US 12,295,781 B2
Systems, methods, and devices directed to ultrasonic needle positioning apparatus
Liem Phuc Quang Ta, Anaheim Hills, CA (US)
Filed by Ultrasertion Corporation, Anaheim, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/810,555.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/218,191, filed on Jul. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0000462 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/0841 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3403 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3413 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for inserting a needle into a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a base, the base having a cavity for receiving an ultrasound probe;
a finger receiver on the base, the finger receiver configured to allow a user to insert a finger into the finger receiver, and the finger receiver configured to allow the user to position the apparatus with the finger;
a swing arm pivotably coupled to the base at a pivot point, the pivot point located at a distal end of the swing arm and the swing arm extending proximally from the pivot point along an axis;
a printed circuit board (PCB) board positioned inside the swing arm and extending parallel to the axis;
a first linear position sensing track mounted on the PCB board and extending parallel to the axis comprising a first plurality of active electrodes;
a second linear position sensing track mounted on the PCB board and extending parallel to the axis comprising a second plurality of active electrodes;
an angle sensor disposed about the pivot point;
a needle guide slidably mounted to the first linear position sensing track configured to move along the first linear position sensing track comprising a first plurality of passive electrodes;
an insertion depth slider slidably mounted to the second linear position sensing track configured to move along the second linear position sensing track comprising a second plurality of passive electrodes;
a power source;
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith; and
one or more processors configured to execute the program instructions to cause the apparatus to:
prompt the user to measure a length of the needle;
determine, using the first linear position sensing track and the needle guide, the length of the needle by measuring capacitance with the first plurality of active electrodes and the first plurality of passive electrodes to determine the linear position of the needle guide;
prompt the user to set a target insertion depth for the needle;
adjust, using the second linear position sensing track and the insertion depth slider, the target insertion depth of the needle by measuring capacitance with the second plurality of active electrodes and the second plurality of passive electrodes to determine the linear position of the insertion depth slider;
determine, using the angle sensor, an insertion angle, wherein the insertion angle is an angle of the swing arm with respect to the base;
prompt the user to insert the needle into the patient;
based at least in part on the needle length and the insertion angle, determine that the user has inserted the needle to the target insertion depth; and
provide a first indication to the user that the needle has been inserted to the target insertion depth.