Apparatus for Use With Needle Insertion Guidance System

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A guidance system, comprising:
a needle configured for insertion into a patient, the needle having a magnetic field associated therewith; an ultrasound imaging probe configured to ultrasonically image an image area including an internal portion of the patient, the probe including one or more sensors configured to sense the magnetic field; a processor configured to use data relating to the magnetic field sensed by the one or more sensors to determine a position of the needle in three spatial dimensions relative to the probe; and a display configured to depict an image of the internal portion of the patient produced by the ultrasound imaging probe and a depiction representative of the needle with respect to the image of the internal portion of the patient based on the position determined by the processor, wherein an approach to the internal portion of the patient is depicted when the needle is outside of the image area.