Needle insertion guide apparatus and method

Details Needle insertion guide apparatus and method Needle insertion guide apparatus and method

1997-12-30

2001-09-04

Nguyen, Anhtuan T. (Department: 3763)

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

C604S117000, C604S510000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283942

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of medical care and more specifically to an apparatus and process for locating a blood vessel in a person and assisting in inserting a needle into the vessel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medical professionals presently locate a blood vessel by palpitation or by blocking circulation in the vessel downstream from the needle insertion point, then looking for the bulging vessel. In many cases this procedure is unsuccessful in locating the vessel. Medical professionals may repeatedly stick the patient until they locate the vessel. Often, even when the vessel is successfully located, the needle penetrates too deeply, penetrating both walls of the vessel and striking a nerve. This problem is particularly acute when the patient is a small child. Or, a located vessel has a tendency to rotate or roll away from the needle as the medical professional attempts to insert it, further complicating the procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a needle insertion guide apparatus that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the prior art. For example, the needle insertion guide assists in accurately locating a blood vessel within a patient. Thus, a medical professional need only penetrate the patient's skin once with a needle. Moreover, the needle insertion guide ensures proper alignment of the needle such that only one wall of the blood vessel will be penetrated. Also, consistent with the present invention, a rotatable vessel holder ensures that the blood vessel will not move during insertion of the needle.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, a guide for locating a blood vessel in a patient and guiding a needle consistent with the present invention includes a main support housing, means for removably securing the main support housing to the patient, a plurality of transducers attached to the main support housing for transmitting and receiving signals for locating the blood vessel, and at least one needle support attached to the main support housing.
To further achieve these advantages, a method for locating a blood vessel in a patient and guiding a needle into the located blood vessel is provided, the method includes the steps
3
of removably securing a main support housing to the patient, energizing a plurality of transducers attached to the main support housing for transmitting and receiving signals, locating the blood vessel based on the signals, and guiding a needle into the patient.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objectives or other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the needle insertion guide particularly pointed out in the written descriptions and claims hereof, as well as in the accompanying drawings.


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