Ultrasound probe with an integrated needle assembly and a computer program product, a method and a system for providing a path for inserting a needle of the ultrasound probe

Abstract

A device and system for and methods of using an ultrasound probe housing containing ultrasound probes configured to produce images inside the body of a patient for procedures requiring needle or probe insertion. The ultrasound probe housing can be configured with a guide channel cut-out or aperture between the ambient side and body side of a patient. A needle guide assembly may be pivotally connect internal to the guide channel cut-out or aperture of the ultrasound probe housing at a pivot point such that during use the needle enters the patient through the needle guide assembly within the ultrasound probe housing so that the needle can be visualized by the ultrasonic probes in real time. The ultrasound probe housing may also provide an adhesion or suction quality to the body side of the device to facilitate aspects of the invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an ultrasound device comprising an ultrasound probe housing that contains a plurality of probes;   at least one processor connected with the ultrasound device through a data interface and further connected to a display device; and   at least one memory unit that stores instructions for processing by the processor, the instructions being configured to cause the processor to:
 receive images of inside a body of a patient generated in accordance with reflected ultrasonic waves from the probes of the ultrasound probe housing; 
 process the images to identify one or more of an anatomical part of the body of the patient, a needle that has been inserted into the body of the patient, or an internal target body location in the body of the patient; 
 generate, based at least on the images and the identification, modified images in which a visual overlay is inserted, respectively, over or in place of one or more of the anatomical part, the needle or the internal target body location; and cause the modified images to be displayed by the display device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual overlay associated with each of the anatomical part, the needle and the internal target body location is a different color. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to generate the modified images by:
 changing an appearance of one or more of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle or the visual overlay corresponding to the internal target body location based on a distance or direction of the needle relative to the internal target body location; or   changing an appearance of one or more of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle or the visual overlay corresponding to the anatomical part based on a distance or direction of the needle relative to the anatomical part.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein changing the appearance of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle, the internal target body location, or the anatomical part of the body of the patient comprises at least one of:
 changing a color of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle, the internal target body location, or the anatomical part of the body of the patient; or   changing an intensity of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle, the internal target body location, or the anatomical part of the body of the patient.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 cause the images and the corresponding modified images to be concurrently displayed by the display device.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 responsive to user input, toggle between causing the images to be displayed by the display device and causing the modified images to be displayed by the display device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 responsive to user input, vary an opacity of the visual overlay corresponding to one or more of the anatomical part, the needle or the internal target body location.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to generate the modified images by:
 inserting a visual overlay corresponding to a desired path of the needle into the modified image.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to generate the modified images by:
 changing an appearance of one or more of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle or the visual overlay corresponding to the desired path of the needle based on a distance or direction of the needle relative to the desired path of the needle.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to generate the modified images by:
 inserting a descriptive label corresponding to the anatomical part, the needle or the internal body part.   
     
     
         11 . A method for providing guidance to an operator of an ultrasound device that comprises an ultrasound probe housing that contains a plurality of probes, the method comprising:
 receiving images of inside a body of a patient generated in accordance with reflected ultrasonic waves from the probes of the ultrasound probe housing;   process the images to identify a needle that has been inserted into the body of the patient and one or more of a desired path of the needle, an anatomical part of the body of the patient, or an internal target body location in the body of the patient;   generating a notification to the operator based on one or more of:
 a distance or direction of the needle relative to a location of the anatomical part; 
 a distance or direction of the needle relative to a location of the internal target body location; 
 a distance or direction of the needle relative to a location of the desired path of the needle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating modified images in which a visual overlay is inserted, respectively, over or in place of one or more of the needle, the desired path of the needle, the anatomical part, or the internal target body location; and   wherein generating the notification comprises changing an appearance of one or more of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle, the visual overlay corresponding to the desired path of the needle, the visual overlay corresponding to the anatomical part, or the visual overlay corresponding to the internal target body location.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein changing the appearance of one or more of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle, the visual overlay corresponding to the desired path of the needle, the visual overlay corresponding to the anatomical part, or the visual overlay corresponding to the internal target body location comprises:
 changing a color or intensity of one or more of the visual overlay corresponding to the needle, the visual overlay corresponding to the desired path of the needle, the visual overlay corresponding to the anatomical part, or the visual overlay corresponding to the internal target body location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the notification comprises generating an audible notification. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the notification comprises generating a tactile indicator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tactile indicator comprises a vibration of the ultrasound device or a component thereof or of a wearable worn by the operator. 
     
     
         17 . A method for providing guidance to an operator of an ultrasound device that comprises an ultrasound probe housing that contains a plurality of probes, the method comprising:
 receiving images of inside a body of a patient generated in accordance with reflected ultrasonic waves from the probes of the ultrasound probe housing;   receiving first user input selecting as a first frame of reference a first two-dimensional (2D) view associated with a first probe of the ultrasound probe housing;   generating first real-time images of anatomical parts of the body of the patient between the ultrasound probe housing and an internal target body location based on the first 2D view; and   cause the first real-time images to be displayed by a display device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein generating the first real-time images based on the first 2D view comprises:
 replicating the first 2D view to generate a replicated first 2D view; and   combining the first 2D view and the replicated first 2D view to generate a simulated three-dimensional (3D) image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 determining a location of a needle present in the first 2D view and the replicated first 2D view; and   utilizing interpolation to display the needle within the simulated 3D view.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving second user input selecting as a second frame of reference a second 2D view associated with a second probe of the ultrasound probe housing;   generating second real-time images of anatomical parts of the body of the patient between the ultrasound probe housing and an internal target body location based on the second 2D view; and   causing the second real-time images to be displayed by the display device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein causing the second real-time images to be displayed by the display device comprises:
 causing the first real-time images and the second real-time images to be concurrently displayed by the display device.