Sonographically guided transvaginal or transrectal pelvic abscess drainage using trocar method and biopsy guide attachment
View Patent ↗A needle biopsy guide system is disclosed for attachment to an endoluminal ultrasound probe or like sonographic instrument. The device includes a biopsy-guide attachment that allows for trocar catheter placement for abscess drainage or like procedures, using the transvaginal or transrectal route under sonographic control. The device has a base portion, which is attachable to an ultrasound probe. A removable retainer is provided that slides into the base unit to hold a biopsy needle in place. A physician may locate the target area in the body with the ultrasound probe, insert the biopsy needle into the target area, and then remove the insert (retainer) from the base unit and ultrasound probe, and leave the biopsy needle in place in the body.
1. A needle guide for use with an imaging probe, comprising:
an elongate guide body configured to mount to the imaging probe;
the guide body having a groove running generally longitudinally along a substantial portion of the length of the guide body;
the groove having a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally along the groove;
wherein the groove is configured to guide translation of a needle along the guide body to a treatment location in a body lumen of a patient;
an elongate retainer; and
a slot running adjacent to the groove, the slot configured to receive the retainer;
wherein the slot is located substantially parallel and external to the groove such that the retainer, when retained in the slot, blocks the longitudinal opening along at least a substantial portion of the length of the longitudinal opening;
wherein the retainer slideably mates with the slot such that the retainer may be selectively removed from the guide body to expose the groove, thereby allowing the needle to be separated from the guide body and imaging probe while the needle remains located at the treatment location.
2. The needle guide as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guide body comprises an inner surface that conforms to the shape of the imaging probe.
3. The needle guide as recited in claim 2 , wherein the guide body comprises a fastening mechanism to secure the needle guide to the imaging probe.
4. The needle guide as recited in claim 3 , wherein the fastening mechanism clamps to an external surface of the imaging probe.
5. The needle guide as recited in claim 2 :
wherein the guide body comprises an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and
wherein the groove opens longitudinally out into the outer surface via the opening adjacent said slot such that, when the retainer is not installed in the needle guide, the needle may be laterally repositioned from the groove to a location outside the needle guide.
6. The needle guide as recited in claim 2 :
wherein the guide body has a proximal end and a distal end; and
wherein the retainer is configured to be installed in the needle guide by positioning the retainer in an axial slot opening at the proximal end of the guide body, and sliding the retainer in the slot longitudinally along the guide body toward the distal end of the guide body.
7. The needle guide as recited in claim 6 , wherein the slot terminates at a stop at the distal end of the guide body such that the retainer is restrained from forward motion past the stop and the distal end.
8. The needle guide as recited in claim 6 :
wherein the groove emanates at a proximal opening of the proximal end and continues through the guide body to terminate at a distal opening at the distal end; and
wherein the guide body comprises a depression adjacent to the proximal opening of the groove to allow manipulation of the needle.
9. A method for inserting a biopsy needle at a treatment location in a patient's body, comprising:
attaching a needle guide to an imaging probe;
positioning the needle guide and imaging probe at the treatment location in the patient's body;
guiding the biopsy needle longitudinally along a groove in the needle guide to the treatment location;
the groove having a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally along the length of the groove;
slideably removing a retainer along a slot in the needle guide from a stowed position in the needle guide to expose the longitudinal opening in the groove;
wherein the slot is located parallel and external to the groove such that the retainer, in the stowed position, blocks the longitudinal opening along at least a substantial portion of the length of the longitudinal opening; and
separating the biopsy needle from the needle guide by laterally pulling the biopsy needle out of the exposed groove through the longitudinal opening.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
removing the needle guide and biopsy probe from the treatment location while the biopsy needle remains at the location.
11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein attaching a needle guide to an imaging probe comprises attaching the needle guide to an ultrasound transducer.
12. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein attaching a needle guide to an imaging probe comprises securing the needle guide to the imaging probe with a fastening mechanism.
13. The method as recited in claim 9 :
wherein the retainer, in the stowed position, is held in a dovetail slot adjacent to the groove, such that the biopsy needle is retained in the needle guide when the retainer is in the stowed position, and
wherein the needle is free to laterally advance away from the needle guide when the retainer is in a retracted position.
14. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the biopsy needle is guided to the treatment location in an endorectal procedure.
15. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the biopsy needle is guided to the treatment location in an endovaginal procedure.
16. An apparatus for guiding a needle along an imaging probe to a treatment location in a patient's body, comprising:
an elongate guide body configured to mount to the exterior surface of an imaging probe;
the guide body having a groove comprising a longitudinal opening spanning an exterior surface of the guide body;
wherein the groove is configured to guide translation of a surgical needle longitudinally along the guide body to a treatment location in a body lumen of a patient;
a slot spanning adjacent and exterior to the groove along the exterior surface of the guide body,
wherein the slot is configured to house the retainer so as to enclose said longitudinal opening when the retainer is disposed within the slot; and
wherein the retainer slideably mates with the slot such that the retainer may be removed from the guide body to expose the groove, thereby allowing the surgical needle to be separated from the guide body and imaging probe while the needle remains located at the treatment location.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , wherein the guide body comprises an inner surface that conforms to the shape of the imaging probe.
18. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , wherein the guide body comprises a fastening mechanism to secure the apparatus to the imaging probe.
19. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , wherein the imaging probe comprises an ultrasound transducer.
20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 , wherein the slot terminates at a stop at the distal end of the guide body such that the retainer is restrained from forward motion past the stop and the distal end.
21. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 :
wherein the groove emanates at a proximal opening of the proximal end and continues through the guide body to terminate at a distal opening at the distal end; and
wherein the guide body comprises a depression adjacent to the proximal opening of the groove to allow manipulation of the needle.
22. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , wherein the groove opens longitudinally out into the outer surface via the slot such that, when the retainer is not installed within the guide body, the needle may be laterally repositioned from the groove to a location outside the guide body.
23. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 :
wherein the guide body has a proximal end and a distal end; and
wherein the retainer is installed in the guide body by positioning the retainer in an axial slot opening at the proximal end of the guide body, and sliding the retainer in the slot longitudinally along the guide body toward the distal end of the guide body.