Optical device for needle placement into a joint
First Claim
1. A method for positioning a needle within a patient, said method comprising:
- providing a device including a needle including a needle tip and a lumen, and an optical guide disposed in the lumen of the needle and extending to the needle tip;
positioning the needle within a body substance of a patient by piercing the skin and soft tissue of the patient;
causing light to be transmitted through the optical guide so as to be emitted from the needle tip into the patient;
using the optical guide to receive light returned from the body substance of the patient in which the needle tip is positioned; and
processing the returned light to provide a determination of the body substance in which the needle tip is positioned.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical device is provided which assists in accurate placement of a needle into a human or animal diarthrodial joint. The device includes a handpiece which mounts a needle assembly including an optical guide. The optical guide, which is incorporated into the lumen of the needle, transmits light from the needle tip into the joint area and receives the scattered light that is returned. The handpiece is manipulated by the user to guide the needle during placement. The returned light is processed to determine whether the needle is placed in the joint itself rather than in a location adjacent to the joint and corresponding output is produced to aid the user in effecting proper needle placement. Such placement assists in the injection of fluid into or the removal of fluid form the joint.
67 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method for positioning a needle within a patient, said method comprising:
-
providing a device including a needle including a needle tip and a lumen, and an optical guide disposed in the lumen of the needle and extending to the needle tip; positioning the needle within a body substance of a patient by piercing the skin and soft tissue of the patient; causing light to be transmitted through the optical guide so as to be emitted from the needle tip into the patient; using the optical guide to receive light returned from the body substance of the patient in which the needle tip is positioned; and processing the returned light to provide a determination of the body substance in which the needle tip is positioned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device for assisting in positioning of a needle within a patient, said device comprising:
-
a handpiece for manipulation by a user; a light source; a needle assembly mounted on the handpiece, said needle assembly comprising a needle including a needle tip and a central lumen, and an optical guide, disposed in said lumen, for, in use with the needle inserted in the patient, transmitting light from said light source through said lumen so as to be emitted from the needle tip and receiving the light emitted from the needle tip that is returned to the needle tip from a location within the patient; and processing means for processing the returned light to provide a determination of the location within the patient at which the needle tip is positioned. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A device for assisting in positioning of a needle within a patient, said device comprising:
-
a handpiece for manipulation by a user; a light source; a needle assembly mounted on the handpiece, said needle assembly comprising a needle including a needle tip and a central lumen and an optical guide disposed in said lumen and including at least a first optical fiber for, in use with the needle inserted in the patient, transmitting light from said light source through said lumen so as to be emitted from the needle tip and at least a second optical fiber for, in use with the needle inserted into the patient, receiving the light emitted from the needle tip that is returned to the needle tip from a location within the patient; processing means for processing the returned light to provide a determination of the location within the patient at which the needle tip is positioned; and a readout, connected to said processing means, for indicating to a user, based on said determination, a probability of the needle tip being located at a predetermined location in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification