NEEDLE POSITIONING APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- moving a patient cradle from a first location disposed within an imaging space of an imaging device to a second location outside of the imaging space;
positioning at a location relative to the imaging system when the patient cradle is at the second location a mobile needle positioning device having a needle guide;
after the positioning, actuating the mobile needle positioning device to cause the needle guide to be moved to a fixed target location outside of the imaging space; and
after the actuating, inserting a needle through an opening defined by the needle guide and into the patient at an insertion point on the patient.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for accurate positioning of a needle guide is disclosed. The apparatus provides a means for taking as input the position vector for the point of insertion of the needle into the body. This point of insertion can be selected from images produced by a Computer Tomography system. Similarly, the apparatus has a means for taking as input the point of target. A controller determines the directional vector between point of insertion and point of target. A guide manipulator accurately positions the needle guide in line with the directional vector, such that the needle can easily be inserted through the guide to the point of target. The positioning of the guide manipulator in accordance with the directional vector is done with the help of motors.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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moving a patient cradle from a first location disposed within an imaging space of an imaging device to a second location outside of the imaging space; positioning at a location relative to the imaging system when the patient cradle is at the second location a mobile needle positioning device having a needle guide; after the positioning, actuating the mobile needle positioning device to cause the needle guide to be moved to a fixed target location outside of the imaging space; and after the actuating, inserting a needle through an opening defined by the needle guide and into the patient at an insertion point on the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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receiving images of a patient from an imaging device; moving a needle positioning device to a position near a patient cradle of the imaging device when the patient cradle is disposed at a location outside of an imaging space of the imaging device; determining, based at least in part on the received images, a target location to position a needle guide of the needle positioning device, the target location being relative to a patient disposed on the patient cradle and being outside of the imaging space; and causing the needle guide to be moved to the target location such that a needle can be inserted through an opening of the needle guide and into the patient at an insertion point and to a target point on the patient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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receiving images of a patient from an imaging device; determining based at least in part on the received images, a target location to position a needle guide of a needle positioning device, the target location being relative to the patient disposed on a patient cradle of the imaging device and being disposed outside an imaging space of the imaging device; causing the needle guide to be moved to the target location; and maintaining the needle guide in a fixed position at the target location such that a needle can be inserted through an opening of the needle guide and into the patient at an insertion point and inserted into a target point within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification