intravenous access and guidance system, and ultrasound sensor assembly

摘要

GENTLE ACCESS AND DIRECTION SYSTEM, AND, ULTRASOUND SENSOR ASSEMBLY. The invention relates to the direction, positioning, and placement confirmation of intravascular devices such as catheters, stylets, guidewires, and other flexible elongate bodies that are typically percutaneously inserted into the venous or arterial vasculature. Currently, these goals are achieved using x-ray imaging and, in some cases, ultrasound imaging. This invention provides a method for substantially reducing the need for related imaging to place an intravascular catheter or other device. Reduced imaging needs also reduce the amount of radiation patients undergo, reduce the time required for the procedure, and decrease the cost of the procedure by reducing the time required in the radiology department. One aspect of the invention includes, for example, an intravenous access and targeting system. The system comprises: an elongated flexible limb adapted and configured to access a patient's venous vasculature; a sensor disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to provide non-imaging in vivo ultrasound information of the patient's venous vasculature; a processor configured to receive and process non-imaging in vivo ultrasound information of the patient's venous vasculature provided by the sensor and to provide position information regarding the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member within the patient's venous vasculature; and an output device adapted to output position information from the processor.