Invasive instrument and method of monitoring the alignment of the instrument with a visible light beam

摘要

The present invention relates to an invasive instrument (400), such as a biopsy needle, syringe or drill, being adapted to be guided by an energy beam (66) such as a laser beam along a predefined line of sight path (65) toward a subsurface target (50). The invasive instrument (400) is adapted for use in conjunction with an energy beam targeting and directing system, which directs an energy beam (66) in a line of sight path (65) toward a target. The invasive instrument (400) includes a means (440) for percutaneously accessing a subsurface target (50), an energy conducting portion (430) and an energy responsive means (425) interposed between the means (440) for percutaneously accessing a subsurface target (50) and the energy conducting portion (430). The invention also relates to a method, whereby an operator monitors the energy responsive means (425) for a visual indication of alignment of the instrument (400) with the predefined line of sight path, while advancing the means (425) for percutaneously accessing the subsurface target (50) along the line of sight path (65) toward the target.