Integrated Ultrasound Needle Guide for Real-Time 3D Path Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound-guided needle insertion procedures face challenges such as obstructed image viewing, inadequate procedural flexibility, and inability to predict an optimum needle path, leading to increased failure rates and risks of anatomical injury.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound probe with an integrated needle assembly, featuring a guide channel, pivotable needle guide, rotation angle sensor, locking mechanism, and real-time 3D imaging, allowing for precise needle guidance and visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If ultrasound is used to aid in identification of structural landmarks, then visualization capability is improved, but needle insertion remains obstructed or blind without significant improvement in success rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ultrasound transducer and needle guide assembly into a single integrated probe. The needle guide assembly is positioned within the ultrasound probe housing, allowing the needle to be visualized in real-time during insertion while maintaining the ultrasound imaging function. This merging of functions enables simultaneous visualization and guided needle insertion, resolving the contradiction between improved visualization and maintained blind insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a needle guide assembly as an intermediary component that facilitates needle insertion. This assembly includes a guide channel and pivotable needle guide that provides a predetermined path and real-time visualization of the needle trajectory. The intermediary needle guide assembly bridges the gap between ultrasound visualization and needle insertion, enabling successful procedures without obstructed viewing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If needle is attached away from ultrasound transducer, then device functionality is improved, but needle is outside field of view making tracking difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guide assembly is integrated within the ultrasound probe housing, merging the needle attachment mechanism with the ultrasound transducer assembly. This positioning ensures the needle remains within the ultrasound field of view throughout its insertion path, enabling continuous real-time visualization and tracking while maintaining full device functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs 3D ultrasound imaging capability to provide spatial information about the needle position in multiple dimensions. This dimensional enhancement allows the needle to be visualized and tracked accurately even as it moves through different spatial planes during insertion, resolving the contradiction between device functionality and needle tracking.
3Ease of operation
If 2D ultrasound imaging is used, then initial skill requirement is reduced, but needle tracking or visualization becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D to 3D ultrasound imaging to provide enhanced spatial visualization of the needle and surrounding anatomy. This dimensional enhancement improves needle tracking and visualization quality while maintaining ease of operation through integrated guidance systems that simplify the procedural steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback through continuous ultrasound imaging during needle insertion. The system provides live visualization of the needle trajectory, depth, and position relative to anatomical structures, enabling operators to adjust their technique based on immediate feedback. This feedback mechanism improves visualization quality without significantly increasing the initial skill requirement.
4Device complexity
If blind needle insertion is used, then procedure simplicity is maintained, but failure rate increases to 20% due to inability to visualize needle location and trajectory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides pre-planned needle paths and target locations based on pre-processing of ultrasound images. The system identifies anatomical landmarks and calculates optimal insertion trajectories before the procedure begins, guiding the needle along a predetermined safe path. This preliminary planning action improves success rates while maintaining procedural simplicity through automated guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback through continuous ultrasound imaging that displays needle position, trajectory, and depth during insertion. This feedback mechanism allows operators to verify needle placement and adjust technique immediately, reducing failure rates from 20% to significantly lower levels while maintaining procedure simplicity through intuitive real-time guidance.
5Manufacturing precision
If integrated needle assembly with real-time 3D imaging is used, then procedural accuracy and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the needle guide assembly, ultrasound transducer, and control systems into a single integrated probe unit. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating separate components and their associated interfaces, while maintaining high procedural accuracy through coordinated operation of the integrated subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated probe serves multiple functions: ultrasound imaging, needle guidance, and real-time visualization. By combining these functions into a single device, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate components, while achieving high procedural accuracy through multi-functional capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances procedural accuracy and safety by providing real-time 3D imaging and guided needle insertion, reducing failure rates and minimizing anatomical risks.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasound probe housing generates ultrasound waves to produce images inside of the body of a patient
Implementation Method 2
A rotation angle sensor is configured at or near the pivot point and connected with the needle guide assembly or sufficiently close to the needle guide assembly to approximate the needle angle within the assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A device and system for and methods of using an ultrasound probe housing containing ultrasound probes configured to produce images inside the body of a patient for procedures requiring needle or probe insertion. The ultrasound probe housing can be configured with a guide channel cut-out or aperture between the ambient side and body side of a patient. A needle guide assembly may be pivotally connected internal to the guide channel cut-out or aperture of the ultrasound probe housing at a pivot point such that during use the needle enters the patient through the needle guide assembly within the ultrasound probe housing so that the needle can be visualized by the ultrasonic probes in real time. The ultrasound probe housing may also provide an adhesion or suction quality to the body side of the device to facilitate aspects of the invention.