ULTRASONICALLY GUIDED BIOPSIES IN THREE DIMENSIONS

摘要

An ultrasound system includes a 3D imaging probe and a needle guide which attaches to the probe for guidance of needle insertion into a volumetric region which can be scanned by the 3D imaging probe. The needle guide responds to the insertion of a needle through the guide by identifying a plane for scanning by the probe which is the insertion plane through which the needle will pass during insertion. The orientation of the insertion plane is communicated to the probe to cause the probe to scan the identified plane and produce images of the needle as it travels through the insertion plane.

主权项

1. An ultrasonic imaging system which visually guides the insertion of an invasive device such as a needle comprising:
a 3D ultrasonic imaging probe which is capable of imaging different planes of a volumetric region; a needle guide, dimensioned to attach to the imaging probe in a predetermined orientation, the needle guide having a plurality of needle insertion positions to guide a needle for insertion into the volumetric region through different needle insertion planes, the needle guide producing a plane identification signal which identifies the insertion plane of a needle being inserted into the volumetric region; and an ultrasound system coupled to the probe and responsive to the plane identification signal and controlling the 3D ultrasonic imaging probe to produce a 2D image of the identified plane.