Patent ID: 8403859
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A device configured to be used in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising: an elongate body having no exterior delivery catheter or sheath, the elongate body configured to facilitate entry of a catheter through skin tissue of a human body, the elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body having a tapered tip at the distal end being configured to be directly inserted into a target site within the human body during use of the device and having at least one longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof; a first imaging element disposed in one of said at least one longitudinal lumen, said at least one longitudinal lumen having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer being located at an outer periphery of the tapered tip of the elongate body at the distal end of the at least one longitudinal lumen, said first ultrasound transducer configured to provide a forward-directed imaging zone from the distal end to include the tapered tip of the elongate body, a distal tip of the tapered tip of the elongate body being a most distal portion of the elongate body and being forward of the first ultrasound transducer, the first ultrasound transducer being configured for forwardly guiding the device from a point of entry of the catheter through the tissue of the human body to the target site within the human body during use of the device; said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body to include the distal tip of the tapered tip of the elongate body; and a removable introducer needle disposed at an end-on aperture within the distal tip of the tapered tip of the elongate body during use of the device and being within said forward-directed imaging zone of said ultrasound transducer, said introducer needle and said device configured to be introduced into said human body substantially simultaneously during use of the device, said introducer needle being configured under ultrasound forward-directed imaging guidance, to puncture the human body proximate to said target site and to directly access and to puncture said target site including an internal body wall within the human body during use of the device via said forward-directed imaging zone of said ultrasound transducer.