NEEDLE INSERTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSERTING A MOVABLE NEEDLE INTO A VERTEBRATE SUBJECT
First Claim
1. A needle insertion system comprising:
- a moveable hollow needle having a distal tip configured to be transdermally inserted into a vertebrate subject at an insertion-target region;
at least one sensor operable to detect skin structure at a position in proximity to the distal tip of the moveable needle in the insertion-target region; and
control circuitry operably coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive information therefrom indicating the skin structure at the insertion-target region in proximity to the distal tip, and the control circuitry configured to output moveable needle targeting instructions to control movement of the moveable needle into the skin in response to one or more signals from the at least one sensor detecting the skin structure in proximity to the distal tip.
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Abstract
A needle insertion system is disclosed that includes a moveable hollow needle having a distal tip configured to be transdermally inserted into a vertebrate subject at an insertion-target region; at least one sensor operable to detect skin structure at a position in proximity to the distal tip of the moveable needle in the insertion-target region; and control circuitry operably coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive information therefrom indicating the skin structure at the insertion-target region in proximity to the distal tip, and the control circuitry configured to output moveable needle targeting instructions to control movement of the moveable needle into the skin in response to one or more signals from the at least one sensor detecting the skin structure in proximity to the distal tip. A method for inserting a movable needle of a needle insertion system into a vertebrate subject is disclosed.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A needle insertion system comprising:
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a moveable hollow needle having a distal tip configured to be transdermally inserted into a vertebrate subject at an insertion-target region; at least one sensor operable to detect skin structure at a position in proximity to the distal tip of the moveable needle in the insertion-target region; and control circuitry operably coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive information therefrom indicating the skin structure at the insertion-target region in proximity to the distal tip, and the control circuitry configured to output moveable needle targeting instructions to control movement of the moveable needle into the skin in response to one or more signals from the at least one sensor detecting the skin structure in proximity to the distal tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for inserting a movable hollow needle of a needle insertion system into a vertebrate subject, comprising:
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locating an insertion-target region on the vertebrate subject with at least one sensor operable to detect skin structure at a position in proximity to the distal tip of the moveable needle in the insertion-target region; outputting location information from the at least one sensor to control circuitry including the location of the insertion-target region and skin structure information in proximity to the distal tip; and automatically moving the needle to a defined depth into skin at the insertion-target region of the vertebrate subject in response to needle-targeting instructions output from the control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification