DEVICES FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING

• Main Authors: Brandon, Alissa, Knake, Mollie, Chumo, Benedicta, Kerr, Shawn
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.10.2020
• Subjects: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; SURGERY

The present invention discloses a medical device comprising: a shaft including a working channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the working channel includes a narrowed portion; an ultrasound sensor disposed radially outward of a distal portion of the working channel such that the ultrasound sensor at least partially surrounds the working channel; an instrument translatable from the proximal end to the distal end of the shaft, wherein a distal end of the instrument has a unique radial location upon exiting the distal end of the shaft, wherein the instrument comprises a flexible material and has a preset curved configuration, such that the distal end of the instrument has a substantially straight configuration within the working channel and the curved configuration outside the working channel; and the shaft including an echogenic area, wherein the echogenic area has a fixed position to the working channel and has an echogenic signature that is distinct from a remainder of the shaft, and wherein the distal end of the instrument comes within a field of view of the ultrasound sensor when the instrument exits the working channel to adopt the preset curved configuration.