US 12,232,909 B2
Methods of performing an ultrasound procedure
Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to Bard Access Systems, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed by Bard Access Systems, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,570.
Application 18/524,570 is a continuation of application No. 17/466,832, filed on Sep. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,890,139.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/074,359, filed on Sep. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0090872 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/4427 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4455 (2013.01); A61B 8/4472 (2013.01); A61B 8/4488 (2013.01); A61B 8/461 (2013.01); A61B 8/467 (2013.01); A61B 8/56 (2013.01); A61B 17/3403 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of performing an ultrasound procedure, comprising:
grasping a portable ultrasound system comprising:
a case configured to removably hold a handheld computer, the case including a posterior opening configured to frame a camera of the handheld computer, an anterior opening configured to frame a display of the handheld computer, and a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening;
a probe head coupled to the case, the probe head including an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the rechargeable battery; and
a needle guide coupled to a needle-guide holder of the probe head;
capturing textual data via the camera of the handheld computer from one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes and capturing graphical data via the camera of the handheld computer from images or videos prior to ultrasound imaging, the textual data and the graphical data including technical details of a needle used with the portable ultrasound system;
moving the probe head over a skin surface of a patient after capturing the textual data and the graphical data, the probe head emitting generated ultrasound signals into the patient from the array of ultrasonic transducers, and receiving reflected ultrasound signals from the patient; and
inserting the needle into an anatomical target of the patient under the probe head using the needle guide, wherein inserting includes viewing the display for guidance.