Magnetic Element-Equipped Needle Assemblies

• US 20140046261A1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Newman, Jon B., Blanchard, Daniel B., Hall, John W., Harris, Nathaniel Brian P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,449,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers

Abstract

A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is configured to be coaxially or otherwise aligned with the needle cannula.

Claims

1. An insertion tool for inserting a catheter into a body of a patient, comprising:

a housing in which at least a portion of the catheter is initially disposed;

a needle cannula distally extending from the housing, at least a portion of the catheter pre-disposed over the needle;

a guidewire pre-disposed within the needle;

an advancement assembly for selectively advancing the guidewire distally past a distal end of the needle cannula in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter; and

a magnetic element included with at least one of the housing, the needle cannula, the guidewire, and the catheter.

2. The insertion tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is a permanent magnet that is disposed in a pocket defined in the housing.

3. The insertion tool as defined in claim 2, wherein the magnetic element is secured in place within the pocket via a light-cured adhesive.

4. The insertion tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is positioned in a non-coaxial position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the needle.

5. The insertion tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element includes a magnetic axis that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the needle cannula.

6. The insertion tools as defined in claim 5, wherein the magnetic axis of the magnetic element is substantially parallel to and coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the needle cannula.

7. The insertion tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is included on a portion of the housing that is proximate the needle cannula and wherein a fixed spacing exists between a distal tip of the needle cannula and the magnetic element.

8. A needle assembly, comprising:

a hub;

a cannula distally extending from the hub along a longitudinal axis, the cannula including an outer wall defining a lumen, the cannula further defining a distal needle tip; and

at least one magnetic element included in at least one notch defined in the outer wall of the cannula.

9. The needle assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one magnetic element includes a magnetic axis that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the needle cannula.

10. The needle assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one magnetic element includes first and second permanent magnets that are disposed within the at least one notch.

11. The needle assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the first and second magnets are each substantially U-shaped so as to substantially form a cylindrical shape when disposed in the at least one notch.

12. A needle assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a cannula extending from the housing;

a plug attached to a portion of the housing; and

a magnetic element included with the plug.

13. The needle assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the housing includes a needle hub and wherein a catheter is initially disposed on the needle.

14. The needle assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the cannula is retractable into the housing.

15. The needle assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the housing includes a hole in a proximal end thereof into which a portion of the plug is received.

16. The needle assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the plug includes a bore defined therethrough, the bore in communication with the hole of the housing, the magnetic element including a hole therethrough, the hole of the magnetic element in communication with the bore.

17. The needle assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein the plug includes a filter therein.

18. The needle assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the magnetic element is a permanent magnet and wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is oriented in a desired orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the needle cannula.

19. The needle assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the magnetic axis of the needle assembly is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the needle cannula and wherein the magnetic element is disposed in an interior portion of the plug.

20. The needle assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein the plug serves as a retention component for the magnetic element, wherein the plug is removably attached to the housing, and wherein a fixed spacing exists between a distal tip of the needle cannula and the magnetic element.

21. A needle assembly, comprising:

a housing including first and second portions that are slidably attached to one another;

a cannula extending from the first portion of the housing;

a retention component attached to at least one of the first and second portions of the housing; and

a magnetic element included with the retention component.

22. The needle assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein the first portion includes a needle hub and wherein the retention component is attached to the second portion of the housing.

23. The needle assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein the retention component includes an annular ring that slides over a portion of the second portion of the housing so as to not interfere with relative sliding between the first and second portions.

24. The needle assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein the magnetic element is a permanent magnet and wherein the retention component includes an end cap that attaches to the second portion of the housing.

25. A needle assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a cannula extending from the housing;

a cap removably attachable about a proximal end of the housing; and

a magnetic element included with the cap.

26. The needle assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein the housing includes a needle hub and wherein the cap defines a cavity for receiving therein a portion of the proximal end of the housing.

27. The needle assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein the cap further defines a bore that is in communication with the cavity, wherein the magnetic element includes a permanent magnet that includes a hole defined therethrough, the hole of the magnetic element in communication with the bore.

28. The needle assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein a fixed spacing exists between a predetermined portion of the needle cannula and the magnetic element.