ULTRASOUND GUIDED PROBE DEVICE AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention is directed to improved devices and methods for ultrasound guiding of percutaneous medical probes. The devices include an ultrasound transducer housing (100) having a passage (126) therethrough and configured to guide a probe through the probe guide in the passage of the housing, and along a path extending to a target at a known angular relationship to the ultrasound transducer (120) so that the path and location of the advancing probe are known in relation to a target imaged by the ultrasound device. The devices can include a sterile sleeve (110) including a sterile probe guide such that the transducer housing including the guide opening, can be separated from the patient by a sterile barrier. The devices can also include a clamp (150) for clamping the probe in the probe guide and means and methods for real-time imaging of a virtual probe overlaying the sonogram formed by the ultrasound device.