Patent ID: 8774901
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: positioning a mobile needle positioning device at a location relative to an imaging device when a movable patient cradle of the imagine device is at a location outside of an imaging space of the imaging device, the mobile needle positioning device having a needle guide; after the positioning, actuating the mobile needle positioning device to cause the needle guide to be moved to a fixed target location along a directional vector such that a needle can be inserted through the needle guide at the target location, through an insertion point on a patient disposed on the patient cradle of the imaging device, and into a target point within the patient, the directional vector being determined based at least in part on image data received from the imaging device; and after the actuating and while the needle guide is at the fixed target location, inserting a needle through an opening defined by the needle guide along the directional vector and into the patient at the insertion point on the patient and into the target point within the patient.