Insertion guidance system for needles and medical components
First Claim
1. A method of guiding a needle, comprising:
- preparing the needle for guidance, the needle including a magnetic element producing a magnetic field;
ultrasonically imaging an image area including an internal body portion target using an ultrasound imaging probe, the ultrasound imaging probe including a plurality of magnetic sensors;
generating magnetic field strength data by continuously sensing the magnetic field of the magnetic element via the plurality of magnetic sensors;
determining a position of the needle relative to the magnetic sensors in three spatial dimensions by processing the magnetic field strength data; and
displaying the position of the needle together with an image of the internal body portion target such that an angle of the needle with respect to the internal body portion target is depicted when the needle is outside of the image area.
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Abstract
A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle or other medical component into the body of a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the detectable characteristic sensed by the sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the needle in three spatial dimensions. The system includes a display for depicting the position and/or orientation of the needle together with the image of the target.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of guiding a needle, comprising:
- preparing the needle for guidance, the needle including a magnetic element producing a magnetic field;
ultrasonically imaging an image area including an internal body portion target using an ultrasound imaging probe, the ultrasound imaging probe including a plurality of magnetic sensors; generating magnetic field strength data by continuously sensing the magnetic field of the magnetic element via the plurality of magnetic sensors; determining a position of the needle relative to the magnetic sensors in three spatial dimensions by processing the magnetic field strength data; and displaying the position of the needle together with an image of the internal body portion target such that an angle of the needle with respect to the internal body portion target is depicted when the needle is outside of the image area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- preparing the needle for guidance, the needle including a magnetic element producing a magnetic field;
Specification