Ultrasound Guided Probe Device and Sterilizable Shield for Same

A method for guiding a probe to a percutaneous target comprising:

• seating an ultrasound transducer housing within a first section of a sterilizable shield, the ultrasound transducer housing including an ultrasound transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic beam and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic beam;
• aligning a second section of the sterilizable shield with the first section of the sterilizable shield, wherein the second section of the sterilizable shield encloses a portion of the ultrasound transducer housing;
• fastening the first and second sections of the sterilizable shield to one another by use of a single-use fastener to enclose at least that portion of the ultrasound transducer housing that includes the ultrasound transducer within the sterilizable shield;
• guiding a probe defining a probe tip such that the probe tip arrives at the percutaneous target;
• and
• disassembling the first section and the second section from one another, wherein the single-use fastener is permanently disabled upon the disassembly.

A method for guiding a probe to a percutaneous target comprising:

• locating a skin contacting surface of a probe device on a skin surface, the probe device including an ultrasound transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic beam and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic beam, the skin contacting surface of the probe device comprising a first portion defining a first plane and a second portion defining a second plane, the first plane and the second plane intersecting one another to define an angle therebetween that is greater than about 150° and less than 180°, the first portion defining a probe guide therethrough, the second portion being associated with the ultrasound transducer such that the ultrasonic beam transmitted from said ultrasound transducer issues from the second portion;
• transmitting the ultrasonic beam from the ultrasound transducer and forming a sonogram of the percutaneous target in response to the reflections of the ultrasonic beam;
• and
• guiding a probe through the probe guide opening such that the probe tip travels from the skin surface, enters the scanned plane of the sonogram, and arrives at the percutaneous target, wherein the distance traveled by the probe from the skin surface to the entrance of the ultrasonic beam is less than about 25 mm.

A method for guiding a probe to a percutaneous target comprising

• attaching a first portion of a medical probe device to a second portion of the medical probe device, the first portion comprising an ultrasound transducer housing and the second portion defining at least a portion of a probe guide for passage of a probe therethrough, the probe guide providing an unimpeded passageway through the medical probe device, the second portion being removably attachable to the first portion;
• passing a probe through the probe guide to a percutaneous target;
• detecting motion of the probe within the probe guide, the detector being in communication with a processor;
• and
• displaying information concerning the motion or position of the probe within the probe guide.