Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-10-02
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296614
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
In the field of medicine, procedures are done to obtain biopsy samples or to place drainage tubes within the body. To assist in such procedures, an ultrasound image may be obtained to guide the biopsy needle or drainage tube into proper position. Ultrasound imaging of this sort is accomplished by use of an ultrasound transducer probe touching the body near the location for puncture of the skin and tissues by the needle or cannula. In order to assist in placement of the needle or tube, needle guides have been developed to fastened to or be incorporated within the ultrasound transducer probe. The biopsy needle or drainage cannula can be guided by the attached or incorporated guide. Many of such prior art devices either require the needle to remain attached to the transducer until the needle is withdrawn from the body or else they utilize traps or complex pathways for the needle to travel to be released from the transducer probe after the transducer probe is no longer needed. Such prior art devices result in the operator having to keep the transducer resting on the body while the biopsy sample is retrieved or else they give rise to discomfort for the patient and inconvenience for the physician performing the procedure while disconnecting the placed needle or cannula from the ultrasound transducer probe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a needle guide which allows easy release of a biopsy needle from an ultrasound transducer probe after the needle has been guided into place by visualization of ultrasound images generated by use of the ultrasound transducer probe.
The needle guide snaps onto the ultrasound transducer probe and may be removed by hand operation. The needle guide includes a passageway through which a biopsy needle may be passed to aim it into the body at a target location. The needle guide is formed such that the passageway directs the leading end of the biopsy needle into the image field of the transducer probe. The user may cause the needle guide to release the biopsy needle bilaterally by squeezing one side of the needle guide with the thumb and forefinger.
A mounting bracket which is retained to the ultrasound transducer probe includes a band snugly surrounding the probe such that its transmission face is not obstructed. The band includes a generally elongate protrusion, to which the needle guide member may be frictionally or mechanically retained such that the needle guide may be removed by manual effort without the use of tools. The needle guide includes a mounting body equipped with a pair of rails which receive the protrusion on the band around the transducer wand. A rotatable lock lever is rotatively operated to insert a blade through a slot in one rail to impinge the blade upon the protrusion.
The base member is fashioned to allow it to be snap fitted to the mounting body and to fit on the mounting body in a defined orientation. The base is equipped with a flat face adjacent a hinge element comprising spaced ears with indentations which become part of a hinge when a gauge top member is mounted to the base member. A gauge top member has a wall with a triangular groove which abuts the flat face of the base member when longitudinally spaced stubs on the gauge top member are captured in the indentations in the opposing ears of the base member. The stubs serve as an axis about which the gauge top member may pivot on the base member over a limited range. A spring is interposed between the base and the gauge top member to urge the grooves containing wall of the gauge top member to remain in abutment with the flat face of the base member.
The gauge top includes a handle which may be depressed toward the base against the bias of the spring in order to move the groove away from the flat face such that a needle which has been passed through the passageway may be released from the needle guide.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a disposable needle guide for attachment to a transducer probe which facilitates removal of the ultrasound transducer probe from a needle which has been passed through the needle guide.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a needle guide constructed of stainless steel which may be sterilized and reused.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a needle guide which may be easily disassembled to permit use of different diameter needles or cannula by exchanging only the outermost member of the needle guide without disengaging the remaining parts of the needle guide from the transducer probe.
It is another object to provide a needle guide which may be mounted to varying shapes of ultrasound transducer probes by use of a flexible or elastic strap.
It is a further object of the Invention to provide a needle guide for fixed attachments to an ultrasound transducer probe which permits release of a needle from the needle guide with the use of a user's thumb and forefinger of one hand.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a one piece assembled needle guide which is ready for use after mounting to a bracket on a transducer probe.
It is another object to provide a needle guide which has a funnel-shaped opening to facilitate insertion of the tip of a biopsy needle into the guide.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a needle guide for mounting to a transducer probe which has a rounded lower surface to reduce discomfort of patients who are touched by the guide.
These and other advantages and objects of the invention will be understood through examination of the detailed description which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 383968 (1997-09-01), Bidwell et al.
patent: 2451183 (1948-10-01), Tantimonaco
patent: 2536963 (1951-01-01), Stephens
patent: 3017887 (1962-01-01), Heyer
patent: 3538915 (1970-11-01), Frampton et al.
patent: 3556079 (1971-01-01), Omizo
patent: 4029084 (1977-06-01), Soldner
patent: 4058114 (1977-11-01), Soldner
patent: 4108165 (1978-08-01), Kopp et al.
patent: 4132496 (1979-01-01), Casto
patent: 4249539 (1981-02-01), Vikomerson et al.
patent: 4289139 (1981-09-01), Enjoji et al.
patent: 4332248 (1982-06-01), DeVitis
patent: 4363326 (1982-12-01), Kopel
patent: 4402324 (1983-09-01), Lindgren et al.
patent: 4408611 (1983-10-01), Enjoji
patent: 4469106 (1984-09-01), Harui
patent: 4489730 (1984-12-01), Jingu
patent: 4491137 (1985-01-01), Jingu
patent: 4497325 (1985-02-01), Wedel
patent: 4504269 (1985-03-01), Durand
patent: 4542747 (1985-09-01), Zurinski et al.
patent: 4635644 (1987-01-01), Yagata
patent: 4781067 (1988-11-01), Cichanski
patent: 4898178 (1990-02-01), Wedel
patent: 4970907 (1990-11-01), Flynn
patent: 5052396 (1991-10-01), Wedel et al.
patent: 5076279 (1991-12-01), Arenson et al.
patent: 5161764 (1992-11-01), Roney
patent: 5758650 (1998-06-01), Miller et al.
patent: 6203499 (2001-03-01), Imling et al.
Disposable Transrectal Needle Guide, Civco Medical Instruments Co., Inc. Medical Parkway, 102 Highway 1 South Kalona, IA 52247.
Maggi & Maggi II Plus, Sterile General Purpose Biopsy Needle Guides, Civco Medical Instrument Co., Inc. Medical Parkway, 102, Highway 1 South Kalona, IA 52247.
Ultra-Pro Sterile General Purpose Biopsy Needle Guide, Civco Medical Instruments, Co., Inc. Medical Parkway, 102 Highway 1 South Kalona, IA 52247.
Aloka Needle Guide/Probe Cover Kits, Civco Medical Instruments Co., Inc. Medical parkway, 102 Highway 1 South Kalona, IA 52247.
Multi Pro 2000, Multi-Purpose Ultrasound Linear Tracking Instrument, Civco Medical Instruments Co., Inc. 418 B Avenue, Kalona, IA 52247.
“The Ultimate Guide in Ultrasound” advertising, Civco Medical Instruments Co., Inc., 418 B Avenue, Kalona, IA 52247.
“Hitting the Mark with Realtime Guidance”, Civco PROgram, Drawer Q. Kalona, IA 52247.
Harms Allan L.
Lateef Marvin M.
Patel Maulin
LandOfFree
Needle guide for attachment to ultrasound transducer probe does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Needle guide for attachment to ultrasound transducer probe, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Needle guide for attachment to ultrasound transducer probe will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2581448