Patent ID: 7976469

Claim:
A percutaneous needle guide comprising: an indicator element including a pointer for pointing a percutaneous needle to a needle entry site on an epidermis; a joining structure coupled to the indicator element, the joining structure configured to reversibly attach the guide to a medical scanning device so that, when the guide is attached to the medical scanning device, the indicator element is laterally offset from a transducer surface of the medical scanning device and from an external sidewall of the medical scanning device, and the pointer is oriented so as to point in a direction toward the medical scanning device, the joining structure including a sidewall and a spring member, the sidewall forming a receptacle configured to receive the medical scanning device and including a first opening, for insertion of the medical scanning device into the receptacle, a second opening, through which the transducer surface of the medical scanning device is exposed for scanning when the medical scanning device is inserted into the receptacle, and opposing first and second portions that each extend between the first and second openings, and the spring member being mounted against the first portion of the joining structure sidewall and being configured to interface with the external sidewall of the medical scanning device when the medical scanning device is inserted into the receptacle; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the joining structure for moving the indicator element, with respect to the medical scanning device, when the guide is attached to the medical scanning device, the adjustment mechanism extending through the second portion of the joining structure sidewall, to contact the external sidewall of the medical scanning device, opposite the interface with the spring member, and including a knob located in proximity to an external surface of the second portion of the joining structure sidewall; wherein adjustment of the knob of the adjustment mechanism is configured to cause the joining structure to move with respect to the medical scanning device, when the medical device is inserted into the receptacle, against a resistive force of the spring member, thereby moving the indicator element in a direction approximately parallel to a plane that is approximately tangent with an apex of the transducer surface of the medical scanning device and approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the medical scanning device, when the guide is attached to the medical scanning device.