Abstract:
An apparatus and method for guiding a needle in conjunction with a biopsy using a medical imaging device, where a non-reusable needle guide, which is relatively inexpensive which grasps the sheathed bracket firm, and holds the same in a set position based upon a bullet-nose lock.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/065,029 filed on Sep. 11, 2002, entitled “METHOD AND DISPOSABLE APPARATUS FOR GUIDING NEEDLES” by the same inventors and assigned to the same assignee, which application is incorporated in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In recent years, handheld medical imaging transceivers, such as ultrasound and gamma ray transceivers, have been used extensively for various medical imaging situations. 
     In the past, the physician or medical professional typically will cover an ultrasound transceiver with a sterile sheath. Usually under the sheath is a mounting bracket attached to the transceiver. A needle guide is then typically attached over the sheath and coupled to the underlying bracket. 
     While these needle guides have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. First of all, these needle guides require considerable attention and hand-to-eye coordination to be properly used. Additionally, these types of needle guides are often relatively expensive. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatus for guiding needles in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for guiding a needle in an efficient manner. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to include a plastic spring-like member. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include, on the front side of the needle path, an enlarged base for guiding a needle into a grasping mechanism. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include an enlarged base on a backside of the needle path for protecting the sheath from puncture by the moving needle. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include a base-to-bracket attachment mechanism which is adapted for positive attachment to the bracket with a predetermined grasping force in a non-reusable manner. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in guiding needles. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for guiding needles, designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “physician burden-less” manner in a sense that the burden on a physician or other medical professional in guiding needles during the process of insertion into the needle guide, has been greatly reduced. Additionally, the system is carried out in an inexpensive manner in the sense that the use of plastic members for providing spring biasing for a needle grasping member is used to replace expensive metal springs. Finally, the present invention is carried out in a disposable manner in the sense that the base and the clamp used to couple to the sheathed bracket are designed to be used only once and then discarded. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is an apparatus and method including a needle guide with a plastic biasing member, enlarged base portions, and base-to-bracket locks which are non-reusable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cut-away side view of the apparatus of the present invention in a closed orientation. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the needle guide of  FIG. 1 , in an open orientation prior to closing. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a needle guide of  FIG. 2 , which has a top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area and a bottom enlarged sheath puncture protecting area. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the reverse side of the needle guide of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the needle guide of the present invention, which is configured to mate with a bracket different from the bracket depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a reverse side of the needle guide of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a needle guide, bracket and medical imaging transceiver system of the present invention generally designated  100 . The system  100  includes a medical imaging transceiver  102  which could be any type of imaging system or device, and a transceiver bracket  104  which is coupled to said medical imaging transceiver  102  for the purpose of facilitating coupling with needle guides and other instruments. Transceiver bracket  104  can be coupled to medical imaging transceiver  102  in any suitable manner, such as clamps, screws, adhesive, etc. Transceiver/bracket covering sterile sheath  106  is disposed about transceiver bracket  104  and medical imaging transceiver  102  in a well-known manner. Needle guide assembly  110  is shown having a movable base portion  120 , stationary base portion  130  and a needle grasping member  140 , all of which could be made of any suitable material; however, a plastic material is preferred. 
     Movable base portion  120  includes a bullet-nose receiving hole  122  therein which, when viewed through the cut-away portion outlined by cut-away line  121 , includes a bullet-nose removal inhibitor surface  123 . Movable base portion  120  also includes a movable base handle end  124  which pivots about movable base pivot point  126 . On an opposing end from movable base handle end  124  is movable base bracket grasping surface  128 , which is configured to grasp a surface of transceiver bracket  104  when movable base handle end  124  is disposed in a closed and locked orientation. 
     Needle guide assembly  110  includes stationary base portion  130 , which includes a stationary base biasing portion  132 , which has a stationary base bracket mating portion  134  and a stationary base spring biasing member  136 . Stationary base spring biasing member  136  is configured to provide a biasing force on needle grasping member  140 . Stationary base portion  130  further includes a stationary lock end  137  having a bullet-nose lock male member  139 . Bullet-nose lock male member  139  are well known in the art for providing positive attachment between items in a manner that separation of the items results in a destruction of the future capability of the bullet-nose lock male member  139  to firmly attach the items, which mates with bullet-nose removal inhibitor surface  123  of bullet-nose receiving hole  122  in movable base portion  120 . Stationary base portion  130  further includes a stationary base needle entrance-guiding channel  138  disposed along an outside top edge of stationary base portion  130 . 
     Disposed above stationary base portion  130  is needle grasping member  140 , which has a needle grasping end  142  with a needle receiving void  144  therein disposed in axial alignment with stationary base needle entrance-guiding channel  138 , so that a needle can be simultaneously in both stationary base needle entrance-guiding channel  138  and needle receiving void  144 . Needle grasping member  140  includes a needle grasping member handle end  146 , which when depressed toward stationary base biasing portion  132 , causes needle grasping end  142  to pivot about needle grasping member pivot point  148 . Stationary base spring biasing member  136  provides a resisting force upon needle grasping member handle end  146 , which urges needle grasping end  142  into contact with stationary base portion  130 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown needle guide assembly  110  of  FIG. 1  wherein movable base portion  120  is oriented in an open position prior to being closed and locked. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of the needle guide assembly  110  of  FIG. 2 . Stationary base portion  130  is shown having a top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  302  and a bottom enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  304 . Top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  302  and bottom enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  304  may be optional features, depending upon the particular needs of a particular application. Since the transceiver/bracket covering sterile sheath  106  ( FIG. 1 ) is disposed adjacent to stationary base portion  130 , the top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  302  and the bottom enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  304  perform the functions of shielding transceiver/bracket covering sterile sheath  106  from puncture at a location of transceiver/bracket covering sterile sheath  106  where risk of puncture by the needle during insertion is highest. In a preferred embodiment, top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  302  and bottom enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  304  extend at least one-fourth (¼) of an inch beyond the needle grasping member. In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  302  extends at least three-eighths (⅜) of an inch beyond the needle grasping member  140 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the reverse side of the needle guide of  FIG. 1 , in a closed and locked position. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention where the components labeled the same as in  FIGS. 1-4  are similar in function, but have differing shape and orientation. 
       FIG. 6  is a reverse side of the needle guide of  FIG. 5  which is obtained by rotating the device of  FIG. 5  so that the opposite side of needle grasping member handle end  146  is found on the left side of the drawing. 
     In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described and shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , could function as follows: 
     A transceiver bracket  104  is mounted on a medical imaging transceiver  102 . A transceiver/bracket covering sterile sheath  106  is pulled over the medical imaging transceiver  102  and transceiver bracket  104  combination. Stationary base portion  130  is mated with transceiver bracket  104  by first engaging stationary base bracket mating portion  134  with transceiver bracket  104 , and then movable base handle end  124  is pivoted so that movable base bracket grasping surface  128  contacts the sheathed transceiver bracket  104 , and stationary lock end  137  is disposed adjacent the movable base handle end  124 . Bullet-nose lock male member  139  is thereby inserted into bullet-nose receiving hole  122  and mates with bullet-nose removal inhibitor surface  123 . A needle is placed against top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  302  and moved into stationary base needle entrance-guiding channel  138  (wherein said needle entrance guiding structure is a V-shaped channel disposed in said top enlarged sheath puncture protecting area where an apex of said V-shaped channel is directed toward said needle retention location) where it is readily guided into needle-receiving void  144 . The needle exits needle-receiving void  144 , traverses bottom enlarged sheath puncture protecting area  304 , and is then available for interaction with a patient. Once the procedure is finished, the needle can be removed by pressing needle grasping member handle end  146 , which causes needle grasping end  142  to move from stationary base portion  130 , thereby permitting disengagement of the needle from the needle guide assembly  110 . 
     Throughout this description, reference is made to a medical imaging system, because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used in connection with medical imaging; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to imaging, and should be hereby construed to include other medical tools, equipment and methodologies as well, where it is desirable to guide a needle. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.