Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/34—Trocars; Puncturing needles
  • A61B17/3403—Needle locating or guiding means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
  • A61B8/08—Clinical applications
  • A61B8/0833—Clinical applications involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
  • A61B8/0841—Clinical applications involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures for locating instruments
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
  • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
  • A61B8/4422—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device related to hygiene or sterilisation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/34—Trocars; Puncturing needles
  • A61B17/3403—Needle locating or guiding means
  • A61B2017/3413—Needle locating or guiding means guided by ultrasound
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B46/00—Surgical drapes
  • A61B46/10—Surgical drapes specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
  • A61B90/90—Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to medical devices and methods of use and more particularly to needle guide devices and methods of use with ultrasound transducers.
• a flexible plastic, sterile isolating cover is then placed over the adaptor and the transducer to isolate those components from the patient and to provide a sterile field.
• the needle guide is then releasably secured, e.g., snap-fit to the adaptor, so that a portion of the cover is interposed between it and the adaptor.
• the needle guide is arranged to enable the physician or other health care provider to guide the needle or some other penetrating device to a desired location within the body of the patient.
• the needle guide basically comprises a pair of spaced apart plates.
• the needle or other puncture device is arranged to be placed between the plates and oriented at any desired angle to the central axis of the transducer so that the needle's tip can be inserted to any desired depth of penetration.
• the visualization of the positioning of the needle at the desired location is accomplished by the operation of the ultrasound transducer.
• the snap- fitting of the Infiniti needle guide to the L17- 5 bracket is achieved by means of a pair of aligned grooves at the bottom of the bracket, which are arranged to receive respective projections or bosses located on the bottom of the needle guide to enable the upper portion of the needle guide to be pivoted toward an upper portion of the bracket.
• the upper portion of the needle guide is in the form of an under-cut arcuate recess.
• the upper portion of the bracket is in the form of an arcuate surface, which is arranged to mate with the undercut recess in the needle guide.
• a finger projects from the upper portion of the needle guide adjacent the undercut recess to enable the physician to grasp that finger during the pivoting of the needle guide toward the bracket so as to deform the undercut recess slightly, whereupon the curved surface of the bracket can snap-fit into the recess, thereby releasably securing the needle guide to the bracket with the isolating cover interposed therebetween.
• the aforementioned needle guide system of CIVCO Medical Solutions is suitable for its intended purposes, it still leaves something desired from the standpoint of needle or other puncture device guidance.
• the CIVCO Medical Solutions needle guide system does not provide a predetermined path for the needle or other puncture member to take, i.e., the needle or other puncture member can be oriented at any angle between the plates of the needle guide.
• the subject invention addresses that need. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• a puncture device guide system for use with an ultrasound transducer and a sterile cover to provide predictable trajectories for puncture devices at various depths.
• the puncture device guide system basically comprising a bracket and a puncture device guide.
• the bracket is arranged for releasable mounting on the ultrasound transducer, whereupon the sterile cover can be placed over the ultrasound transducer and the bracket mounted thereon.
• the puncture device guide is arranged to be readily attached, e.g., releasably snap-fit, to the bracket with the sterile cover interposed therebetween.
• the guide is constructed, e.g., it includes a base portion and a movable member which together form a passageway establishing a predetermined angled path for a receipt of a puncture device to penetrate into the body of a patient to a desired depth.
• the puncture guide is openable, e.g., the movable portion can be pivoted away from the base portion, to enable the ultrasound transducer with the needle guide system mounted thereon to be removed from the patient, leaving the puncture device in place penetrating into the body of the patient.
• the bracket includes a lower portion and the guide includes a lower portion.
• One of the lower portions of the bracket and the guide is in the form of a convex projection and the other of the lower portions of the bracket and the guide is in the form of a concave recess for mating receipt of the convex projection.
• the movable member is biased to normally be in the pivotably closed position thereby establishing the predetermined angled path for a receipt of the puncture device.
• the system includes plural puncture device guides.
• Each of those plural guides is constructed to establish a different, respective predetermined angled path for a receipt of the puncture device.
• the puncture device guide includes plural predetermined paths for receipt of a needle or other puncture device to establish plural preselected depths of penetration that can be achieved.
• the bracket is configured to be mounted on the ultrasound transducer so that the guide is located facing a transverse side of the ultrasonic transducer.
• a method for introducing a puncturing device into the body of a living being utilizing an ultrasound transducer to provide a predictable trajectory for the puncturing device at various depths basically comprises providing a guide system comprising a bracket and a puncture device guide, releasably mounting the bracket on the ultrasound transducer, whereupon a sterile cover can be placed over the ultrasound transducer and the bracket mounted thereon.
• the method further entails releasably attaching the guide to the bracket with the sterile cover interposed therebetween to establish a predetermined angled path for a receipt of the puncturing device to penetrate into the body of a patient to a desired depth.
• the guide is openable to enable the ultrasound transducer and the needle guide system to be removed, leaving the puncture device in place penetrating into the body of the patient.
• Fig. 1 is an exploded isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of a puncture device (e.g., needle) guide system making use of an adaptor and a needle guide which are constructed in accordance with this invention for use with a conventional ultrasound transducer and a sterile cover;
• Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the system shown in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the adaptor shown in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 4 is another isometric view of the adaptor shown in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged isometric view of the adaptor shown in Fig. 1, but with a portion of it, namely, the passageway forming clamp, removed;
• Fig. 6 is a slightly enlarged isometric view of the passageway forming clamp of the adaptor shown in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 7 is an Fig. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a second exemplary embodiment of a puncture device (e.g., needle) guide system making use of an adaptor and a needle guide which are constructed in accordance with this invention for use with a conventional ultrasound transducer;
• a puncture device e.g., needle
• Fig. 8 is a front plan view of the needle guide shown in Fig. 7;
• Fig. 9 is a rear plan view of the needle guide shown in Fig. 7;
• Fig. 10 is an exploded isometric view of the needle guide shown in Fig. 7;
• Fig. 11 is an illustration of an ultrasound transducer making use of a transversely mounted needle guide showing an exemplary image of the needle being inserted into an artery;
• Fig. 12 is an illustration of an ultrasound transducer making use of a longitudinally mounted needle guide showing the needle being inserted into an artery;
• Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a kit having a plurality of needle guides for use with the adaptor shown in Figs. 1 - 6 to establish penetration depths of 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm, 2.5 cm, 3.0 cm and 3.5 cm.
• Fig. 1 one exemplary embodiment of a puncture device guidance system for use with an ultrasound transducer constructed in accordance with this invention.
• the ultrasound transducer 10 is shown by the phantom lines in Fig. 1.
• the ultrasound transducer 10 which is shown by the phantom lines is typical of the construction of conventional medical applications and typically has a central axis which is perpendicular to its distal end or patient engaging face.
• the cross section of the distal end is of a generally rounded rectangular or ovoid shape having a longer or major longitudinal axis and a shorter or minor transverse axis.
• Placement of a puncture device is typically accomplished by means of some needle guide mounted on one of the longitudinally extending sides of the transducer or on one of the transversely extending sides.
• the needle or some other puncture device is arranged to brought in at an angle intersecting the transducer's central axis so that the tip of the needle or other puncture device is at a desired depth within the ultrasound transducer's imaging plane.
• the ultrasound transducer can provide an image of the field as the needle or puncture device is positioned in the imaging plane.
• the ultrasound transducer 10 is illustrated showing a needle guide, like that of the subject invention, mounted "transversely” on the transducer.
• transversely mounted it is meant that the needle guide is mounted so that the path that the needle takes with respect to the imaging plane intersects the imaging plane, thereby providing a cross section of the needle and the anatomic structure of the patient in which the needle is located, e.g., within an artery.
• the subject invention is particularly suited for transverse mounting on the ultrasound transducer, but can also be arranged for longitudinal mounting.
• a longitudinally mounted needle guide is shown in the illustration of Fig. 11. As can be seen therein, with such an arrangement the angled path that the needle takes is in the imaging plane of the transducer.
• the puncture device guidance system 20 basically comprises a bracket or adaptor 22 and a needle guide 24.
• the adaptor 22 is an integral unit which is best seen in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 and basically comprises a ring-like member having a hollow interior space shaped to accommodate the distal end portion of the transducer 10.
• the adaptor can be fabricated of any suitable material, e.g., molded of any suitable plastic.
• the ring-like portion of the adaptor is made up of an opposed pair of longitudinally extending side walls 26 and an opposed pair of transversely extending end walls 28, all of which are conjoined to one another.
• the shape of the inner surfaces of the side walls and end walls forming the ring-like portion of the adaptor will be configured to accommodate the particular transducer to which it is to be mounted.
• the adaptor is arranged to be releasably secured to the transducer via either factional engagement or mechanical means, e.g., mating components of the transducer and adaptor.
• the adaptor 22 is a reusable member that is mounted on the transducer 10.
• a conventional, flexible sterile cover 12 like shown in Fig. 1, is placed over the transducer on which the bracket is mounted.
• the needle guide 24 is a sterile, preferably disposable member, which is arranged to be readily mounted on the adaptor 22 with the flexible, sterile cover 12 interposed therebetween, so that the needle guide is resistant to accidental disconnection, but can be readily removed (dismounted) when desired.
• the needle guide 24 is arranged to be connected to (mounted on) the adaptor 22 by means of a snap-fit connection. That connection will now be described. To that end, as can be seen in Figs. 1 - 5 one of the longitudinally extending side walls 26 of the adaptor 22 includes a projection 30 extending outward from the outer face of that side wall.
• a channel 32 is provided in the outer surface of the projection 30, with the top portion of the channel forming a convex surface 34 and with the lower portion of the channel being somewhat linear.
• a pair of flanges 36 extends along the sides of the channel 32. The lower end of each flange 36 is in the form of a semi-circular recess 38. Each of the recesses 38 is arranged to receive a respective boss, to be described later, of the needle guide 24 to pivotably snap-fit the guide member to the adaptor 22.
• the needle guide 24 is best seen in Figs. 1 and 2 and basically comprises a generally wedge shaped body 40 having an undercut recess 42 in the top portion of the front face of the body 40.
• the undercut recess is of a concave shape to mate with the convex surface 32 on the projection 30 of the adaptor 22.
• the remainder of the front face of the needle guide's wedge shaped body is in the form of a linear surface 44 whose width is just slightly less than the width of the channel 34 of the adaptor's projection 30 so that it can be received within the linear portion of that channel when the needle guide is mounted on the adaptor.
• the upper portion of the needle guide body 40 is in the form of a finger 46.
• a stop 48 projects downward from the finger 46 and forms the margin for the upper end of the undercut recess 42.
• Two semi-circular rods or bosses 50 project outward from the lower portion (the apex) of the needle guide body 40. The bosses 50 are axially aligned with each other.
• the mounting of the needle guide 24 onto the adaptor 22 after the cover 12 has been placed over the transducer is accomplished as follows.
• the needle guide is juxtaposed so that its front face is disposed opposite to the channel 32 in the adaptor's projection 30, with the two bosses 50 of the needle guide being located within respective recesses 38 of the adaptor 22.
• the user then pivots the needle guide 24 towards the adaptor 22, using the finger 46 as a pull tab.
• This causes the stop 48 to slide along the upper convex surface 32 of the adaptor until it reaches the end of that surface, whereupon the finger 46 snaps downward, locking the stop 48 is place so that the convex surface 34 of the adaptor's projection 30 is resident within the undercut recess 42 of the guide member.
• the needle guide 24 includes a passageway, to be described later, that establishes a predetermined path through which the needle may be extended to reach a desired depth of penetration.
• the passageway in the needle guide is arranged to extend at an acute angle to the central axis of the transducer when it is mounted on the adaptor so that the intersection of the angled needle path with the central longitudinal axis of the transducer will be at the desired depth of penetration. That depth of penetration may be any desired depth.
• plural needle guides may be provided, each establishing a different respective angular path, for use with a single adaptor to create different depths of penetration.
• Fig. 13 shows a kit of plural needle guides 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E, 24F and 24G for producing a series of depths of penetration, e.g., 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm, 2.5 cm, 3.0 cm and 3.5 cm, respectively.
• the needle guides 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E, 24F and 24G are preferable molded as a unit 200 of any suitable plastic material and are provided in that form for use with an adaptor 22. When any particular needle guide is selected for use all that is required is to break it away from the other needle guides via the various breakaway joints 202.
• Needle guide 24C is then be mounted on the adaptor in the manner as described above to establish a guide path taking the needle to a depth of penetration in the transducer's image plane of 1.5 cm.
• each needle guide 24 is in the form of a linear passageway 52 (Fig. 4) which extends along the angled outside face of the wedge shaped body 40 of the needle guide.
• the passageway 52 is formed by the cooperation of an angularly extending linear groove 54 (Fig. 5) in the outside face of the guide member's wedge shaped body and a cooperating groove 56 (Fig. 6) in the inner surface of pivotable member 58.
• the pivotable member 58 is pivotably connected to the body 40 of the guide member by a hinge connection, to be described later. Suffice if for now to state that the pivotable member is biased, by means to be described shortly, so that it is normally in its closed position or orientation like shown in Figs.
• the pivotable member is arranged to be moved, i.e., pivoted, to an open orientation to open the linear passageway 52 to enable the transducer and its attached needle guide system 20 to be removed from the patient, while leaving the needle in place in the patient.
• the member 58 includes an elongated curved wall portion 60 (whose inner surface forms the groove 56) and a handle 62.
• a linear hinge pin 64 projects inward from the handle 62 and extends parallel to the groove 56.
• the hinge pin 64 is arranged to be pivotably received within a slot 66 in the wedge shaped body 40.
• the hinge pin is held in place within the slot by a retainer 68.
• a small, resilient arcuate shaped tab 70 is located on the inner surface of the handle 62 close to the hinge pin 64. The tab 70 projects outward from the member 58 and is arranged to abut a small ridge 72 (Fig.
• the proximal end of the passageway is flared at 74.
• the guide member 24 is arranged to be able to accommodate needles or other puncture devices of varying gauges.
• the guide member can be fabricated so that size of the passageway 52 is will accommodate needles of 18, 21 or 21 gauge.
• the passageway can be made to accommodate any size needle or other puncture device.
• the needle guide is arranged for use with an 18 gauge needle. This is indicated by indicia bearing the number "18" appearing on the handle 62 of the needle guide.
• the pivotable member 58 of the needle guide is arranged to be opened, i.e., pivoted away from the wedge shaped body 40, by pressing on the handle 62. This action causes the resilient tab 70 to bend or flex, whereupon the pivotable member 58 pivots outward from its closed orientation to an open orientation (not shown). In the open orientation the entire length of passageway 52 is accessible laterally. This enables the system 20 and the transducer 10 on which it is mounted to be removed from the patient leaving the needle in place in the patient, i.e., the combined transducer 10 and system 20 can be slid laterally off of the needle leaving the needle undisturbed.
• the needle guide attachment geometry as described above provides for very secure attachment without damaging the cover between the bracket and the needle guide.
• the finger (flexure) portion exerts pressure on the cylindrical bosses maintaining their position in the bracket's locating feature.
• the routine manipulation of the transducer against the patient may exert pressure against the cylindrical bosses into the locating feature thus making the fit of the guide more secure.
• the flexure feature allows the guide to be attached and removed without friction between the bracket and the guide which is the most common cause of cover damage during guide attachment.
• Figs. 7 - 10 there is shown another embodiment of a puncture device guide system
• the system 100 constructed in accordance with this invention invention.
• the system 100 is similar in many respects to system 20, except that its guide member 124 is arranged to provide plural predetermined paths, each establishing a different depth of penetration, whereas with the system 20 only a single depth of penetration can be effected by any given guide member 24.
• the system 100 basically comprises an adaptor or bracket 122 on which the guide member
• the adaptor 124 is pivotably snap-fit.
• the adaptor 122 is similar in construction to the adaptor 22 in that it includes plural walls which conjoin to form a ring-like member for frictional or mechanical mounting on the distal end portion of the ultrasound transducer.
• the adaptor includes a projection 130 constructed similarly to projection 30 of the adaptor 22.
• the common structural element of the projection 130 will be given the same reference numbers as the projection 30 of the adaptor 22.
• the guide member 124 is similar in construction to the guide member 24 insofar as its pivotable snap-fitting mounting on the adaptor 122 is concerned.
• the guide member 124 includes a wedge shaped body 140 having plural elongated, linear grooves or slots 142, 144, 146 and 148. Since the slots 142, 144, 146 and 148 are open, the guide member 124 includes associated component in the form of pivotable cover plates 150, 152,
• each of the four cover plates 150, 152, 154 and 156 includes a pair of mounting pins 158 projecting perpendicularly from its rear surface. The pins 158 extend through arcuate slots 160 in the wedge shaped body 140 for fixed securement in respective apertures 162 in a pivot plate 164.
• the pivot plate is disposed on the opposite face of the guide member body 140 than the covers 150, 152, 154 and 156 so that the guide member body 140 is interposed between the cover plates and the pivot plate 164.
• the pivot plate includes an arm 166 which flexes as a spring when connected to the guide member body 140 between a pair of projecting stops 168.
• the pivot plate includes a handle 170 (Figs. 9 and 10) to enable the user to readily pivot the pivot plate between the stops 168.
• the pivot plate is arranged to be pivoted outward, i.e., in a direction toward the outside face 172 of the guide member body 140 to cause the cover plates 150, 152, 154 and 156 secured to the pivot plate to also pivot in that direction, thereby causing them to enclose their associated slots.
• This action forms four, enclosed needle guide passageways for guiding a needle or other puncture device through it.
• the user can insert the needle or other puncture device into and through the desired passageway to percutaneously introduce the needle or other puncture device into the patient's body to the depth of penetration as established by the angularity of the selected passageway.
• the slot 142 extends at an acute to the front face of the wedge shaped body 140 to establish a depth of penetration of 2.5 cm
• the slot 144 extends at an acute to the front face of the wedge shaped body 140 to establish a depth of penetration of 1.5 cm
• the slot 146 extends at an acute to the front face of the wedge shaped body 140 to establish a depth of penetration of 1.0 cm
• the slot 148 extends at an acute to the front face of the wedge shaped body 140 to establish a depth of penetration of 0.5 cm.
• the proximal end or entryway of each of the slots 142, 144, 146 and 148 is flared to facilitate the introduction of a needle or other puncture device therein.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40676469

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (70)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 2008
  • 2008-01-08 US US11/970,797 patent/US8073529B2/en active Active
  • 2008-12-02 EP EP08856926.4A patent/EP2219509B1/en active Active
  • 2008-12-02 WO PCT/US2008/085244 patent/WO2009073653A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-12-02 JP JP2010537013A patent/JP5514119B2/ja active Active

Patent Citations (6)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events