NEEDLE GUIDE FOR ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FREEHAND BIOPSY AND/OR ABLATION NEEDLE INSERTION

摘要

An instrument guide (334) is attachable to an ultrasound imaging probe (304) to guide a needle. The instrument guide comprises a length (404), a width (406) and a height (408), a coupler (336) configured to couple the instrument guide to the ultrasound imaging probe, and a single elongate needle guide slot (410) configured to guide placement of the needle for an ultrasound-guided procedure. In another instance, the instrument guide is attached to the probe via a coupler (336). A method includes attaching a needle guide to an ultrasound imaging probe, wherein the needle guide includes a single elongate needle guide slot configured to guide placement of a needle during an ultrasound-guided needle placement procedure, positioning the probe relative to tissue of interest, and placing a needle at the tissue of interest using the needle guide.