Apparatus and methods for guiding a needle

• US 20070203455A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ward, Tim, Chu, Michael, Tremaglio, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3405 using mechanical guide means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates

Abstract

A needle guiding apparatus includes a base, a guide assembly, and an imaging sight. The base defines an opening that extends through the base. The guide assembly includes at least one passage, and the guide assembly is disposed within the opening of the base. The guide assembly also is rotatable about at least one axis. The imaging sight is disposed adjacent the passage. An entry needle can be inserted through the needle guiding apparatus and into a body. Devices and methods according to the present invention allow a medical professional to accurately and rapidly place a probe, such as a needle, in a patient.

Claims

1-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A method for aiming a needle guiding apparatus comprising the steps of:

providing a needle guiding apparatus comprising a base having an opening, a guide assembly defining at least one passage and disposed within the opening, the guide being rotatable about at least one axis, and an imaging sight disposed adjacent the at least one passage;

aligning the imaging sight with at least a portion of a target and with an energy source; and

viewing the sight on a display.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the imaging sight is selected from the group consisting of a ring of radiopaque material, a bar of radiopaque material, a cross-hair of radiopaque material, a diamond shape of radiopaque material, cross-hairs of radiopaque material, perpendicular bars of radiopaque material, and combinations thereof.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the viewing step comprises viewing the imaging sight on the display, the imaging sight appearing to surround the at least a portion of a target and at least a portion of the guide assembly, thereby indicating proper alignment.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the guide assembly comprises a guide shaft.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the viewing step comprises viewing the imaging sight on the display, the imaging sight appearing to surround the guide shaft and the at least a portion of a target, thereby indicating proper alignment.

57-86. -86. (canceled)

87. An entry needle comprising:

a cannula having a distal end with a distal opening, a proximal end, and an outer wall defining a lumen therein, the cannula having an opening in the outer wall proximate the distal opening;

a needle extending within the lumen, having a distal end extending beyond the distal opening, and preventing fluid from entering the distal opening;

a hub operatively associated with the proximal portion of the cannula, the hub including a branch in communication with the lumen; and

wherein the needle is movable between a first position and a second position, the needle in the first position preventing communication between the opening in the outer wall and the branch, and the needle in the second position allowing communication between the opening in the outer wall and the branch.

88. The entry needle of claim 87, wherein the needle is moved between the first and second positions through rotation of the needle within the lumen.

89. The entry needle of claim 88, further comprising a knob connected to a proximal end of the needle, and wherein rotation of the knob causes movement of the needle between the first and second positions.

90. The entry needle of claim 89, wherein the knob includes markings indicating whether the needle is in the first position or the second position.

91. The entry needle of claim 87, wherein the needle includes an intermediate notched portion configured for selective alignment with the opening in the outer wall of the cannula upon movement of the needle.

92. The entry needle of claim 91, wherein the needle comprises a hollow body with an exterior portion removed.

93. The entry needle of claim 87, wherein the branch is configured for attachment to a syringe.

94. The entry needle of claim 87, wherein the cannula and hub form a single unitary piece.

95. The entry needle of claim 87, wherein the cannula includes a seal at the proximal end configured to prevent fluid from escaping from the proximal end.

96. The entry needle of claim 87, wherein the needle is configured for removal from the cannula.

97. A method of inserting an entry needle comprising:

providing a cannula having a distal end with a distal opening, a proximal end, and an outer wall defining a lumen therein, the cannula having an opening in the outer wall proximate the distal opening;

providing a needle within the lumen, the needle having a distal end extending beyond the distal opening and preventing fluid from entering the distal opening;

providing a hub operatively associated with the proximal portion of the cannula, the hub including a branch in communication with the lumen;

advancing the combined needle and cannula arrangement into a patient'"'"'s tissue;

moving the needle between a first position and a second position, the needle in the first position preventing communication between the opening in the outer wall and the branch, and the needle in the second position allowing communication between the opening in the outer wall and the branch; and

drawing fluid from the lumen through the branch.

98. The method of claim 97, further comprising removing the combined needle and cannula arrangement from a patient'"'"'s tissue.

99. The method of claim 97, further comprising:

removing the needle from within the cannula;

inserting a guide wire into the cannula; and

advancing the guide wire into a patient'"'"'s tissue.

100. The method of claim 97, wherein moving the needle between first and second positions is achieved by rotating the needle within the lumen.

101. The method of claim 97, further comprising connecting a syringe to the branch and supplying fluid to a patient upon actuation of the syringe when the needle is in the second position.

102. The method of claim 97, further comprising:

moving the needle to the first position;

further advancing the combined needle and cannula arrangement;

moving the needle to the second position; and

again drawing fluid from the lumen through the branch.

103. The method of claim 102, further comprising removing the combined needle and cannula arrangement from a patient'"'"'s tissue.