A guidance system for guiding insertion of a needle into a body of a patient utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. The guidance system can include an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of the internal body portion target, such as a blood vessel. The imaging device can be configured to provide at least one indication of status via sensory feedback based on a determined position of the needle, for example via a plurality of light-emitting diodes located on the device. One or more sensors can be included with the probe that can sense a magnetic field associated with the needle. The system may include a processor that can receive magnetic field data sensed by the at-least-one sensor to determine the position of the needle. The system can also include a display that depicts the determined position of the needle.

Systems and methods for aiding users in viewing, assessing and analyzing images, especially images of lumens and medical devices contained within the lumens. Systems and methods for interacting with images of lumens and medical devices, for example through a graphical user interface.

Disclosed herein is a system that includes an ultrasound imaging probe having a first optical fiber integrated therein and a console optically coupled with the ultrasound imaging probe via a first elongate member. The console includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon logic, that when executed by the one or more processors, causes operations that can include providing an incident light signal to the first optical fiber via the first elongate member, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the incident light from the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, processing the reflected light signals to determine a first three-dimensional (3D) shape extending along a length including at least portions of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and causing rendering of an image of the first 3D shape on a display of the medical system.

An implant comprises a wall that surrounds a lumen. A delivery tool comprises a catheter, a control assembly, and an ultrasound tool. The catheter is transluminally advanceable into a subject, and has a distal opening. The implant can be delivered via the catheter. The control assembly can advance at least a portion of the wall out of the distal opening, and can steer the catheter to place the portion against a site of a tissue of the subject, the site disposed distally from the portion and opposite the distal opening. The ultrasound tool can (i) position an ultrasound transceiver within the lumen and facing the portion, and (ii) facilitate imaging of the site by transmitting ultrasound energy through the portion. An anchor driver can anchor the implant to the tissue by driving an anchor through the portion and into the site. Other embodiments are also described.

The invention provides systems and methods for performing a minimally invasive vasectomy procedure by supplying targeted RF energy to vas deferens via a pair of probes positioned within the vas deferens under ultrasound image guidance.

The present invention relates to ultrasonically detectable intrauterine systems and to a method for enhancing ultrasound detection of these systems. An intrauterine system having an inert metal coating on at least part of the body of the intrauterine system or at least one inert metal clip, pin, ring or sleeve fixedly positioned on the body of the intrauterine system is described.

An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound or optical coherence tomography imaging system that is replaceable depending on how close the device is to the target site for a given medical procedure, the device and system integrated into a single minimally invasive device comprising a first probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath, a sleeve lock for closing a normally open needle channel of a needle guide of the first distal assembly and a second probe and cable housing assembly locked to the first distal probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath by a locking tab. The probe and cable housing assembly may comprise a linear phased ultrasound array and an accelerometer for orienting an image produced by the device with the gravitational field of the earth. The medical device can be in the form of an image guided catheter or probe, used in a body orifice, externally on skin tissue or subcutaneously. The device comprises a replaceable and reusable ultrasound imaging assembly (and or OCT assembly) and replaceable interventional devices such as a removable introducer needle, hollow biopsy needle, syringe or other medical instrument. The imaging system may comprise one or more small ultrasound or OCT imaging systems that can be replaceably integrated into the device by replacing the reusable second probe and cable housing assembly.

A controller (310) for identifying positioning of an intravascular ultrasound probe (952) includes a memory (362) that stores instructions (884) and a processor (361) that executes the instructions (884). When executed by the processor (361), the instructions (884) cause the controller (310) to execute a process that includes receiving first signals from at least one element of the intravascular ultrasound probe (952). The process also includes receiving second signals from an external ultrasound probe. Based on the first signals and the second signals, the controller (310) determines a position of the intravascular ultrasound probe (952) in a tracking space that includes the intravascular ultrasound probe (952) and the external ultrasound probe.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an image acquisition unit that acquires an ultrasound image in which a breast of a subject is captured; a sampling target region detection unit that detects a sampling target region in which a tissue is sampled from the subject by a tissue sampling needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; a recommended path calculation unit that calculates a recommended path of the tissue sampling needle passing through the sampling target region; a monitor that displays the ultrasound image and the recommended path in a superimposed manner; a needle detection unit that detects the pierced tissue sampling needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; and a needle passage determination unit that determines whether or not the pierced tissue sampling needle has passed through the sampling target region.

A system and related methods for performing nerve detection during surgical access using ultrasound testing during surgery.