Medical devices with enhanced ultrasonic visibilty
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device having enhanced ultrasonic visibility is provided. The device permits localized drug delivery, probe positioning, fluid drainage, biopsy, or ultrasound pulse delivery, through the real-time ultrasound monitoring of the needle tip position within a patient. The device permits controlled dispersion of a drug into solid tissue, the lodging of particles into solid tissue, and drug delivery into specific blood vessels. As a needle is inserted, a fluid that contrasts echogenically with the organ environment is injected into the patient. The fluid travels a brief distance before being slowed and stopped by the patient'"'"'s tissue and this fluid flow will be detectable by ultrasound. The needle position during insertion will be monitored using ultrasound until it is at the desired point of action. A therapeutic drug is then delivered or a probe inserted
910 Citations
79 Claims
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1-49. -49. (canceled)
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50. A medical device used in ultrasonic guided positioning comprising:
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a. a fluid container having a discharge end, b. a fluid discharge device disposed in connection with the fluid container so as to define a fluid retaining reservoir, the discharge device configured to apply a selected pressure to a fluid in the fluid retaining reservoir for ejecting said fluid from the reservoir through the discharge end, c. a first conduit having an entrance end and an exit end and defining a first passage therebetween, the entrance end disposed at the discharge end of the fluid container, the first passage in communication with the reservoir;
d. a needle having a connector end and a distal tip and defining a needle passage therebetween, the connector end in communication with the exit end of the first conduit, the needle passage in communication with the first passage;
e. a fluid supply operatively connected to the fluid discharge device selectively applying the selected pressure to the fluid, wherein the selected pressure moves the fluid through the discharge end of the fluid container and travels a first flow path through the first passage and through the needle passage, for ejection of the fluid at the distal tip at a fluid flow rate suitable for detection by ultrasound. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A ultrasonic guided positioning method for detecting a medical device, comprising:
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a. dispensing a fluid from a distal tip of a needle of a medical device, the fluid having a selected flow rate for detection by a medical device, the device having;
i. a fluid container having a discharge end, ii. a fluid discharge device disposed in connection with the fluid container so as to define a fluid retaining reservoir, the discharge device configured to apply a selected pressure to a fluid in the fluid retaining reservoir for ejecting said fluid from the reservoir through the discharge end, iii. a first conduit having an entrance end and an exit end and defining a first passage therebetween, the entrance end disposed at the discharge end of the fluid container, the first passage in communication with the reservoir;
iv. a needle having a connector end and a distal tip and defining a needle passage therebetween, the connector end in communication with the exit end of the first conduit, the needle passage in communication with the first passage;
v. a fluid supply operatively connected to the fluid discharge device for selectively applying the selected pressure to the fluid, whereby the selected pressure moves the fluid through the discharge end of the fluid container and travels a first flow path through the first passage and through the needle passage, for ejection at the distal tip at a fluid flow rate suitable for detection by ultrasound;
b. transmitting an ultrasonic pulse from an ultrasound transducer;
c. receiving the ultrasound pulse by the ultrasound transducer; and
d. detecting the fluid ejected from the distal tip.
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Specification