Sterile cover

1. A sterile ultrasound device, comprising:

a sterile cover comprising a rigid shell and a flexible sheath in a stowed configuration secured to the rigid shell, the rigid shell having an interior attachable to an ultrasound probe and a passage accessing the rigid shell interior;

an ultrasound probe having a transducer head, the ultrasound probe enclosed within the rigid shell; and

a sterile needle guide having a first part received in the passage of the rigid shell forming a sterility barrier between the rigid shell and the needle guide, and a second part configured to receive a needle.

2. The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein the sterile needle guide is capable of rotating about the first part received in the passage of the rigid shell relative to the sterile cover.

3. The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein the passage provides a sterility barrier between the first part of the sterile needle guide and the rigid shell.

4. The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein the rigid shell includes an acoustic window and a head of the probe is secured to the shell by a snap-fit or a press-fit.

5. A kit for positioning a needle during a medical procedure, comprising:

a sterile needle guide including a connector and a first sealing part provided with the connector;

a sterile shell comprising a rigid shell and a flexible sheath in a stowed configuration secured to the rigid shell, the rigid shell having an interior attachable to an ultrasound probe, a passage accessing the rigid shell interior configured to receive the connector, and a second sealing part provided with the passage;

wherein the first and second sealing parts cooperate to form a sterility barrier between the rigid shell and the needle guide when the connector is received in the passage.

6. The kit of claim 4 , wherein the first sealing part is an o-ring and the second sealing part is a cylindrical surface formed within the passage.

7. The kit of claim 5 , wherein when the connector is received in the passage, the connector is rotatable about the passage.

8. The kit of claim 7 , wherein the first and second sealing parts cooperate to form a detent for rotation of the needle guide about the passage.

9. The kit of claim 5 , wherein when the connector is received in the passage, the needle guide is configured for both retaining a needle in the needle guide and rotating the needle guide about the passage when finger pressure is applied to the needle guide.

10. The kit of claim 5 , wherein the passage further includes a surface configured to secure the connector in the passage.

11. The kit of claim 5 , wherein the connector forms a sleeve configured to receive a shaft of the ultrasound probe.

12. The kit of claim 5 wherein the kit is configured for use with a transverse-type ultrasound guidance system.

13. An ultrasound guidance system in combination with the kit of claim 5 , wherein an ultrasound probe including a shaft is received by the rigid shell interior such that the shaft is aligned with the passage, the connector is received in the passage and connected to the shaft, and the first and second sealing parts form a sterility barrier between the needle guide and the rigid shell.

14. A sterile cover, comprising:

a sterile rigid shell including a window adapted for transmitting ultrasonic signals from a probe received in the rigid shell and walls surrounding the window forming an opening having an interior for receiving the probe in the rigid shell, wherein the rigid shell opening for receiving the probe has a perimeter; and

a sterile flexible sheath configured in a stowed configuration, the flexible sheath having an edge sealed to the perimeter and configured to cover the probe, wherein the rigid shell includes a cylindrical passage configured to receive a cylindrical connector portion of the needle clip, the passage accessing the rigid shell interior and forming a sterility barrier between the rigid shell and the needle guide.

15. The sterile cover of claim 14 , wherein the rigid shell is configured for receiving a sterile needle clip.

16. The sterile cover of claim 14 , wherein the rigid shell includes a member for attaching a needle clip.

17. The sterile cover of claim 14 , wherein the connector portion includes a fastening part configured for attaching the needle clip to a positional encoder of the probe.

18. The sterile cover of claim 14 , wherein the sterile cover is configured for use with a transverse-type ultrasound guidance system.

19. The sterile cover of claim 14 , wherein the flexible sheath edge is sealed to the rigid shell opening by a bond, weld or press-fit.

20. A method for sterilizing an ultrasound probe, comprising the steps of:

providing a sterile cover comprising: (1) a rigid shell, the rigid shell having: a window adapted for transmitting ultrasonic signals from a probe received in the rigid shell; walls surrounding the window and forming an opening having an interior for receiving the probe, wherein the rigid shell opening has a perimeter; and (2) a sterile flexible sheath configured in a stowed configuration, the flexible sheath having an edge sealed to the perimeter and configured to cover the probe wherein the rigid shell includes a passage configured to receive a connector portion of a needle guide, the passage accessing the rigid shell interior;

receiving the head into the rigid shell;

attaching the connector portion of the needle guide to the passage of the shell wherein a sterility barrier between the interior of the shell and needle guide is formed;

and

pulling the sheath over the probe.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the attaching step further includes attaching the connector of the needle guide to a positional encoder of the probe.