US 12,303,321 B2
Ultrasound probe with an integrated needle assembly and a computer program product, a method and a system for providing a path for inserting a needle of the ultrasound probe
Paul Adams, Vero Beach, FL (US); and Christopher Vetter, Dublin, OH (US)
Assigned to DANDELION TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Vero Beach, FL (US)
Filed by Dandelion Technologies LLC, Vero Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/774,593.
Application 18/774,593 is a continuation of application No. 18/322,394, filed on May 23, 2023, granted, now 12,097,069.
Application 18/322,394 is a continuation of application No. 17/461,468, filed on Aug. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,701,083, issued on Jul. 18, 2023.
Application 17/461,468 is a continuation of application No. 16/445,355, filed on Jun. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,129,588, issued on Sep. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0366179 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 8/0841 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4254 (2013.01); A61B 8/4444 (2013.01); A61B 8/483 (2013.01); A61B 8/5253 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3413 (2013.01); A61B 2017/347 (2013.01); A61B 2090/067 (2016.02)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device, comprising:
an ultrasound probe housing having an ambient side and a body side, the ultrasound probe housing containing a plurality of ultrasound probes configured to generate ultrasound waves, wherein the ultrasound waves are configured to produce images of inside a body of a patient, and wherein the plurality of ultrasound probes are positioned to provide a field of view that is at least in part beneath the body side of the ultrasound probe housing; and
a needle guide assembly that is connected to the ultrasound probe housing and adapted to receive a needle that is slidable in the needle guide assembly for insertion into the body of the patient such that the needle is in the field of view of the plurality of ultrasound probes upon insertion into the body of the patient;
wherein the plurality of ultrasound probes includes a set of ultrasound probes that are positioned non-perpendicular to the body side of the ultrasound probe housing such that a direction of ultrasound waves generated by each of the set of ultrasound probes is toward a site of penetration of the needle into the body of the patient,
wherein the set of ultrasound probes includes:
a first ultrasound probe that is offset at a first angle from perpendicular to the body side of the ultrasound probe housing; and
a second ultrasound probe that is offset at a second angle from perpendicular to the body side of the ultrasound probe housing, and
wherein the first angle is different than the second angle.