Tactile sensing device for lumbar punctures

A system for imaging a target tissue location and underlying bony landmarks therefrom in an individual in need thereof, comprising:

• a tactile sensing device comprising:
• a) a needle guide having a proximal opening and a distal opening, configured for guiding a needle towards the individual;
• wherein said needle guide allows for the needle to be inserted into the individual at a cephalad angle between about 0° to about 50°;
• b) a sensor array comprising at least one sensor configured to output a voltage signal in response to a change in a pressure applied to its surface;
• c) a display screen configured to display:
• i) a pressure map representing the underlying bony landmarks and the target tissue location in the individual based upon the voltage signal from the sensor array and ii) a projected subcutaneous location of the needle to be inserted into the individual;
• and
• d) a computing device comprising a processor coupled to the sensor array and coupled to the display screen, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium with a computer program including instructions executable by the processor causing the processor to:
• i) convert the voltage signal into the pressure map and display the pressure map on the display screen and ii) calculate the projected subcutaneous location of the needle to be inserted into the patient and output the projected location of the needle on the display screen;
• and
• a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the tactile sensing device and configured to measure a pressure of a fluid at the target tissue location.