Systems and methods for automatically inserting a needle into a living subject
First Claim
1. A needle insertion system, comprising:
- a moveable needle configured to be inserted into a living subject;
a machine-vision system configured to locate on the living subject one or more punctured external locations in which the movable needle or another needle has been previously inserted and removed, and an insertion-target region different from the one or more punctured external locations;
control electrical circuitry coupled to the machine-vision system to direct the machine-vision system to locate the insertion-target region, distinguish the insertion-target region from the one or more punctured external locations, and receive location information from the machine-vision system about the insertion-target region, the control electrical circuitry configured to output moveable needle targeting instructions; and
an actuator coupled to the control electrical circuitry to receive the needle targeting instructions therefrom and coupled to the moveable needle, the actuator configured to move the moveable needle to the insertion-target region automatically in response to receiving the needle targeting instructions to thereby avoid the one or more punctured external locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for automatically inserting a needle into an insertion-target region of a living subject in response to a machine-vision system locating the insertion-target region. In an embodiment, a needle insertion system includes a moveable needle configured to be inserted into a living subject, a machine-vision system configured to locate an insertion-target region of the living subject, control electrical circuitry, and an actuator coupled to the control electrical circuitry. The control electrical circuitry may be coupled to the machine-vision system to receive location information therefrom about the insertion-target region, and configured to output needle targeting instructions. The actuator may be coupled to the control electrical circuitry to receive the needle targeting instructions therefrom and coupled to the moveable needle. The actuator may be configured to move the moveable needle to the insertion-target region automatically in response to receiving the needle targeting instructions from the control electrical circuitry.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A needle insertion system, comprising:
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a moveable needle configured to be inserted into a living subject; a machine-vision system configured to locate on the living subject one or more punctured external locations in which the movable needle or another needle has been previously inserted and removed, and an insertion-target region different from the one or more punctured external locations; control electrical circuitry coupled to the machine-vision system to direct the machine-vision system to locate the insertion-target region, distinguish the insertion-target region from the one or more punctured external locations, and receive location information from the machine-vision system about the insertion-target region, the control electrical circuitry configured to output moveable needle targeting instructions; and an actuator coupled to the control electrical circuitry to receive the needle targeting instructions therefrom and coupled to the moveable needle, the actuator configured to move the moveable needle to the insertion-target region automatically in response to receiving the needle targeting instructions to thereby avoid the one or more punctured external locations. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A needle insertion system, comprising:
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a single moveable needle configured to be inserted into a living subject; a machine-vision system configured to locate on the living subject one or more punctured external locations in which the movable needle or another needle has been previously inserted and removed, and an insertion-target region different from the one or more punctured external locations; control electrical circuitry coupled to the machine-vision system to receive location information therefrom about the insertion-target region, the control electrical circuitry configured to output moveable needle targeting instructions; an actuator coupled to the control electrical circuitry to receive the needle targeting instructions therefrom and coupled to the moveable needle, the actuator configured to move the moveable needle to the insertion-target region automatically in response to receiving the needle targeting instructions to thereby avoid the one or more punctured external locations; and a plurality of containers in fluid communication with the single moveable needle, each of the plurality of containers being configured and in fluid communication with the single moveable needle to either contain a fluid to be delivered to the living subject through the single moveable needle or receive a fluid drawn through the single moveable needle from the living subject. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification