MEDICAL DEVICE ALIGNMENT
A device and method for aligning medical devices is disclosed. A biopsy device having a handpiece, an elongated hollow needle with a lateral tissue receiving port, and an apparatus for providing a guide path, such as a light apparatus, is described. The light apparatus can provide visible light in a generally planar form, and the hollow needle can be aligned with the plane of light provided by the light apparatus. The light guide path provides a visible path along the skin of a patient, and the path can be used to align the needle of the biopsy device with a separate, hand held probe, such as an ultrasound probe used in ultrasound imaging.
1 . A biopsy device for obtaining a tissue sample from a patient, the device comprising:
an handpiece;
an elongated needle extending proximally from the handpiece; and
a light source adapted to project a guide path on the patient.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source provides a guide path aligned with the elongated needle.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises at least one diode.
4 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a laser.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source provides a generally planar light beam.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source provides a guide path having a width less than a width of the elongated needle.
7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source provides a guide path having a maximum width less than about 5.0 millimeters.
8 . The device of claim 7 wherein the light source provides a guide path having a width of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm.
9 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source provides a guide path having a width between about 5 mm and about 10 mm.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a laser line generator.
11 . A biopsy device for obtaining a tissue sample from a patient, the device comprising:
an handpiece;
an elongated needle extending proximally from the handpiece, the needle having a closed distal end and a lateral tissue receiving opening spaced proximally from the closed distal end; and
a light source adapted to project a plane of light generally parallel to the elongated needle.
12 . The biopsy device of claim 11 wherein the light source is disposed on the handpiece.
13 . The biopsy device of claim 11 wherein light source is adapted to project a plane of light which is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the needle.
14 . A biopsy system for use in connection with a patient, the system comprising:
a handheld biopsy device;
a handheld imaging probe; and
a guide for aligning the biopsy device and
the probe without physically connecting the biopsy device and the probe.
15 . The device of claim 14 wherein the handheld biopsy device comprises an elongated needle.
16 . The device of claim 14 wherein the handheld imaging probe is an ultrasound probe.