Granted Patent B2

US 12,575,892 · App. 17/845,818 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Inventors: Steffan Sowards (Salt Lake City, UT); William Robert McLaughlin (Bountiful, UT); Anthony K. Misener (Bountiful, UT); Shayne Messerly (Kaysville, UT)

Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.

A61B34/20A61B8/0841A61B8/085A61B8/465A61B17/3403A61B90/13A61B2017/3413A61B2034/107A61B2034/2051

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . An ultrasound imaging system configured to guide medical device insertion, comprising:

an ultrasound probe comprising:

an ultrasound generation device configured to detect one or more anatomical targets within a target area;

one or more projectors configured to project one or more icons onto a skin surface within the target area, wherein the one or more icons include:

an insertion site for a medical device; and

a depth extending from the insertion site to the one or more anatomical targets; and

a console coupled to the ultrasound probe and in communication with each of the ultrasound generation device and the one or more projectors, the console configured to generate the one or more icons.

2 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe includes one or more sensors configured to detect and track a location and an orientation of the medical device within the target area, the one or more sensors in communication with the console.

3 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect and track the location and orientation of the medical device using a magnetic signature of the medical device.

4 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 3 , wherein the orientation of the medical device includes an angle of trajectory of the medical device in relation to the ultrasound probe.

5 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the console includes:

one or more processors;

an energy source;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

a plurality of logic modules.

6 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of logic modules, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to perform operations including:

receiving ultrasound signals from the ultrasound probe;

detecting the one or more anatomical targets within the target area;

detecting and tracking a location and an orientation of the medical device within the target area;

determining an insertion site within the target area to access the one or more anatomical targets;

calculating an insertion depth extending from the insertion site to the one or more anatomical targets along an angle of trajectory of the medical device;

generating the one or more icons; and

projecting the one or more icons onto the skin surface within the target area.

7 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein the insertion site is determined at a specific location within the target area relative to the ultrasound probe.

8 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein the insertion site is determined based on a pre-defined insertion depth within the target area.

9 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein the insertion site is determined based on one or more pre-determined angles of trajectory of the medical device.

10 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more projectors include one or more lasers.

11 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more icons include icons having a shape, a size, a color and an orientation in relation to either the ultrasound probe or a user.

12 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more icons correspond to the insertion site and a calculated insertion depth from the insertion site to the one or more anatomical targets along an angle of trajectory of the medical device.

13 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a needle.

14 . The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more anatomical targets include one or more blood vessels within the target area.

15 . A method of detecting and accessing an anatomical target, comprising:

detecting the anatomical target within a target area;

detecting a medical device within the target area;

determining an insertion site within the target area to access the anatomical target;

calculating an insertion depth to the anatomical target of the insertion site;

generating one or more icons corresponding to the insertion site, the one or more icons including the insertion depth to the anatomical target;

projecting the one or more icons on the target area; and

accessing the anatomical target at the insertion site.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein detecting the anatomical target within the target area includes detecting the anatomical target with an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound generation device configured to generate and detect ultrasound signals, the ultrasound probe in communication with a console configured to receive the ultrasound signals.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein detecting the medical device within the target area includes one or more sensors in communication with the console and coupled to the ultrasound probe, the one or more sensors detecting a location and an orientation of the medical device with respect to the ultrasound probe.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more sensors detect a unique magnetic signature of the medical device.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more sensors detect an angle of trajectory of the medical device in relation to the ultrasound probe.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein determining the insertion site within the target area includes a console determining the insertion site.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (302)