Claims
- 1. A device used in conjunction with an external ultrasound machine providing imaging information to guide the placement of a catheter needle into a targeted anatomical feature, comprising:
an ultrasonic probe and means for operatively connecting said ultrasonic probe to the external ultrasound machine; receiving means for receiving the imaging information from the external ultrasound machine; displaying means for displaying the imaging information from the external ultrasound machine; means associated with said displaying means for graphically indicating a depth to the targeted anatomical feature; mechanical means for deploying the catheter needle into the anatomical feature; and means for holding the catheter needle at an angle and distance from the anatomical feature so as to deploy the catheter needle into the anatomical feature at the indicated depth.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating a depth to the targeted anatomical feature comprises an horizontal indicator on said display means and manual means for moving said horizontal indicator to coincide with said depth on said display means.
- 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for holding the catheter further comprises servo-mechanical means for adjusting said angle and distance of the catheter needle in response to said manual means for moving said horizontal indicator.
- 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said manual means for moving said horizontal indicator comprises at least one thumb switch.
- 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said mechanical means for deploying the catheter needle comprises a stored energy mechanism.
- 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said stored energy mechanism comprises a hydraulic mechanism.
- 7. The device of claim 5 wherein said stored energy mechanism comprises a spring mechanism.
- 8. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for verifying placement of the catheter into the targeted anatomical feature.
- 9. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for verifying placement of the catheter comprises a reflector attached to the catheter housing, a light source aimed at said reflector and electro-optic means for detecting the position of the reflector.
- 10. The device of claim 9 further comprising feedback means for aligning the catheter based on the position detected by said electro-optic means.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/389,432 filed Jun. 17, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60389432 |
Jun 2002 |
US |