Ultrasonic probe and aligned needle guide system

摘要

A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

主权项

1. An ultrasonic probe assembly comprising:
a probe housing having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion includes a flat, planar face oriented at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal and distal portions; an ultrasonic transducer array disposed on the face such that the transducer array is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the probe housing, wherein the transducer array is configured to operate at a center frequency of 20 MHz or greater and is configured to produce a plurality of ultrasonic waves in an ultrasonic imaging plane; a needle guide having an aperture, wherein the needle guide is configured to guide a needle through the aperture toward the ultrasonic imaging plane; and a needle guide alignment feature disposed on an exterior surface of the probe housing and configured to engage a corresponding feature on the needle guide such that the needle guide is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the probe housing, wherein the needle guide alignment feature is further configured to maintain an alignment of the aperture of the needle guide with the ultrasonic imaging plane.