Interventional deployment and imaging system

Abstract

Needle deployment and imaging system includes a sheath, an imaging core, and interventional core. The imaging core and interventional core are received in first and second axial passages in the sheath and at least one of said cores will be removable and replaceable within the sheath. The imaging core may be extended from the sheath or be sealed within the first axial passage of the sheath. The interventional core will typically be advanced laterally or axially from a location near the distal end of the sheath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging system for minimally invasive surgery, the imaging system comprising:
 an imaging core having a proximal end and a distal end, the imaging core comprising a handle portion at the proximal end and an imaging transducer at the distal end,   wherein the imaging core is configured to be removably coupled to an interventional core so that the imaging and interventional cores are in parallel with one another,   wherein the imaging core is configured to be removably coupled to the interventional core via a sheath coupled to the imaging transducer, the sheath having an axial passage through which at least a portion of the interventional core is advanced.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising the sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging core is removably coupled to the sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising the interventional core. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the interventional core comprises a tissue-penetrating element which is axially reciprocatable relative to the sheath. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein a distal end of the tissue-penetrating element is adapted to extend in a distally forward direction. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein a distal end of the tissue-penetrating element is adapted to extend in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the tissue-penetrating element comprises an electrode adapted to deliver electrical current to tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the tissue-penetrating element comprises a hollow needle adapted to deliver substances to tissue or associated vasculature. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the imaging core is deflectable. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the imaging core is deflectable via a control on the handle portion. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging core is flexible over at least its distal end. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging core is adapted to image in a distally forward direction. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging core is adapted to image in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging core comprises an ultrasonic transducer adapted for imaging. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a phased array of transducer elements.