Apparatus for use with needle insertion guidance system

• US 9,456,766 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• 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: Cox, Jeremy B., Jho, Jiaye Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOFFA, ANGELA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/118,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 600/424, 600/409, 600/410, 600/439, 600/415, 600/272, 600/561, 600/509, 600/585, 600/101, 324/247, 606/53, 606/185
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• 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 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/063 using impedance measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/066 Superposing sensor position on an image of the patient, e.g. obtained by ultrasound or x-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• 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: A61B 8/4254 : using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 : related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 : Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 : characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 : characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0102 : Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 : using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• 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 body 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 portion 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. The needle can include a donut-shaped magnet disposed about the needle cannula, or a removable stylet with a magnetic element and a strain gauge for detection of the needle distal tip.

Claims

1. A guidance system for inserting a needle into a body of a patient in connection with imaging technology, the system comprising:

an imaging device including a probe, the imaging device configured to produce an image of an internal body portion target;

a stylet removably disposed within the needle, the stylet including at least one magnetic element comprising a plurality of passive ferromagnets placed adjacent one another;

at least one sensor included with the probe that senses a magnetic field of the at least one magnetic element of the stylet;

a processor that uses data relating to the magnetic field sensed by the at least one sensor to determine a position of the needle in at least two spatial dimensions relative to the probe; and

a display that depicts the determined position of the needle together with the image of the target.

2. The guidance system as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on an exterior portion of the probe, and wherein the plurality of ferromagnets are disposed proximate a distal end of the stylet.

3. The guidance system as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor includes an annular sensor that is received about a head portion of the probe.

4. The guidance system as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes orthogonal sensing components so as to enable determination of a position of the at least one magnetic element of the needle in three spatial dimensions and a pitch and a yaw attitude of the at least one magnetic element.

5. The guidance system as defined in claim 1, further including a strain gauge on the stylet for detecting bending of the needle.