The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 05, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 03, 2003
Scott L. Ferguson, Vilonia, AR (US);
Gal Shafirstein, Little Rock, AR (US);
Milton Waner, Little Rock, AR (US);
Scott L. Ferguson, Vilonia, AR (US);
Gal Shafirstein, Little Rock, AR (US);
Milton Waner, Little Rock, AR (US);
Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR (US);
Abstract
A device to guide the placement of the catheter needle more accurately by placing the needle with a mechanical firing mechanism. The device is an integrated handheld unit comprising an ultrasonic probe with a miniature display and a mechanical firing mechanism that holds the catheter needle and deploys it into the target. The device is connected to an external ultrasound machine which provides the imaging for the device. The display provides a graphical user interface to assist in alignment with the target. The depth of placement of the catheter is set by moving a horizontal indicator over the target display using thumb switches on the handle of the device. The thumb switches are connected to a servo motor or the like that adjusts the angle at which the catheter is deployed. The servo motor simultaneously adjusts the distance of the catheter from the skin of the patient to compensate for the change in the length of the path to the target caused by the change in deployment angle. The catheter needle is deployed by a stored energy mechanism. The device may also include sensors to verify accurate placement of the catheter.