US 12,303,319 B2
Intravascular ultrasound needle guide
Michael T. Naumann, San Diego, CA (US); and Thomas J. Brannigan, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Advanced Access Solutions, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by Advanced Access Solutions, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on May 31, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/428,832.
Application 16/428,832 is a continuation of application No. 14/548,895, filed on Nov. 20, 2014, granted, now 10,307,135.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/906,860, filed on Nov. 20, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2019/0282203 A1, Sep. 19, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01)
CPC A61B 8/0841 (2013.01) [A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 8/445 (2013.01); A61B 17/3403 (2013.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3413 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A unitary probe for performing an intravascular medical procedure that includes penetrating a vein and tissue and/or organ outside the vein, the unitary probe comprising:
a flexible needle configured to be advanced down a needle guide and out a distal opening of the needle guide so as to puncture through the vein and the tissue and/or organ; and
a catheter and the needle guide, the catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising an ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic probe comprising an ultrasonic array configured to provide a visualization plane parallel to the ultrasonic probe, the needle guide comprising a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a proximal opening and the distal opening, the needle guide being configured to direct the distal portion of the flexible needle in line with the visualization plane of the ultrasonic array,
wherein the needle guide is permanently fixed to an exterior surface of the catheter forming the unitary probe, the needle guide being prevented from at least relative movement along a longitudinal axis of the catheter,
wherein the ultrasonic array is fixed in alignment with the needle guide and prevented from rotating relative to the needle guide, and
wherein the needle guide has a distal portion, the distal portion having an outer surface angled away from the catheter so as to provide a visual guide of the location where the needle will puncture the vein and the tissue and/or organ when advanced out of the distal portion.