Echogenic needle catheter configured to produce an improved ultrasound image
First Claim
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1. A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:
- a) advancing within a patient'"'"'s anatomy an echogenic needle catheter, comprisingi) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a needle lumen;
ii) a spherical distal tip at the distal end of the elongated shaft, having a lumen in communication with a proximal section of the needle lumen of the shaft and with a port at a distal end of the spherical distal tip, wherein the spherical distal tip is in continuous contact with the lumen; and
iii) a needle in the needle lumen, which extends distally from the spherical distal tip port in an extended configuration, and which has a lumen; and
b) directing sonic energy at the catheter from an ultrasonic imaging system, such that the spherical distal tip more diffusely reflects the sonic energy than a nonspherical distal tip, to produce an ultrasonic image of the spherical distal tip due to the spherical tip having an outer surface with a circumference angle substantially greater than 180 degrees, having a rigid outer diameter wall with a curved outer surface formed at least in part of a rigid polymeric material, and having the spherical distal tip formed at least in part of an electrically conductive material.
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Abstract
An echogenic medical device, such as a needle catheter, which produces an improved ultrasonic image of the device, and a method of performing a medical procedure using a device of the invention. One aspect is directed to a catheter which reduces artifacts in the ultrasound image of the catheter. In one embodiment, the catheter has a spherical distal tip. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an echogenic catheter with echogenic portions arranged in an array to facilitate determination by ultrasonic imaging of the rotational orientation of the catheter relative to a desired location within the patient.
90 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:
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a) advancing within a patient'"'"'s anatomy an echogenic needle catheter, comprising i) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a needle lumen; ii) a spherical distal tip at the distal end of the elongated shaft, having a lumen in communication with a proximal section of the needle lumen of the shaft and with a port at a distal end of the spherical distal tip, wherein the spherical distal tip is in continuous contact with the lumen; and iii) a needle in the needle lumen, which extends distally from the spherical distal tip port in an extended configuration, and which has a lumen; and b) directing sonic energy at the catheter from an ultrasonic imaging system, such that the spherical distal tip more diffusely reflects the sonic energy than a nonspherical distal tip, to produce an ultrasonic image of the spherical distal tip due to the spherical tip having an outer surface with a circumference angle substantially greater than 180 degrees, having a rigid outer diameter wall with a curved outer surface formed at least in part of a rigid polymeric material, and having the spherical distal tip formed at least in part of an electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification