Patent ID: 9655591
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An ultrasonic probe assembly comprising: a probe housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a face oriented at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal and distal ends; an ultrasonic transducer array disposed on the face such that the ultrasonic transducer array is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the probe housing, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is configured to operate at a center frequency of 20 MHz or greater, and further configured to produce a plurality of ultrasonic waves that form an ultrasonic imaging plane; a needle guide having an aperture and a positioning feature, wherein the needle guide is configured to guide a needle through the aperture toward the ultrasonic imaging plane such that the needle is disposed within the ultrasonic imaging plane when the needle is extended distally through the needle guide; and a needle guide alignment feature disposed on a surface of the probe housing and configured to maintain an alignment of the aperture of the needle guide with the ultrasonic imaging plane, wherein the needle guide alignment feature is configured to engage the positioning feature on the needle guide such that the needle guide is limited from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the probe housing.