Methods and apparatus for guiding a needle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A needle guiding apparatus comprising:
- a base defining an opening therethrough;
an outer rim disposed substantially completely around a perimeter of the base, the base and the outer rim defining an aperture between the perimeter and the outer rim, and the base being rotatable relative to the outer rim;
a guide platform disposed adjacent to the opening, the guide platform being rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis extending through the opening and having a common point along the rotation axis;
a pivot disposed at least partially within the guide platform and being rotatable about a pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis; and
a guide shaft disposed at least partially within the pivot and extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the guide shaft to a second end of the guide shaft, the longitudinal axis intersecting with the rotation axis at the common point, the guide shaft being rotatable within a plane defined by the pivot axis, the rotation axis, and the common point, and comprising a radiopaque material between the first end and a locus along the guide shaft normal to the longitudinal axis at the common point, the radiopaque material extending to the locus, the locus located immediately adjacent to a material being less radiopaque than the radiopaque material.
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Abstract
A needle is guided to a target along a pre-determined needle insertion trajectory. A method that utilizes a fluoroscope can be used to locate the target. The target can be an internal structure within the human body. A device can be used with the fluoroscope to aim and insert a needle or sharp probe along the predetermined trajectory to the target. By using the device with the fluoroscope, a user can receive real time visual confirmation of contact between the needle and the target.
136 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A needle guiding apparatus comprising:
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a base defining an opening therethrough; an outer rim disposed substantially completely around a perimeter of the base, the base and the outer rim defining an aperture between the perimeter and the outer rim, and the base being rotatable relative to the outer rim; a guide platform disposed adjacent to the opening, the guide platform being rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis extending through the opening and having a common point along the rotation axis; a pivot disposed at least partially within the guide platform and being rotatable about a pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis; and a guide shaft disposed at least partially within the pivot and extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the guide shaft to a second end of the guide shaft, the longitudinal axis intersecting with the rotation axis at the common point, the guide shaft being rotatable within a plane defined by the pivot axis, the rotation axis, and the common point, and comprising a radiopaque material between the first end and a locus along the guide shaft normal to the longitudinal axis at the common point, the radiopaque material extending to the locus, the locus located immediately adjacent to a material being less radiopaque than the radiopaque material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A needle guiding apparatus comprising:
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a base defining an opening therethrough; an outer rim disposed substantially completely around a perimeter of the base, the base and the outer rim defining an aperture between the perimeter and the outer rim, and the base being rotatable relative to the outer rim; a guide platform disposed adjacent to the opening, the guide platform being rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis extending through the opening and having a common point along the rotation axis; a pivot disposed at least partially within the guide platform and being rotatable about a pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis; and a guide shaft disposed at least partially within the pivot and extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the guide shaft to a second end of the guide shaft, the longitudinal axis intersecting with the rotation axis at the common point, the guide shaft comprising a radiopaque material. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification