METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLED DEPLOYMENT OF NEEDLES IN TISSUE
Needles are deployed in tissue under direct ultrasonic or other imaging. To aid in deploying the needle, a visual needle guide is projected on to the image prior to needle deployment. Once the needle guide is properly aligned, the needle can be deployed. After needle deployment, a safety boundary and treatment region are projected on to the screen. After confirming that the safety boundary and treatment regions are sufficient, the patient can be treated using the needle.
1 . A method for deploying at least one needle in tissue, said method comprising:
deploying the needle in tissue;
providing an image of the tissue showing at least a portion of the needle and at least one anatomical feature;
overlaying the image with projected needle treatment information; and
evaluating the projected needle treatment information relative to a position of the anatomical feature.
2 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein providing an image comprises providing an image via ultrasound.
3 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein the needle is deployed from a probe.
4 . A method as in claim 3 , wherein the anatomical feature is selected from the group consisting of fibroids, tumors, and encapsulated or pseudoencapsulated masses.
5 . A method as in claim 3 , wherein the anatomical feature includes a fibroid.
6 . A method as in claim 5 , wherein the probe is positioned in a uterus and the needle is deployed to a location proximate or into the fibroid.
7 . A method as in claim 4 , wherein the anatomical feature further includes a serosa.
8 . A method as in claim 7 , wherein the needle information comprises a projected safety boundary.
9 . A method as in claim 7 , wherein the projected needle information includes at least a projected treatment boundary of a treatment effected through the needle.
10 . A method as in claim 8 , wherein evaluating comprises confirming that serosa is outside the projected safety boundary.
11 . A method as in claim 10 , wherein the projected safety boundary permits a distance between the needle and the serosa of no less than 0.5 cm.
12 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein the projected needle treatment information comprises a projected needle deployment path.
13 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein the projected needle treatment information comprises a projected therapy region.
14 . A method as in claim 1 , further comprising enabling a treatment device if sensitive anatomic features are outside of the safety boundary.
15 . A method as in claim 14 , wherein enabling comprises responding to a prompt from the treatment device asking if the sensitive anatomic structures are outside of the safety boundary.
16 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein providing an image comprises scanning the image from a transducer on a probe which carries the needle.
17 . A method as in claim 16 , wherein the transducer is fixed on the probe so that the image has a field of view which is fixed relative to the probe.
18 . A method as in claim 1 , further comprising administering a therapy through the needle after the needle has been deployed.
19 . A method as in claim 18 , wherein the therapy comprises delivering energy selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, microwave, high intensity focused ultrasound, liquid infusion, vapor, and cryotherapy to a target region in the tissue.
20 . A method as in claim 18 , wherein the therapy is administered through a radiofrequency power supply connected to the needle.
21 . A method as in claim 20 , further comprising enabling the power supply after evaluating the projected needle treatment.
22 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein the projected needle treatment information comprises a projected safety boundary.
23 . A method as in claim 1 , wherein the projected needle treatment information comprises a projected therapy region, a projected safety region and a region therebetween.
24 . A system for deploying a needle in tissue, said system comprising:
a probe having a deployable needle and an imaging transducer, wherein the needle is configured to be advanced into an image field produced by the imaging transducer, and a system controller including a screen for displaying the image produced by the transducer, wherein the system controller displays an overlay with projected needle treatment information on the screen.
25 . A system as in claim 24 , wherein the needle treatment information comprises a projected needle path, wherein a user can manipulate the probe to align the projected needle path with a target anatomy in the image field visible on the screen.
26 . A system as in claim 24 , wherein the system controller further includes a generator for producing a therapy to be delivered through the needle.
27 . A system as in claim 26 , wherein the therapy generator comprises a power supply adapted to deliver energy selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, microwave, high intensity focused ultrasound, liquid infusion, vapor, or cryotherapy.
28 . A system as in claim 26 , wherein the needle information comprises a projected treatment boundary.
29 . A system as in claim 26 , wherein the needle information comprises a projected safety boundary.
30 . A system as in claim 29 , wherein the projected safety boundary is at least 0.5 cm from the needle.
31 . A system as in claim 24 , wherein the system requires the user to confirm the actual needle position within the field of view on the screen before enabling a therapy.
32 . A system as in claim 24 , wherein the system updates the projected needle treatment information based on an actual needle position.
33 . A method for treating an anatomical feature in a uterus, said method comprising:
deploying at least one needle proximate the anatomical feature;
delivering radiofrequency energy through an exposed portion of the needle to the anatomical feature, wherein no exposed portion of the needle is closer than 0.5 cm to a serosa surrounding the uterus.
34 . A method as in claim 33 , wherein the anatomical feature is selected from the group consisting of fibroids, tumors, and encapsulated or pseudoencapsulated masses.
35 . A method as in claim 34 , wherein the anatomical feature includes a fibroid.
36 . A method as in claim 33 , wherein no portion of the needle is closer than 0.7 cm.
37 . A method as in claim 33 , wherein no portion of the needle is closer than 1 cm.