Device and method for guiding a needle to a target during an interventional procedure under x-ray imaging
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorRanganathan Govindaraj
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a needle guide includes a guide element including a hollow body having a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end, and an interior space defined by an inner wall of the body that extends from the first opening to the second opening, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening and is configured to receive a needle having a tip that is to be positioned within a target site of a patient, and wherein the body includes a radiopaque material at the second opening that can be viewed during real-time medical imaging to facilitate placement and insertion of the needle.
Claims15
A needle guide comprising:
- a guide element including a hollow body having a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end, and an interior space defined by an inner wall of the body that extends from the first opening to the second opening, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening and is configured to receive a needle having a tip that is to be positioned within a target site of a patient, and wherein the body includes a radiopaque material at the second opening that can be viewed during real-time medical imaging to facilitate placement and insertion of the needle.
A method for guiding a needle to a target site within a patient, the method comprising:
- performing real-time medical imaging of a patient and the target site;
- placing a guide element having a radiopaque tip against the patient's skin while viewing images of the patient and target site to confirm the radiopaque tip visible in the images is positioned at a location on the skin surface that aligns with the target site;
- and
- after confirming correct placement of the guide element, passing a tip of a needle through the guide element, through the patient's skin, and into the target site while viewing the images of the patient and target site as the guide element guides the needle to ensure it does not stray from a path that leads to the target site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.