IP Library Granted Patent US 12708402
Granted Patent B2
US 12708402 · App. 17/753,189 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Trocar and stylet stabilizer

Inventors: Andrew Eisenthal (Brooklyn, NY); Clifford R. Weiss (Baltimore, MD); Shashwat Gupta (Baltimore, MD); Wade Schutte (Centennial, CO); Robert Patrick Liddell (Lutherville, MD); Edward Ruppel, III (Saratoga, CA); Sabrina Liu (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
A61B17/3403G06T7/0012A61B2090/376A61B2090/3966
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708402
App. No.
17/753,189
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various stabilizers for supporting a trocar and stylet are disclosed. In some implementations, a stabilizer may include a main portion through which a trocar and stylet may be inserted and supported, and a plurality of stabilizing portions to prevent movement of the stabilizer when the stabilizer is placed on a patient's body.

Claims (89)

1 . A method, comprising:

placing a stabilizer over an entry point in a patient's body;

inserting a trocar and a stylet into the stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer comprises:

a main portion through which the trocar and the stylet is inserted; and

a plurality of stabilizing portions of the stabilizer,

wherein the plurality of stabilizing portions are configured to be removable from the main portion based on at least one of perforated sections or lines between the main portion and the plurality of stabilizing portions, and

wherein the at least one of the perforated sections or the lines are configured to enable adjustment of a size of the plurality of stabilizing portions by removing a subset of the plurality of stabilizing portions;

generating a radiological image to determine if the trocar and the stylet are inserted at a correct trajectory;

advancing the trocar and the stylet into the patient's body at the entry point based on determining that the trocar and the stylet are inserted at the correct trajectory;

removing the stylet from the trocar based on advancing the trocar and the stylet into the patient's body;

inserting a biopsy tool into the trocar;

performing a biopsy using the biopsy tool;

removing the biopsy tool from the trocar and reinserting the stylet into the trocar; and

removing the trocar and the stylet from the patient's body through the stabilizer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer comprises:

an adhesive backing on an underside of the stabilizer; and

wherein the method further comprises:

temporarily bonding, using the adhesive backing, the stabilizer to skin of the patient's body.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiological image comprises:

a computed tomography (CT) scan, or

an X-ray scan.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the trocar and the stylet are not inserted at the correct trajectory;

adjusting a trajectory of the trocar and the stylet based on determining that the trocar and the stylet are not inserted at the correct trajectory; and

generating another radiological image based on adjusting the trajectory of the trocar and the stylet.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer comprises of a translucent material.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer comprises of a translucent material, and

wherein the translucent material comprises a combination of a first material and a second material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the main portion comprises a plurality of radiopaque markings to assist in guiding the trocar and the stylet.

8 . A system, comprising:

a trocar;

a stylet; and

a stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer is placed over an entry point in a patient's body;

wherein the trocar and the stylet are inserted into the stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer comprises:

a main portion through which the trocar and the stylet is inserted, and

a plurality of stabilizing portions of the stabilizer,

 wherein the plurality of stabilizing portions are configured to be removable from the main portion based on at least one of perforated sections or lines between the main portion and the plurality of stabilizing portions, and

 wherein the at least one of the perforated sections or the lines are configured to enable adjustment of a size of the plurality of stabilizing portions by removing a subset of the plurality of stabilizing portions,

wherein the system is configured to be used with a biopsy procedure, wherein the biopsy procedure comprises a radiological image that is generated to determine if the trocar and the stylet are inserted at a correct trajectory,

wherein the trocar and the stylet are advanced into the patient's body at the entry point based on determining that the trocar and the stylet are inserted at the correct trajectory,

wherein the stylet is removed from the trocar based on advancing the trocar and the stylet into the patient's body,

wherein a biopsy tool is inserted into the trocar,

wherein a biopsy is performed using the biopsy tool,

wherein the biopsy tool is removed from the trocar and reinserting the stylet into the trocar; and

wherein the trocar and the stylet are removed from the patient's body through the stabilizer.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises:

an adhesive backing on an underside of the stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer is temporarily bonded to skin of the patient's body, using the adhesive backing.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the radiological image comprises:

a computed tomography (CT) scan, or

an X-ray scan.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the trocar and the stylet are determined as not being inserted at the correct trajectory,

wherein a trajectory of the trocar and the stylet are adjusted based on determining that the trocar and the stylet are not inserted at the correct trajectory; and

wherein another radiological image is generated based on adjusting the trajectory of the trocar and the stylet.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises of a translucent material.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises of a translucent material, and

wherein the translucent material comprises a combination of a first material and a second material.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the main portion comprises a plurality of radiopaque markings to assist in guiding the trocar and the stylet.

15 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises of a translucent material, and

wherein the translucent material comprises a combination of a first material and a second material.

16 . A device, comprising:

a stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer is placed over an entry point in a patient's body;

wherein a trocar and a stylet are inserted into the stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer comprises:

a main portion through which the trocar and the stylet is inserted, and

a plurality of stabilizing portions of the stabilizer,

 wherein the plurality of stabilizing portions are configured to be removable from the main portion based on at least one of perforated sections or lines between the main portion and the plurality of stabilizing portions, and

 wherein the at least one of the perforated sections or the lines are configured to enable adjustment of a size of the plurality of stabilizing portions by removing a subset of the plurality of stabilizing portions,

wherein the device is configured to be used with a biopsy procedure, wherein the biopsy procedure comprises a radiological image that is generated to determine if the trocar and the stylet are inserted at a correct trajectory,

wherein the trocar and the stylet are advanced into the patient's body at the entry point based on determining that the trocar and the stylet are inserted at the correct trajectory,

wherein the stylet is removed from the trocar based on advancing the trocar and the stylet into the patient's body,

wherein a biopsy tool is inserted into the trocar,

wherein a biopsy is performed using the biopsy tool,

wherein the biopsy tool is removed from the trocar and reinserting the stylet into the trocar; and

wherein the trocar and the stylet are removed from the patient's body through the stabilizer.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the stabilizer comprises:

an adhesive backing on an underside of the stabilizer,

wherein the stabilizer is temporarily bonded to skin of the patient's body, using the adhesive backing.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the radiological image comprises:

a computed tomography (CT) scan, or

an X-ray scan.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the trocar and the stylet are determined as not being inserted at the correct trajectory,

wherein a trajectory of the trocar and the stylet are adjusted based on determining that the trocar and the stylet are not inserted at the correct trajectory; and

wherein another radiological image is generated based on adjusting the trajectory of the trocar and the stylet.

20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the stabilizer comprises of a translucent material.