Needle guide for use with ultrasound imaging systems

#The present invention relates to a disposable/reusable needle guide for use in conjunction with an ultrasound imaging system.

#It is well known in the industry that ultrasound imaging systems are useful for performing a surgical procedure such as a biopsy. In such a use, the ultrasound imaging system is used to locate a region of interest and a biopsy needle is inserted into that region. Advantageously, the biopsy needle is visible during the surgical procedure.

#In the past, in such a use, a biopsy guide was utilized to aid in positioning and holding the biopsy needle. The biopsy guide was affixed to an ultrasound probe by a clamp which surrounded the probe and which was designed to fit a specific probe. This is disadvantageous because of the need to utilize different guides for different probes and because of the time and difficulty entailed in attaching and detaching the biopsy guide.

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a needle guide which is fabricated in accordance with the present invention and which is comprised of: (a) a probe clip; (b) a probe clip lock; (c) a needle support; and (d) a needle cap;

#FIG. 2 shows, in pictorial form, a perspective view of a probe clip which is fabricated in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 3 shows, in pictorial form, a perspective view of a probe clip lock which is fabricated in accordance with the present invention

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., inventive needle guide 100. As shown in FIG. 1, needle guide 100 is comprised of: (a) probe clip 110; (b) probe clip lock 120; (c) needle support 130; and (d) needle cap 150. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, probe clip 110, probe clip lock 120, needle support 130, and needle cap 150 are formed by injection molding plastic in a manner which is well known in the art. After the parts are produced by injection molding, probe clip lock 120 is slidably joined to needle support 130 in a manner that will be described in detail below and needle support 130 is ultrasonically welded to probe clip 110 so that probe clip lock 120 is constrained to slide in a confined location. Finally, needle cap 150 is detachably affixed to needle support 130 in a manner that will be described in detail below.

#FIG. 6 shows, in pictorial form, a perspective view of ultrasound probe 300 which is used in conjunction with inventive needle guide 100. The manner in which needle guide 100 is affixed to ultrasound probe 300 will be described in detail below.

#FIG. 2 shows, in pictorial form, a perspective view of probe clip 110 which is fabricated in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, probe clip 110 is comprised of "C" clamp 200. Protuberances 210, 220, and 230 are formed on the inside of "C" clamp 200, which protuberances are fabricated to fit into shallow detents 280, 290, and a detent on the opposite side of ultrasound probe 300 from detent 280 (not shown in FIG. 6). As is shown in FIG. 6, detent 280 is for protuberance 210, a companion detent to detent 280 on the opposite side of ultrasound probe 300 is for protuberance 230, and detent 290 is for protuberance 220. In order to ensure universality of needle guides fabricated in accordance with the present invention, it is required that ultrasound probes be manufactured so that the distance between top detent 280 and its companion detent on the bottom of the probe (for holding protuberances 210 and 230, respectively) and the positioning of side detent 290 (for holding protuberance 220) is manufactured to the same specification for all ultrasound probes. This ensures that one needle guide design will fit all similarly manufactured ultrasound probes. As further shown in FIG. 2, channels 240 and 250 are disposed across the back of "C" clamp 200.