Ultrasound Guidance System Including Tagged Probe Assembly

An ultrasound system for inserting a probe subdermally comprising:

• a monitor;
• a housing, said housing including an ultrasound transducer for forming a sonogram of the subdermal location on the monitor;
• at least one detector, wherein the detector is different from the ultrasound transducer;
• a probe assembly including a probe that is configured for being guided to a subdermal location, the probe assembly comprising a tag that includes information to identify the geometry of the probe, the probe assembly comprising a target that is detectable by the at least one detector;
• a sensor, the sensor being capable of communication with the tag;
• a probe guide that is attachable to said housing, the probe guide defining an opening through which the probe is capable of passing, wherein upon attachment of the probe guide to the housing, the probe guide defines a barrier between the probe in the probe guide and the housing, the barrier precluding contact between the probe in the probe guide and the housing;
• and
• a processor in communication with the at least one detector, the sensor, the monitor, and the ultrasound transducer, the processor configured for creating and displaying a real time image of a virtual probe on the monitor, the processor being programmed to analyze data from the at least one detector and the sensor to calculate a relative position of the probe in relation to a reference point, the processor being capable of communicating the relative position of the probe to the monitor.

A method for guiding a probe to a target comprising:

• guiding a probe through a probe guide to a subdermal location, wherein the probe guide is attached to a housing, the probe guide forming a barrier between the probe and the ultrasound transducer housing, the barrier precluding contact between the probe in the probe guide and the housing, the probe being a component of a probe assembly, the probe assembly comprising a tag that includes information to identify the geometry of the probe, the probe assembly comprising a target for at least one detector;
• utilizing an ultrasound transducer to form a sonogram of the subdermal location on a monitor, the housing including the ultrasound transducer;
• detecting the motion of the probe in the probe guide by use of the at least one detector, wherein the at least one detector is different from the ultrasound transducer and the at least one detector is at a distance from the probe guide and the probe guided through the probe guide, the distance being at least in part due to the barrier;
• sensing the information included in the tag;
• creating a data stream in response to the detected motion;
• and
• utilizing a processor that is in communication with the detector, the sensor, the monitor, and the ultrasound transducer to process information contained in the data stream and information included in the tag to form a real time image of a virtual probe on the monitor, the processor being programmed to calculate a relative position of the probe in relation to a reference point, the processor being capable of communicating the relative position to the monitor, said relative position being displayed on the monitor as the real time image of the virtual probe;
• and
• displaying on the monitor the sonogram and the real time image of the virtual probe, the real time image of the virtual probe being displayed in conjunction with the sonogram.