NEEDLE GUIDE FOR ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER

• US 20160051224A1
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Striano
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Striano
• Inventors: Striano, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/13 guided by light, e.g. laser pointers

Abstract

A needle guidance apparatus is an accessory that is configured to be coupled to an ultrasound transducer probe and is configured to align and guide the placement of a needle to a target location beneath the skin of a patient.

Claims

1. A needle guidance apparatus for use with an ultrasound imaging device that generates a substantially planar ultrasound beam from a distal end of a transducer probe comprising:

a frame having a central opening for receiving the distal end of the transducer probe such that the distal end of the transducer probe extends below the frame for placement against skin of a patient, the frame being configured to be detachably coupled about an outer surface of the transducer probe;

a plurality of illumination slits formed in the frame, the illumination slits being spaced apart from one another and are open along an outer surface of the frame so as to face outward away from the frame;

a light source in communication with the plurality of illumination slits so as to project light through the illumination slits in a direction outwardly away from the frame, wherein the light source is oriented relative to the plurality of illumination slits such that a pattern of light is formed on the skin for guiding placement of a needle; and

an actuator and a power source that are operatively connected to the light source for controlling operation of the light source.

2. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame has an oblong shape that is configured to surround the transducer probe and be frictionally coupled thereto.

3. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of illumination slits comprises four illumination slits that are arranged in two pairs, the two illumination slits that define one pair being opposite one another.

4. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 3, wherein the four illumination slits are oriented 90 degrees apart from one another.

5. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein each illumination slit comprises a linear slit that is oriented vertically.

6. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 3, wherein the frame has an oblong shape defined by opposite first and second ends and first and second opposite sides that extend between the first and second ends, wherein a first illumination slit is formed at the first end, a second illumination slit is formed at the opposite second end, a third illumination slit is formed along the first side, and a fourth illumination slit is formed along the second side.

7. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first, second, third and fourth illumination slits are positioned about 90 degrees apart from one another such that the a first axis (A1) passes through the first and third slits and a second axis (A2) passes through the second and fourth slits.

8. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second axes (A1, A2) intersect one another at a center point of the opening.

9. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources with each illumination slit having one light source that is positioned adjacent thereto so as to emit light through the illumination slit.

10. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise low voltage light sources.

11. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 10, wherein the low voltage light sources comprise LEDs.

12. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern of light comprises a plurality of straight beams of light that are visible on the skin of the patient.

13. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 12, wherein there are four beams of light that are projected from the frame and visible along the skin of the patient.

14. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a switch for turning the light source on and off.

15. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

16. The needle guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator and power source are contained within a housing that is integrally formed with the frame and is located at one end thereof.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein each illumination slit comprises a linear slit that is oriented vertically.

17. A method for delivering a needle to a target location in a guided manner using an ultrasound imaging device that generates a substantially planar ultrasound beam from a distal end of a transducer probe comprising the steps of:

attaching a needle guidance apparatus to the transducer probe;

actuating the needle guidance apparatus to cause a plurality of visible beams of light to be projected radially outward from the needle guidance apparatus onto skin of the patient;

wherein the visible beams define and extend along first and second light axes that are orthogonal to one another;

positioning the needle along one of the first and second light axes that is visible along the skin of the patient and advancing the needle into skin; and

moving the transducer probe with the needle guidance apparatus coupled thereto until the other of the first and second light axes that is visible along the skin of the patient intersects the needle that is inserted into the patient which is indicative that an angle of incidence between the needle and the planar ultrasound beam is such that the needle will be visible on a display associated with the ultrasound imaging device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the needle guidance apparatus includes:

a frame having a central opening for receiving the distal end of the transducer probe such that the distal end of the transducer probe extends below the frame for placement against skin of a patient, the frame being configured to be detachably coupled about an outer surface of the transducer probe;

a plurality of illumination slits formed in the frame, the illumination slits being spaced apart from one another and are open along an outer surface of the frame so as to face outward away from the frame;

a light source in communication with the plurality of illumination slits so as to project light through the illumination slits in a direction outwardly away from the frame, wherein the light source is oriented relative to the plurality of illumination slits such that a pattern of light is formed on the skin for guiding placement of a needle; and

an actuator and a power source that are operatively connected to the light source for controlling operation of the light source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the frame has an oblong shape that is configured to surround the transducer probe and be frictionally coupled thereto.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of illumination slits comprises four illumination slits that are arranged in two pairs, the two illumination slits that define one pair being opposite one another.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the four illumination slits are oriented 90 degrees apart from one another.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the frame has an oblong shape defined by opposite first and second ends and first and second opposite sides that extend between the first and second ends, wherein a first illumination slit is formed at the first end, a second illumination slit is formed at the opposite second end, a third illumination slit is formed along the first side, and a fourth illumination slit is formed along the second side.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first, second, third and fourth illumination slits are positioned about 90 degrees apart from one another such that the a first axis (A1) passes through the first and third slits and a second axis (A2) passes through the second and fourth slits.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and second axes (A1, A2) intersect one another at a center point of the opening.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources with each illumination slit having one light source that is positioned adjacent thereto so as to emit light through the illumination slit.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise low voltage light sources.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the low voltage light sources comprise LEDs.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of visible beams of light comprises four beams of light that are projected from the frame and visible along the skin of the patient.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the angle of incidence is about 90 degrees.