# US 10,945,704 B2 · Image guided catheters and methods of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,704 B2 - Document ID: US10945704B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/247,062 - Filed: 2019-01-14 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-12 - Assignees: Perceptive Navigation LLC - Applicants: Perceptive Navigation LLC - Inventors: Christopher Allen Dykes; Michael J. Zipparo; Theodore P. Abraham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945704B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 10/04: Endoscopic instruments, e.g. catheter-type instruments - A61B 8/0808: {for diagnosis of the brain} - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61B 8/565: {involving data transmission via a network} - A61B 2017/3413: {guided by ultrasound} - A61M 25/0026: {Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements (catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound or optical coherence tomography imaging system that is replaceable depending on how close the device is to the target site for a given medical procedure, the device and system integrated into a single minimally invasive device comprising a first probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath, a sleeve lock for closing a normally open needle channel of a needle guide of the first distal assembly and a second probe and cable housing assembly locked to the first distal probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath by a locking tab. The probe and cable housing assembly may comprise a linear phased ultrasound array and an accelerometer for orienting an image produced by the device with the gravitational field of the earth. The medical device can be in the form of an image guided catheter or probe, used in a body orifice, externally on skin tissue or subcutaneously. The device comprises a replaceable and reusable ultrasound imaging assembly (and or OCT assembly) and replaceable interventional devices such as a removable introducer needle, hollow biopsy needle, syringe or other medical instrument. The imaging system may comprise one or more small ultrasound or OCT imaging systems that can be replaceably integrated into the device by replacing the reusable second probe and cable housing assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheath body comprising: a closed-end lumen configured to receive a forward looking imaging device, wherein a distal portion of the closed-ended lumen is off-set from a proximal portion of the closed-ended lumen; and an open-ended lumen that comprises a first movable guide and a second movable guide; is configured to transition between an open configuration in which a surface of the first movable guide and a surface of the second movable guide do not contact each other and a closed configuration in which the surface of the first movable guide and the surface of the second movable guide contact each other; and is configured to receive a medical tool, wherein the open-ended lumen does not extend to a proximal end of the closed-ended lumen and the open-ended lumen is oriented with respect to the closed-end lumen such that when the medical tool is loaded into the open-ended lumen, a portion of the medical tool that protrudes from the open-ended lumen is within a forward imaging field of view of the forward looking imaging device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen is configured to transition between the open configuration and the closed configuration such that the medical tool is insertable and removable from the sheath body when the open-ended lumen is in the open configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheath body of claim 2, wherein the open-ended lumen is configured to open and close along an entire top length of the open-ended lumen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen comprises one or more tabs to facilitate ejection of the medical tool from the open-ended lumen when the open-ended lumen is in the open configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen comprises an actuation mechanism coupled to the open-ended lumen to control opening and closing of the open-ended lumen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen comprises a locking mechanism that locks the open-ended lumen in the closed configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen is further oriented with respect to the closed-end lumen such that a forward-imaging orientation of the medical tool is produced by the forward looking imaging device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen does not extend beyond the proximal portion of the closed-ended lumen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the closed-end lumen is blunt. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sheath body of claim 1, wherein the open-ended lumen is sized to receive a medical tool that is a needle or a syringe. ### Claim 11 A method of performing an image guided medical procedure on a subject, the method comprising: providing a sheath body comprising a closed-end lumen configured to receive a forward looking imaging device, wherein a distal portion of the closed-ended lumen is off-set from a proximal portion of the closed-ended lumen; and an open-ended lumen that comprises a first movable guide and a second movable guide; is configured to transition between an open configuration in which a surface of the first movable guide and a surface of the second movable guide do not contact each other and a closed configuration in which the surface of the first movable guide and the surface of the second movable guide contact each other; and is configured to receive a medical tool, wherein the open-ended lumen does not extend to a proximal end of the closed-ended lumen and the open-ended lumen is oriented with respect to the closed-end lumen such that when the medical tool is loaded into the open-ended lumen, a portion of the medical tool that protrudes from the open-ended lumen is within a forward imaging field of view of the forward looking imaging device; loading a forward looking imaging device into the closed-end lumen, wherein the forward looking imaging device comprises a distal portion that is off-set from a proximal portion such that the off-set portion of the forward looking imaging device enters the off-set portion of the sheath body; loading a medical tool into the open-ended lumen; and performing at least a portion of a medical procedure on a subject using the medical tool loaded in the open-ended lumen while viewing the medical tool through the forward imaging field of view of the forward looking imaging device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising opening the open-ended lumen to remove the medical tool from the sheath body while performing the medical procedure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: loading a second medical tool into the open-ended lumen while the open ended lumen is in the open configuration; closing the open-ended lumen; and continuing to perform the medical procedure on the subject using the second medical tool loaded in the open-ended lumen while viewing the second medical tool through the forward imaging field of view of the forward looking imaging device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the sheath body is positioned on a surface of the subject while the medical tool is positioned within the subject. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a portion of the sheath body is positioned in the subject. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the open-ended lumen is configured to open and close along an entire length of the open-ended lumen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the open-ended lumen is configured to open and close along an entire top length of the open-ended lumen. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the open-ended lumen comprises one or more tabs to facilitate ejection of the medical tool from the open-ended lumen when the open-ended lumen is in the open configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the open-ended lumen comprises an actuation mechanism coupled to the open-ended lumen to control opening and closing of the open-ended lumen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the open-ended lumen comprises a locking mechanism that locks the open-ended lumen in the closed configuration.