever to rotate a certain angle to be parallel to the orbital plane after moving to the desired position.

[0021] Through the above structure, the second cantilever can not only move along the first cantilever, but also rotate a certain angle relative to its connection end with the first cantilever, thereby allowing the second cantilever to locate the orbitoauricular plane of the experimental mouse, and then translate the orbitoauricular plane to facilitate the subsequent rapid movement of the ultrasound probe and syringe to the joint cavity.

[0022] Furthermore, the external auditory canal locating member is arranged on a first end face of the first cantilever away from the supporting column, and a distance between a second end face of the first slideway close to the external auditory canal locating member and the first end face is not greater than 2 cm.

[0023] In this technical solution, the external auditory canal locating member is located on the first end surface of the first cantilever. After the external auditory canal locating member is arranged on the first end surface, the first slideway on the first cantilever extends between the support column and the external auditory canal locating member.

[0024] In this technical solution, the distance between the second end face of the first slide close to the external auditory canal locating piece and the first end face is set to be less than 2 cm, so that after the external auditory canal locating piece is inserted into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse, the connection end of the second cantilever and the first cantilever can be closer to the highest point of the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse, thereby allowing the second cantilever to be rotated around the highest point of the external auditory canal, and quickly rotated to a position parallel to the orbito-auricular plane.

[0025] Furthermore, a first sleeve is provided on the first end face of the first cantilever away from the support column, a telescopic member is slidably provided in the first sleeve, and the external auditory canal positioning member is connected to the telescopic member. In this technical solution, a first sleeve can also be provided on the first end face, and a slidable telescopic member is provided in the first sleeve. By pulling the telescopic member toward the inside or outside of the sleeve for a certain distance, the projection position of the external auditory canal positioning member on the plane where the working plate is located can be fine-tuned along the extension direction of the first cantilever, thereby allowing the external auditory canal positioning member to be more stably and vertically inserted into the external auditory canal, further improving the flexibility of the positioning operation and the accuracy of positioning.

[0026] Furthermore, the carrying mechanism includes a sliding member mounted on the second cantilever, the sliding member is connected to a second connecting member, the second connecting member is provided with a short column that movably passes through the second connecting member, the short column is threadedly connected to a third locking member located above the second connecting member, the bottom end of the short column is provided with a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket is provided with a mounting area for installing the ultrasound probe, and a syringe mounting member for installing the syringe.

[0027] In this technical solution, the mounting mechanism includes a sliding member capable of moving along the second cantilever. To prevent the sliding member from rotating circumferentially along the second cantilever, the cross-section of the sliding member and the second cantilever can be configured as a polygon, such as a rectangle. Of course, the cross-sections of the sliding member and the second cantilever can also be configured as circles, but they need to be provided with a limiting strip and a limiting groove respectively to prevent relative movement of the two in the circumferential direction. For example, the limiting strip and the limiting groove extend along the axial direction of the second cantilever and the sliding member.

[0028] In this technical solution, the mounting frame is provided with a mounting area for securing the ultrasound probe to the mounting frame. For example, in one or more embodiments, the mounting frame may be provided with a clamping member for clamping the ultrasound probe. Furthermore, the mounting frame may also be provided with a syringe mounting member for mounting a syringe, thereby enabling synchronized movement of the ultrasound probe and syringe.

[0029] In the present technical solution, the mounting member is rotatably connected to the second connecting member connected to the sliding member. Specifically, a short column and a through hole for allowing the short column to pass through are provided on the second connecting member. The bottom end of the short column is fixedly connected to the mounting frame, and a third locking member is threadedly connected to the short column. The third locking member is located above the second connecting member, and the third locking member is rotated so that the third locking member moves along the short column toward or away from the second connecting member. When the third locking member rotates forward until the upper surface of the mounting frame abuts against the lower surface of the second connecting member, the mounting frame cannot rotate relative to the second cantilever; conversely, when the third locking member rotates backward until the upper surface of the mounting frame no longer contacts the lower surface of the second connecting member, the mounting frame can rotate a certain angle relative to the second cantilever around the short column.

[0030] In this technical solution, the mounting frame is connected to the second connecting piece in a rotational manner, so that the ultrasound probe and syringe can be rotated to a certain angle relative to the second cantilever, that is, the orbitoauricular plane, so that the joint cavity can be positioned more flexibly and accurately, further improving the efficiency and accuracy of the experiment.

[0031] Furthermore, a fifth locking member is provided on the sliding member, and the fifth locking member is used to fix the sliding member on the second cantilever.

[0032] In this technical solution, the locking method of the fifth locking member is similar to that of the first locking member. By rotating the fifth locking member in the forward direction, the end of the locking member can be brought into contact with the outer wall of the second cantilever, thereby achieving the fixation of the sliding member and the second cantilever; conversely, by rotating the fifth locking member in the reverse direction, the fixation of the sliding member and the second cantilever can be unlocked.

[0033] Furthermore, the mounting frame includes a cross bar connected to the bottom end of the short column, a side bar is provided on the cross bar, a second slide is provided on the side bar, a second slider is slidably provided in the second slide, a clamping member for clamping the ultrasound probe is provided on the second slider, and a syringe mounting member is provided on the clamping member.

[0034] In this technical solution, the mounting frame includes a crossbar and sidebars connected to the crossbar. The crossbar is fixedly connected to the short column, and the sidebars are used to slide and mount a clamp. Specifically, the sidebar is provided with a second slideway, within which a second movable slider is disposed. The clamping member mounted on the second slider is used to clamp the ultrasound probe, ensuring stable imaging.

[0035] In this technical solution, after the mounting frame is moved as a whole to the joint cavity area, the ultrasound probe can be further moved along the extension direction of the side rod, so that the imaging area of ​​the joint cavity can be adjusted to an area that is convenient for injection observation. For example, the image of the joint cavity is located in the middle of the imaging screen, further improving the accuracy of the injection and the experimental efficiency.

[0036] Furthermore, a groove is provided on the side wall of the clamping member, a rotating shaft and a flip plate that can rotate around the rotating shaft are provided in the groove body, the syringe mounting member is connected to the flip plate, and the clamping member is also provided with a first adjusting member and a second adjusting member, the bottom end of the first adjusting member is movable through the groove body and is used to abut against the upper surface of the flip plate, and the top end of the second adjusting member is movable through the groove body and is used to abut against the lower surface of the flip plate.

[0037] In this technical solution, a groove is formed on the side wall of the clamp, and a rotating shaft is disposed within the groove. The flip plate can rotate a certain angle relative to the rotating shaft. One end of the flip plate is located within the groove, and the other end is located outside the groove and connected to the syringe mounting member used to guide and mount the syringe. The clamp is also provided with first and second adjustment members, which are used to adjust the angle of the flip plate, and thus adjust the injection angle of the syringe mounted on the syringe mounting member. This allows the injection angle of the syringe to be fine-tuned based on the joint cavity imaging obtained by the ultrasound probe, thereby improving the flexibility and accuracy of the injection.

[0038] In some preferred embodiments, the angle between the syringe mounting component and the horizontal plane is 40-50°.

[0039] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for injecting an ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity of an experimental mouse based on any of the aforementioned injection devices. Specifically, the method comprises the following steps:

[0040] Secure the mouse to the work board. After anesthesia, place the mouse in a sideways position and secure it to the work board using a fastener. Tilt the head to one side and press it against the board, with the external auditory canal facing upwards, exposing the mandibular area. Ideally, explore the left side first, then the right side.

[0041] Insert the external auditory canal positioning piece into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse. Adjust the height and angle of the first cantilever so that the external auditory canal positioning piece on the first cantilever is vertically inserted into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse.

[0042] Move the second cantilever to one end of the first slide close to the external auditory canal positioning piece, and rotate the second cantilever until the second cantilever is parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse.

[0043] Move the second cantilever to the second end face of the first slide, that is, one end close to the external auditory canal positioning member, and the end face is defined as the highest point of the external auditory canal. In one or more embodiments, the distance between the second end face and the first end face of the first cantilever is less than 2 cm, so that one end of the second cantilever is as close to the highest point of the external auditory canal as possible. Then, rotate the second cantilever until the second cantilever is parallel or approximately parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse. Since the connecting end of the second cantilever and the first cantilever is located at the highest point of the external auditory canal, when the movable end of the second cantilever is rotated to the lowest point of the lower edge of the experimental mouse's eye socket, that is, the bottom of the eyeball, the second cantilever connects the lowest point of the lower edge of the experimental mouse's eye socket and the highest point of the external auditory canal. At this time, the second cantilever is parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse.

[0044] The second cantilever is translated along the first cantilever until the second cantilever is higher than the upper edge of the eye socket of the experimental mouse.

[0045] After the second cantilever is parallel to the orbitoauricular plane, it is translated along the first cantilever, maintaining a constant angle with the first, until the second cantilever reaches the upper edge of the mouse's orbit, or the very top of the eyeball. At this point, the mounting mechanism is in its initial state and can be moved to a position that just covers the eyeball.

[0046] The ultrasound probe begins imaging, and the mounting mechanism is rotated so that the zygomatic arch of the experimental mouse appears in the image captured by the ultrasound probe.

[0047] Next, the ultrasound probe is positioned vertically with the marked point facing the top of the head to begin imaging. The mouse's eyeballs will appear on the screen. Next, the mounting mechanism is rotated so that the ultrasound probe captures the mouse's zygomatic arch.

[0048] The carrying mechanism is translated along the second cantilever until the joint cavity of the experimental mouse appears in the image acquired by the ultrasound probe.

[0049] After the zygomatic arch appears in the image, the mounting mechanism is translated along the second cantilever, i.e., in the orbitoauricular plane, with the mounting mechanism and the second cantilever maintained at a constant angle, until the anterior edge of the external auditory canal and the joint cavity appear in the image captured by the ultrasound probe. In one or more embodiments, the position of the clamping member on the sidebar can be adjusted to move the image of the joint cavity to the center of the image for easier observation.

[0050] Push the syringe to allow the needle of the syringe to enter the joint cavity.

[0051] Finally, push the syringe in the direction defined by the syringe mount, so that the needle penetrates the skin and enters the joint cavity from the bottom of the ultrasound probe. The needle appears on the screen. Based on the needle's position on the screen and the condition of the joint cavity, the depth and angle of the needle can be adjusted in real time.

[0052] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0053] 1. This invention uses images captured by an ultrasound probe to guide injection into the experimental mouse joint cavity. Ultrasound clearly displays the tiny temporomandibular joint cavity, allowing real-time observation and adjustment of the syringe's insertion position, angle, and depth. Compared to blind puncture in existing technologies, this method significantly improves the injection success rate, reduces the number of puncture attempts, protects the tissue within the joint cavity, shortens operation time, improves experimental efficiency, and effectively improves the uniformity of experimental mouse samples.

[0054] 2. The present invention locates the position of the external auditory canal and the extension direction of the first cantilever by using the external auditory canal positioning member, and can quickly and accurately locate the position of the orbitoauricular plane using the second cantilever, so that the carrying mechanism that moves along the second cantilever also moves along the orbitoauricular plane. This allows the ultrasound probe and syringe to be quickly and accurately moved to the position of the experimental mouse joint cavity during the experiment, and the use of the ultrasound probe to observe the needle insertion situation of the syringe in real time. This not only significantly increases the success rate of injection and improves experimental efficiency, but also effectively protects the joint cavity and surrounding tissues, making the establishment of the animal model more controllable and improving the accuracy of subsequent experimental results.

[0055] 3. The second cantilever of the present invention can not only move along the first cantilever, but also rotate at a certain angle relative to its connection end with the first cantilever, thereby allowing the second cantilever to locate the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse and then translate the orbital-auricular plane to facilitate the subsequent rapid movement of the ultrasound probe and syringe to the joint cavity;

[0056] 4. The present invention utilizes the rotatable connection between the mounting bracket and the second connecting member to enable the ultrasound probe and the syringe to rotate to a certain angle on the second cantilever, which can more flexibly and accurately locate the joint cavity, further improving the efficiency and accuracy of the experiment;

[0057] 5. After the mounting frame is moved as a whole to the joint cavity area, the ultrasound probe can be further moved along the extension direction of the side rod, thereby adjusting the imaging area of ​​the joint cavity to an area that is convenient for injection observation, further improving the accuracy of injection and experimental efficiency;

[0058] 6. The present invention also provides first and second adjusting members on the clamping member, and the first and second adjusting members are used to adjust the angle of the flip plate, thereby adjusting the injection angle of the syringe installed on the syringe mounting member, thereby allowing the injection angle of the syringe to be fine-tuned according to the joint cavity imaging obtained by the ultrasonic probe, thereby improving the flexibility and accuracy of the injection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, constitute a part of this application, and do not constitute a limitation of the embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0060] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of an injection device in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the first cantilever in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a first structure of a carrying mechanism movably arranged on the second cantilever in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 4 It is a side view schematic diagram of a second structure of the carrying mechanism in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 5 It is a top view schematic diagram of the second structure of the carrying mechanism in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a connection method between the carrying mechanism and the syringe mounting member in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the temporomandibular joint cavity of an experimental mouse in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of an external auditory canal positioning member inserted into the external auditory canal in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of adjusting the second cantilever to be parallel to the orbitoauricular plane in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of the present invention in which the second cantilever is moved to the upper part of the eye socket and the ultrasound probe covers the eye socket;

[0070] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of adjusting the carrying mechanism so that the ultrasound probe is located directly above the joint cavity in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] Figure 12 4 is a flowchart of the injection method in a specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Markings and corresponding parts names in the accompanying drawings:

[0073] 1-support column, 11-ring, 12-first locking member, 2-first cantilever, 21-first slide, 22-first slider, 23-limiting member, 24-second locking member, 25-rotating member, 26-second end face, 27-first end face, 3-second cantilever, 4-external auditory canal positioning member, 41-first connecting member, 42-first sleeve, 43-telescopic member, 5-carrying mechanism, 51-sliding member, 52-fifth locking member, 53-second connecting member, 54-short column, 5 5-third locking member, 56-mounting frame, 57-cross bar, 58-side bar, 59-second slide, 510-second slider, 511-fourth locking member, 513-clamping member, 514-fixed clamping end, 515-movable clamping end, 516-gasket, 6-ultrasound probe, 7-syringe, 71-syringe mounting member, 72-first adjusting member, 73-second adjusting member, 74-rotating shaft, 75-flip plate, 76-trough, 8-working plate, 81-fixing member;

[0074] 101-External auditory canal, 102-Orbit, 103-Zygomatic arch, 104-Joint cavity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with examples and drawings. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0076] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", "high", "low", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0077] Example 1

[0078] like Figures 1 to 3 The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice shown in the figure includes a support column 1, a first cantilever 2 is provided on the support column 1, and an external auditory canal positioning member 4 for insertion into the external auditory canal 101 of the experimental mouse is provided on the first cantilever 2, and further includes:

[0079] A second cantilever 3, wherein the second cantilever 3 is slidably disposed on the first cantilever 2, and the second cantilever 3 is capable of rotating around an end thereof close to the first cantilever 2, and the second cantilever 3 is used to be parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse;

[0080] The carrying mechanism 5 is slidably disposed on the second cantilever 3 , and is used to drive the ultrasonic probe 6 and the syringe 7 to move to the position of the joint cavity 104 .

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the ultrasound probe may be an ultrasound probe of any existing medical ultrasound instrument.

[0082] In one or more embodiments, the first cantilever is slidably disposed on the support column, specifically, as Figure 2 As shown, a collar 11 is provided on the support column 1, and the first cantilever 2 is connected to the collar 11. A first locking member 12 is provided on the collar 11. The first locking member 12 is movable through the collar 11 and is threadedly connected to the collar. By rotating the first locking member 12, the first locking member 12 can abut against the support column to fix the first cantilever on the support column. The first locking member can also release the connection between the collar and the support column by reverse rotation, thereby adjusting the height of the first cantilever. In some embodiments, a plurality of positioning grooves are also provided on the support column. The size of the positioning grooves matches the size of the end face of the locking member for abutting the support column, thereby allowing the first cantilever to be more stably fixed at a commonly used height on the support column.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, a first cantilever is provided on the support column. The first cantilever can be fixedly installed at a specific height of the support column, and the height of the first cantilever can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the support column; the first cantilever can also be slidably provided on the support column and fixed on the support column when adjusted to a suitable height.

[0084] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the first cantilever 2 is provided with a first slideway 21 extending along the first cantilever 2. A first slider 22 is slidably disposed within the first slideway 21. The first slider 22 is provided with a stopper 23 located above the first cantilever 2 and a second locking member 24 located below the first cantilever 2. The second locking member 24 is threadedly connected to the first slider 22. The second cantilever 3 is connected to the first slider 22. In this embodiment, the second cantilever can be connected to either the top or the bottom of the first slider. The second cantilever and the first slider can be connected directly or indirectly.

[0085] In some embodiments, the second cantilever is directly connected to the first slider. For example, the upper surface of the second cantilever is directly connected to the lower end of the second cantilever. In this case, the first slider must be cylindrical to enable the second cantilever to rotate relative to its connection with the first cantilever. After the second cantilever is moved to the desired position, the first slider is rotated to adjust the angle between the second cantilever and the first cantilever.

[0086] In some embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the second cantilever is indirectly connected to the first slider via a rotating member 25. In one or more embodiments, the top end of the rotating member is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the first slider, and the bottom end of the rotating member is rotatably connected to the upper surface of the second cantilever; or, conversely, the top end of the rotating member is rotatably connected to the bottom end of the first slider, and the top end of the rotating member is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the second cantilever, thereby allowing the second cantilever to rotate a certain angle to be parallel to the orbital-auricular plane after moving to a desired position.

[0087] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the external auditory canal locating member 4 is arranged on the first end face 27 of the first cantilever 2 away from the support column 1, and the distance between the second end face 26 of the first slideway 21 close to the external auditory canal locating member 4 and the first end face 27 is not greater than 2 cm. In one or more embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, the external auditory canal locator 4 is connected to the first cantilever through a vertically arranged first connecting member 41, so that the height of the external auditory canal locator is lower than the height of the first cantilever, which facilitates the insertion of the external auditory canal locator into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse.

[0088] In some preferred embodiments, the distance between the second end surface and the first end surface is no more than 1 cm.

[0089] In some preferred embodiments, a first sleeve 42 is provided on the first end surface 27 of the first cantilever 2, which is away from the support column 1. A telescopic member 43 is slidably disposed in the first sleeve 42. The telescopic member 43 is connected to the external auditory canal positioning member 4. In one or more embodiments, the travel of the telescopic member within the sleeve is no greater than 1 cm to ensure that the connection between the second cantilever and the first cantilever is as close as possible to the highest point of the external auditory canal.

[0090] Example 2

[0091] On the basis of Example 1, Figure 3 As shown, the carrying mechanism 5 includes a sliding member 51 mounted on the second cantilever 3, the sliding member 51 is connected to a second connecting member 53, the second connecting member 53 is provided with a short column 54 that movably passes through the second connecting member 53, the short column 54 is threadedly connected to a third locking member 55 located above the second connecting member 53, and the bottom end of the short column 54 is provided with a mounting bracket 56, the mounting bracket 56 is provided with a mounting area for mounting the ultrasonic probe 6, and a syringe mounting member 71 for mounting the syringe 7.

[0092] In this embodiment, the mounting frame is connected to the second connecting member by rotation, so that the ultrasound probe and the syringe can be rotated by a certain angle relative to the second cantilever, that is, the orbital-auricular plane, so that the joint cavity can be positioned more flexibly and accurately, further improving the efficiency and accuracy of the experiment.

[0093] In one or more embodiments, there is a certain initial angle between the syringe mount and the horizontal plane, such as 45°, so that the syringe in the syringe mount can be inserted into the joint cavity at an angle of 45° to better observe the needle insertion position and reduce damage to the tissue in the joint cavity.

[0094] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 3 As shown, a fifth locking member 52 is provided on the sliding member 51 , and the fifth locking member 52 is used to fix the sliding member 51 on the second cantilever 3 .

[0095] Example 3

[0096] Based on the above embodiments, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the mounting frame 56 includes a cross bar 57 connected to the bottom end of the short column 54, a side bar 58 is provided on the cross bar 57, a second slide 59 is provided on the side bar 58, a second slider 510 is slidingly provided in the second slide 59, a clamping member 513 for clamping the ultrasonic probe 6 is provided on the second slider 510, and a syringe mounting member 71 is provided on the clamping member 513.

[0097] In one or more embodiments, Figure 4 As shown, the cross section of the second slider 510 is a rectangle whose height matches the height of the second slideway 59 , thereby preventing the ultrasonic probe from deflecting during the imaging process and improving the stability of the imaging.

[0098] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the second slider 510 is also threadedly connected to a fourth locking member 511. By rotating forward and tightening the fourth locking member, the second slider 510 can be fixed in the second slide, thereby fixing the clamping member on the mounting frame; by rotating reverse and loosening the fourth locking member, the clamping member can be moved again along the extension direction of the second slide.

[0099] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 5As shown, the clamping member 513 includes a fixed clamping end 514 and a movable clamping end 515. When installing the ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic probe 6 is pressed against the fixed clamping end 514, and then the movable clamping end 515 is used to squeeze the side wall of the ultrasonic probe 6 to achieve stable clamping of the ultrasonic probe. In one or more embodiments, the movable clamping end 515 may include a clamping end and an extrusion sleeve mounted on the clamping end, wherein a spring is provided in the extrusion sleeve, and the elastic force of the spring is used to enable the extrusion sleeve to squeeze the side wall of the ultrasonic probe to form a clamp. In one or more embodiments, the movable clamping end may include a locking nut, and the locking nut is rotated to achieve abutment against the side wall of the ultrasonic probe. In one or more embodiments, a gasket 516 is also provided on the movable clamping end and the fixed clamping end to improve the stability of the clamping and reduce the wear on the ultrasonic probe.

[0100] Example 4

[0101] Based on the above embodiments, Figure 6 As shown, a groove 76 is provided on the side wall of the clamping member 513, and a rotating shaft 74 and a flip plate 75 that can rotate around the rotating shaft 74 are provided in the groove 76. The syringe mounting member 71 is connected to the flip plate 75. The clamping member 513 is also provided with a first adjusting member 72 and a second adjusting member 73. The bottom end of the first adjusting member 72 is movable through the groove 76 and is used to abut against the upper surface of the flip plate 75. The top end of the second adjusting member 73 is movable through the groove 76 and is used to abut against the lower surface of the flip plate 75.

[0102] In some preferred embodiments, the angle between the syringe mounting member 71 and the horizontal plane is 40-50 degrees. Here, the angle between the syringe mounting member and the horizontal plane refers to the angle between the area of ​​the syringe mounting member used to mount the syringe and the horizontal plane. After the syringe is mounted, this angle is the angle between the central axis of the syringe and the horizontal plane.

[0103] In some preferred embodiments, the first adjusting member, the second adjusting member and the side rod are connected by threads, and the position of their bottom ends in the groove body can be adjusted by rotating the first adjusting member and the second adjusting member, thereby achieving abutment against the flip plate.

[0104] During adjustment, the syringe mount can have an initial angle, for example, an angle of 45° with the horizontal plane. During the needle insertion process, when the needle insertion angle needs to be increased, the first adjustment member can be first rotated to move it upward to leave space for the flip plate to rotate, and then the second adjustment member can be rotated to push up the flip plate, and finally the angle of the flip plate can be fixed by the first and second adjustment members. When the needle insertion angle needs to be reduced, the second adjustment member can be first rotated to move it downward to leave space for the flip plate to rotate, and then the first adjustment member can be rotated to press the flip plate downward. At the desired angle, the angle of the flip plate can be fixed by the first and second adjustment members.

[0105] Example 5

[0106] like Figure 12 The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection method for experimental mice is shown, using the ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice in any of the aforementioned embodiments. The method includes the following steps:

[0107] Fix the experimental mouse on the working board;

[0108] Insert the external auditory canal positioning piece into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse;

[0109] Move the second cantilever to the end of the first slide close to the external auditory canal positioning piece, and rotate the second cantilever until the second cantilever is parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse;

[0110] Translating the second cantilever along the first cantilever until the second cantilever is higher than the upper edge of the eye socket of the experimental mouse;

[0111] The ultrasound probe begins imaging, and the mounting mechanism is rotated so that the zygomatic arch of the experimental mouse appears in the image captured by the ultrasound probe;

[0112] The carrying mechanism is translated along the second cantilever until the joint cavity of the experimental mouse appears in the image captured by the ultrasound probe;

[0113] Push the syringe to allow the needle of the syringe to enter the joint cavity.

[0114] In order to better illustrate the movement mode of the injection device, the inventors in the appendix of CN114392000B Figure 1 The experimental mouse skull shown in the figure is a prototype. Figure 7 The positions of the external auditory canal 101, eye socket 102, zygomatic arch 103, and joint cavity 104 of the experimental mouse are schematically shown in FIG. Figures 8 to 11 The working mode of the injection device is shown from a top view.

[0115] After the experimental mouse is anesthetized, it is placed in a sideways position and fixed to the work board 8 using the fixing piece 81. The head is tilted to one side and fixed close to the work board, with the external auditory canal facing upwards to expose the mandibular area. Figure 8As shown, the height and angle of the first cantilever are adjusted so that the external auditory canal positioning member 4 on the first cantilever is vertically inserted into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse. Figure 9 As shown, the second cantilever 3 is moved to the second end face of the first slide 21, which is defined as the highest point of the external auditory canal. The second cantilever 3 is then rotated until it is parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse. Since the connection end of the second cantilever and the first cantilever is located at the highest point of the external auditory canal, when the movable end of the second cantilever is rotated to the lowest point of the lower edge of the experimental mouse's eye socket, the second cantilever connects the lowest point of the lower edge of the experimental mouse's eye socket with the highest point of the external auditory canal. At this time, the second cantilever is parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse.

[0116] Next, if Figure 10 As shown, after the second cantilever is parallel to the orbito-auricular plane, the second cantilever is translated along the first cantilever, and the angle between the second cantilever and the first cantilever remains unchanged until the second cantilever is translated to the upper edge of the experimental mouse's eye socket, that is, the top of the eyeball. At this time, the carrying mechanism 5 is in the initial state, and the carrying mechanism can be moved to a position that just covers the eyeball. Afterwards, the ultrasound probe 6 starts imaging, and the carrying mechanism is rotated so that the zygomatic arch of the experimental mouse appears in the image captured by the ultrasound probe. The carrying mechanism is then translated along the second cantilever, as shown in FIG. Figure 11 As shown, the angle between the mounting mechanism and the second cantilever remains unchanged until the front edge of the external auditory canal and the joint cavity appear in the image captured by the ultrasound probe. In one or more embodiments, the position of the clamping member on the side rod can be adjusted to move the image of the joint cavity to the center of the image for easier observation.

[0117] Finally, push the syringe 7 in the direction defined by the syringe mount, so that the syringe needle penetrates the skin and enters the joint cavity from the bottom of the ultrasound probe. The needle tip appears on the screen. Based on the position of the needle tip on the screen and the condition of the joint cavity, the depth and angle of the needle insertion can be adjusted in real time.

[0118] In some preferred embodiments, the VEVO3100 ultra-high-resolution small animal ultrasound imaging system is used, with a high-frequency linear array probe suitable for high-resolution imaging of superficial structures. Ultrasound parameters include: frequency: 12-15 MHz; depth range: 2-4 cm; focus: on the articular disc or condyle surface; and gain adjustment: moderately increase near-field gain to enhance articular disc visualization, and reduce far-field gain to reduce noise.

[0119] The terms "first," "second," and so on, used in the present invention (e.g., first cantilever, second cantilever, first locking member, second locking member, etc.) are used solely to distinguish corresponding components for clarity of description and are not intended to limit any order or emphasize importance. Furthermore, the term "connected" as used in the present invention, unless otherwise specified, may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection via other components.

[0120] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific implementation method of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice, comprising a support column (1), a first cantilever (2) being provided on the support column (1), an external auditory canal positioning member (4) for insertion into the external auditory canal of an experimental mouse being provided on the first cantilever (2), and characterized in that: Also includes: a second cantilever (3), the second cantilever (3) being slidably disposed on the first cantilever (2), the second cantilever (3) being capable of rotating around an end thereof close to the first cantilever (2), and the second cantilever (3) being used to be parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse; A carrying mechanism (5), wherein the carrying mechanism (5) is slidably disposed on the second cantilever (3), and the carrying mechanism (5) is used to drive the ultrasonic probe (6) and the syringe (7) to move to the position of the joint cavity (104); The carrying mechanism (5) comprises a sliding member (51) sleeved on the second cantilever (3), the sliding member (51) is connected to a second connecting member (53), the second connecting member (53) is provided with a short column (54) that movably passes through the second connecting member (53), the short column (54) is threadedly connected to a third locking member (55) located above the second connecting member (53), a mounting frame (56) is provided at the bottom end of the short column (54), the mounting frame (56) is provided with a mounting area for mounting the ultrasound probe (6), and a syringe mounting member (71) for mounting the syringe (7); the mounting frame (56) comprises a cross bar (57) connected to the bottom end of the short column (54), the cross bar (57) is provided with a side bar (58), the side bar (58) is provided with a second slide (59), and the sliding device in the second slide (59) is provided. A second slider (510) is provided, and a clamping member (513) for clamping the ultrasonic probe (6) is provided on the second slider (510), and a syringe mounting member (71) is provided on the clamping member (513); a groove (76) is provided on the side wall of the clamping member (513), and a rotating shaft (74) and a flip plate (75) that can rotate around the rotating shaft (74) are provided in the groove (76), and the syringe mounting member (71) is connected to the flip plate (75); a first adjusting member (72) and a second adjusting member (73) are also provided on the clamping member (513), the bottom end of the first adjusting member (72) is movable through the groove (76) and is used to abut against the upper surface of the flip plate (75), and the top end of the second adjusting member (73) is movable through the groove (76) and is used to abut against the lower surface of the flip plate (75).

2. The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first cantilever (2) is provided with a first slideway (21) extending along the first cantilever (2), a first slider (22) is slidably provided in the first slideway (21), the first slider (22) is provided with a limiting member (23) located above the first cantilever (2), and a second locking member (24) located below the first cantilever (2), the second locking member (24) is threadedly connected to the first slider (22), and the second cantilever (3) is connected to the first slider (22).

3. The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice according to claim 2, characterized in that: The external auditory canal locating member (4) is arranged on a first end surface (27) of the first cantilever (2) away from the support column (1), and a distance between a second end surface (26) of the first slideway (21) close to the external auditory canal locating member (4) and the first end surface (27) is not greater than 2 cm.

4. The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice according to claim 2, characterized in that: A first sleeve (42) is provided on the first end surface (27) of the first cantilever (2) away from the support column (1), a telescopic member (43) is slidably provided in the first sleeve (42), and the telescopic member (43) is connected to the external auditory canal positioning member (4).

5. The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice according to claim 1, characterized in that: A fifth locking member (52) is provided on the sliding member (51), and the fifth locking member (52) is used to fix the sliding member (51) on the second cantilever (3).

6. The ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The angle between the syringe mounting member (71) and the horizontal plane is 40-50°.

7. An ultrasound-guided method for temporomandibular joint injection in experimental mice, characterized in that: The method using the ultrasound-guided temporomandibular joint cavity injection device for experimental mice according to any one of claims 1 to 6 comprises the following steps: Fix the experimental mouse on the working board; Insert the external auditory canal positioning piece into the external auditory canal of the experimental mouse; Move the second cantilever to the end of the first slide close to the external auditory canal positioning piece, and rotate the second cantilever until the second cantilever is parallel to the orbital-auricular plane of the experimental mouse; Translating the second cantilever along the first cantilever until the second cantilever is higher than the upper edge of the eye socket of the experimental mouse; The ultrasound probe begins imaging, and the mounting mechanism is rotated so that the zygomatic arch of the experimental mouse appears in the image captured by the ultrasound probe; The carrying mechanism is translated along the second cantilever until the joint cavity of the experimental mouse appears in the image captured by the ultrasound probe; Push the syringe to allow the needle of the syringe to enter the joint cavity.

Images