Ultrasound probe support and stepping device

An apparatus for guiding a medical instrument comprising:

• a base assembly;
• a carriage assembly comprising a first member slidably mounted to the base assembly and a second member operably connected to the first member with a scissor-like mechanism, such that the second member has an adjustable height with respect to the first member, the scissor-like mechanism comprising first and second portions moveable in a first plane with respect to each other;
• and
• a medical instrument mount mounted to the second member, the medical instrument mount configured and dimensioned for supporting an ultrasound transducer and being movable with the second member, and the medical instrument mount being moveable along a second plane orthogonal to the first plane by the movement of the first and second portions of the scissor-like mechanism;
• wherein the scissor-like mechanism includes a plurality of first legs pivotally connected to the first member and a plurality of second legs pivotally connected to the second member, wherein one each of the plurality of first legs is pivotally connected to one each of the plurality of second legs.

An apparatus for guiding a medical instrument comprising:

• a base assembly;
• a carriage assembly including a first member slidably mounted to the base assembly and a second member operably connected to the first member, the second member including a first housing having a pair of substantially parallel first housing plate members and a second housing having a pair of substantially parallel second housing plate members;
• and
• a medical instrument mount including a yoke member operably coupled to the first and second housings and being configured and dimensioned for supporting an ultrasound transducer, such that as plate members of the first and second housings are moved in a first plane horizontally with respect to each other, the medical instrument mount moves in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.

An apparatus for guiding a medical instrument comprising:

• a base assembly comprising a rail member disposed in a longitudinal direction;
• a template grid coupled proximate a first end of the base assembly;
• a carriage assembly slidably associated with the base assembly and selectively movable in the longitudinal direction, the carriage assembly comprising a first housing including a pair of substantially parallel first housing plate members and a second housing including a pair of substantially parallel second housing plate members;
• and
• an ultrasound probe support coupled to the carriage assembly and selectively movable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction when the first housing plate members and the second housing plate members are moved in a first plane with respect to each other.