Patent ID: 8147414

Claim:
A. system for use in a minimally invasive medical procedure comprising a manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly configured to provide a transducer range of imaging a human body from a skin surface of the human body when in use, the manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly for wirelessly communicating with a remote workstation including a display wherein said assembly comprises at least one transducer element for collecting ultrasound images within the transducer imaging range, the manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly further comprising: a motor configured for rotating said at least one transducer element responsive to motor control data received from said remote workstation, the motor configured to rotate the at least one transducer in a plane parallel to a body part of the human body to be imaged when said manipulatable transducer assembly is located at the external human body skin surface during use, and a housing for said at least one transducer element and said motor, said housing having a relatively smooth surface configured for fixation to said external human body skin surface; and the system further comprising an image guided catheter configured for internal human body imaging structurally interconnected to said manipulatable ultrasound transducer assembly, the image guided catheter for communicating with said remote workstation including said display, the image guided catheter comprising an elongate body having a tapered tip at a distal end of the elongate body and an ultrasound transducer element located at an outer periphery of the tapered tip of the elongate body and oriented to provide a forward imaging zone, the forward imaging zone including an image of an insertable needle extending from an end aperture at the distal end of the tapered tip.