Acoustic 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 having a distal end and including a needle including a needle tip disposed at said distal end and an acoustic transducer assembly disposed at said distal end in acoustic communication with the needle tip;
positioning the needle within a body substance of a patient by piercing the skin and soft tissue of the patient;
transmitting acoustic energy from the needle tip into the patient;
using the acoustic transducer assembly to receive acoustic energy returned to the transducer assembly through the needle from the body substance of the patient in which the needle tip is positioned; and
processing the returned acoustic energy to provide a determination of the body substance in which the needle tip is positioned.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic 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 acoustic transducer assembly. The transducer assembly, which is incorporated into the lumen of the needle, transmits ultrasound pulses from the needle tip into the joint area and receives the ultrasound pulses that are returned. The handpiece is manipulated by the user to guide the needle during placement. The returned ultrasound pulses are processed to determine whether the needle is placed in the joint itself rather than in a location adjacent to the joint and a corresponding output is produced to aid the user in effecting proper needle placement.
60 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for positioning a needle within a patient, said method comprising:
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providing a device having a distal end and including a needle including a needle tip disposed at said distal end and an acoustic transducer assembly disposed at said distal end in acoustic communication with the needle tip; positioning the needle within a body substance of a patient by piercing the skin and soft tissue of the patient; transmitting acoustic energy from the needle tip into the patient; using the acoustic transducer assembly to receive acoustic energy returned to the transducer assembly through the needle from the body substance of the patient in which the needle tip is positioned; and processing the returned acoustic energy 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)
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10. A device for assisting in positioning of a needle within a patient, said device comprising:
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a handpiece for manipulation by a user; a needle assembly mounted on one end of the handpiece, said needle assembly comprising a needle including a needle tip; an acoustic transducer assembly, mounted on said handpiece and disposed on or adjacent to said needle assembly in acoustic communication with the needle tip, for, in use with the needle inserted in the patient, transmitting acoustic energy from said needle tip into the patient and receiving acoustic energy that is returned through the needle tip to the acoustic transducer assembly from a location within the patient; and processing means for processing the returned acoustic energy 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, 20, 21)
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22. A device for assisting in positioning of a needle within a patient, said device comprising:
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a handpiece for manipulation by a user; a needle assembly mounted on the handpiece, said needle assembly comprising a needle including a needle tip and a central lumen; an acoustic transducer device, disposed in or adjacent to said lumen, for, in use with the needle inserted in the patient, transmitting acoustic energy through said lumen so as to be emitted from the needle tip into the patent and receiving acoustic energy from the needle tip that is returned to the needle tip from a location within the patient; processing means for processing the returned acoustic energy 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 (23, 24)
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Specification