Apparatus and methods for guiding a needle

• US 7,204,826 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chu, Michael S. H., Ward, Tim E., Tremaglio, Anthony R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy; Sharon E.
• Application Number:
  US10/736,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20040171986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/164.01, 604/164.06, 604/164.07, 604/164.12, 604/164.13, 604/165.01, 604/165.02, 604/170.01, 604/170.02
• US Class Current: 604/164.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• 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 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3405 using mechanical guide means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates

Abstract

A needle guiding apparatus includes a base, a guide assembly, and an imaging sight. The base defines an opening that extends through the base. The guide assembly includes at least one passage, and the guide assembly is disposed within the opening of the base. The guide assembly also is rotatable about at least one axis. The imaging sight is disposed adjacent the passage. An entry needle can be inserted through the needle guiding apparatus and into a body. Devices and methods according to the present invention allow a medical professional to accurately and rapidly place a probe, such as a needle, in a patient.

Claims

1. An entry needle comprising:

a first assembly comprising,

a housing;

a stylet extending into the housing and biased towards a distal end of the entry needle; and

a hub adjacent the housing at a proximal end of the entry needle, the hub in connection with the stylet;

a second assembly comprising a cannula surrounding the stylet, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly seal together and are separable, and such that body fluid cannot pass through the needle when the first and second assemblies are sealed together;

wherein the hub is movable from a first position to a second position, the hub in the first position indicating that the entry needle is impeded by a tissue and the hub in the second position indicating that the entry needle is substantially unimpeded by the tissue; and

wherein fluid cannot pass through the entry needle when the hub is in the second position and the entry needle is substantially unimpeded by tissue.

2. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the stylet includes a blunt edge at a distal end of the stylet.

3. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the cannula includes an angled edge at a distal end of the cannula.

4. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the stylet includes an angled edge at a distal end of the stylet.

5. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the cannula includes a blunt edge at a distal end of the cannula.

6. The entry needle of claim 1 further comprising a connector connected with the cannula for attaching a medical device to the second assembly.

7. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the first assembly further comprises a spring that biases the stylet.

8. The entry needle of claim 7 wherein the stylet comprises an extension that contacts the spring.

9. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the cannula comprises a connector for connecting together the first assembly and the second assembly.

10. The entry needle of claim 6 wherein the connector is configured for attachment to a syringe.

11. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the cannula is capable of receiving a guidewire.

12. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the stylet is fully retracted into the cannula when the hub is in the first position.

13. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the stylet is partially retracted into the cannula when the hub is in the first position.

14. The entry needle of claim 7 wherein the spring is enclosed within the housing.

15. The entry needle of claim 14 wherein a proximal end of the spring contacts a proximal end of the housing and a distal end of the spring contacts an extension connected to the stylet.

16. The entry needle of claim 8 wherein the extension encircles a portion of the stylet.

17. The entry needle of claim 1 wherein the first assembly further comprises a spring that biases the stylet and hub such that the hub is biased toward the second position.

18. The entry needle of claim 17 wherein the spring is in a compressed state when the hub is in the first position and a decompressed state when the hub is in the second position.

19. The entry needle of claim 7 wherein the spring surrounds a portion of the stylet.

20. An entry needle comprising:

a first assembly comprising,

a housing;

a stylet extending into the housing and biased towards a distal end of the entry needle; and

a hub adjacent the housing at a proximal end of the entry needle, the hub in connection with the stylet;

a second assembly comprising a cannula surrounding the stylet, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly seal together and are separable, and such that body fluid cannot pass through the cannula when the first and second assemblies are sealed together;

wherein the hub is movable from a first position to a second position, the hub in the first position indicating that the entry needle is impeded by a tissue and the hub in the second position indicating that the entry needle is substantially unimpeded by the tissue; and

wherein fluid cannot pass through the cannula when the hub is in the second position and the entry needle is substantially unimpeded by tissue.

21. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the stylet includes a blunt edge at a distal end of the stylet.

22. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the cannula includes an angled edge at a distal end of the cannula.

23. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the stylet includes an angled edge at a distal end of the stylet.

24. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the cannula includes a blunt edge at a distal end of the cannula.

25. The entry needle of claim 20 further comprising a connector connected with the cannula for attaching a medical device to the second assembly.

26. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the first assembly further comprises a spring that biases the stylet.

27. The entry needle of claim 26 wherein the stylet comprises an extension that contacts the spring.

28. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the cannula comprises a connector for connecting together the first assembly and the second assembly.

29. The entry needle of claim 25 wherein the connector is configured for attachment to a syringe.

30. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the cannula is capable of receiving a guidewire.

31. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the stylet is fully retracted into the cannula when the hub is in the first position.

32. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the stylet is partially retracted into the cannula when the hub is in the first position.

33. The entry needle of claim 26 wherein the spring is enclosed within the housing.

34. The entry needle of claim 33 wherein a proximal end of the spring contacts a proximal end of the housing and a distal end of the spring contacts an extension connected to the stylet.

35. The entry needle of claim 27 wherein the extension encircles a portion of the stylet.

36. The entry needle of claim 20 wherein the first assembly further comprises a spring that biases the stylet and hub such that the hub is biased toward the second position.

37. The entry needle of claim 36 wherein the spring is in a compressed state when the hub is in the first position and a decompressed state when the hub is in the second position.

38. The entry needle of claim 26 wherein the spring surrounds a portion of the stylet.