Steerable needle
First Claim
1. A steerable needle structure having a direction of advance toward a target that is changeable as said needle structure is being advanced toward said target comprising a hollow outer cannula having a main longitudinal axis and an open end located at the distal end of the outer cannula and a stylet, said stylet being longer than said cannula and having a leading end adjacent to said open end and having a curved portion with a pre-defined curvature adjacent to said leading end, mounting means mounting said stylet coaxially within said outer cannula so that said stylet and cannula may be relatively rotated and translated along said main axis from a sheathed position wherein substantially all of said curved portion of said stylet is within said cannula to and extended position wherein a selected extended part of said curved portion of said stylet distally projects beyond said open end, said cannula being stiffer than said stylet so that when said stylet is in its said sheathed position it assumes a shape primarily defined by said cannula, and when said stylet is in its said extended position, said extended part of said stylet assumes a curved shape primarily determined by said pre-defined curvature and length of said selected extended part, and said leading end extends from said cannula in a direction determined by the rotation of said stylet about said main axis and said curved shape so that when said needle structure is advanced with said stylet in said extended position said cannula is deflected toward said target and said direction of advance is changed as determined by said direction.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a needle guidance system provided by a needle with a steerable tip. The needle has a cannula and a stylet. The stylet adjacent to its tip has a naturally curved portion. The stylet is movable in two degrees of freedom with respect to the cannula—axial translation and axial rotation with respect to the cannula axis. When extended, the stylet curves off-axis and provides cannula tip steering. Driving and/or steering systems may be provided to the orientation and relatively move the stylet.
90 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A steerable needle structure having a direction of advance toward a target that is changeable as said needle structure is being advanced toward said target comprising a hollow outer cannula having a main longitudinal axis and an open end located at the distal end of the outer cannula and a stylet, said stylet being longer than said cannula and having a leading end adjacent to said open end and having a curved portion with a pre-defined curvature adjacent to said leading end, mounting means mounting said stylet coaxially within said outer cannula so that said stylet and cannula may be relatively rotated and translated along said main axis from a sheathed position wherein substantially all of said curved portion of said stylet is within said cannula to and extended position wherein a selected extended part of said curved portion of said stylet distally projects beyond said open end, said cannula being stiffer than said stylet so that when said stylet is in its said sheathed position it assumes a shape primarily defined by said cannula, and when said stylet is in its said extended position, said extended part of said stylet assumes a curved shape primarily determined by said pre-defined curvature and length of said selected extended part, and said leading end extends from said cannula in a direction determined by the rotation of said stylet about said main axis and said curved shape so that when said needle structure is advanced with said stylet in said extended position said cannula is deflected toward said target and said direction of advance is changed as determined by said direction.
- 20. A method of controlling the path of movement of a needle structure toward a target wherein said needle structure comprises a hollow outer cannula having a main longitudinal axis and an open end, a stylet having a curved portion having a pre-defined curvature adjacent to its leading end, said stylet being mounted coaxially within said outer cannula with said leading end adjacent to said open end, so that said stylet may be rotated about said main axis and said stylet and cannula relatively moved axially relative to said main axis between a sheathed position wherein said curved portion of said stylet is within said cannula to an extended position wherein said stylet projects a selected distance beyond said free end to provide a curved extended part of said stylet having a curvature approaching said pre-defined curvature with said leading end extending from said cannula in a controlled direction determined by rotation of said stylet about said main axis, said method comprising, moving said stylet and said cannula on said path in a selected direction toward said target and adjusting said selected direction by rotating said stylet within said cannula to a selected orientation and then relatively moving said stylet end said cannula to position said stylet in a selected said extended position, and to provide said curved extended part with said leading end pointing in said controlled direction determined by said selected rotation, said pre-defined curvature and said selected distance said stylet extends beyond said free end in said extended position then advancing said stylet and said cannula together as a unit with said stylet in said extended position along said path in an adjusted direction.
Specification