A puncture device guide includes a body member configured to fixedly attach to an ultrasound probe, a slide member slidingly received within the body member; and a cradle member slidingly received within the slide member and longitudinally fixed relative to the body member. The cradle member is configured to receive a puncture device therein. Longitudinal movement of the slide member causes radial movement of the cradle member relative to the body member.

Even when an insertion object is inserted to a deep position of a subject or even when the insertion object is inserted into the subject at an angle close to a right angle, it is possible to confirm the position of the insertion object in a photoacoustic image. The insertion object is, for example, a hollow puncture needle 15 that includes an opening at a tip thereof. The puncture needle 15 includes a light guide member 152 that guides light emitted from a first light source to the vicinity of the opening, and a light emitting portion 153 that is provided in the vicinity of the opening and emits the light. First photoacoustic waves, which are caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion 153, are generated in the puncture needle 15. A first photoacoustic image is generated on the basis of the first photoacoustic waves.

A system and method for performing an automated medical procedure is provided. The method may include positioning an effector unit over a patient, acquiring medical imagery of the patient, analyzing the medical imagery using at least one processor to determine a location, and positioning a subunit of the effector unit to perform the automated medical procedure at the location. The automated medical procedure may be performed using at least one of a plurality of subunits of the effector unit. The automated medical procedure may be a body fluid aspiration procedure and one of the plurality of subunits of the effector unit may include a fluid aspirating cannula. Multiple subunits may be sequentially used to perform the procedure.

A guidance method comprising: placing a tracking pad adjacent a body, the tracking pad including a guiding opening and a plurality of sensors, locating a distal end of a needle inside of the guiding opening at an insertion point adjacent the body, the needle including at least one beacon, operating the plurality of sensors with the at least one beacon to track an actual disposition of the needle, establishing a target disposition for the needle, moving the needle in a direction of movement to synchronize the actual disposition with the target disposition, and inserting the distal end of the needle into the body along an insertion axis.

Prostate biopsy systems are provided that include a 3D ultrasound probe support configured to receive an ultrasound probe for transperineal imaging. One or more template grids can have a plurality of apertures extending therethrough to receive and guide a biopsy needle along a trajectory associated with respective apertures when the template grid is fixed to the support and the biopsy system is positioned in the perineal area of a patient. Patient-specific template grids can also be developed and produced. This system enables fully transperineal prostate biopsy (i.e. both imaging and needle placement are perineal) and eliminates the need for an external racking device for image fusion as well as needle tracking. In addition, it reduces the infection risk associated to transrectal approach.

Even when an insertion object is inserted to a deep position of a subject or even when the insertion object is inserted into the subject at an angle close to a right angle, it is possible to confirm the position of the insertion object in a photoacoustic image. The insertion object is, for example, a hollow puncture needle 15 that includes an opening at a tip thereof. The puncture needle 15 includes a light guide member 152 that guides light emitted from a first light source to the vicinity of the opening, and a light emitting portion 153 that is provided in the vicinity of the opening and emits the light. First photoacoustic waves, which are caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion 153, are generated in the puncture needle 15. A first photoacoustic image is generated on the basis of the first photoacoustic waves.

A medical device for injecting fat while simultaneously allowing the injection site to be viewed with ultrasound. The device may comprise a handle with a front portion and a rear portion, a cannula having a cannula tip, extending from the front portion of the handle, and an ultrasound probe attached to the handle, the ultrasound probe comprising an ultrasound head. The ultrasound head is aligned with and spaced apart from the cannula tip, and remains so aligned during the injection process so that the injection area may be continuously viewed during the procedure.

A transperineal biopsy guide including a guide member and a displacement member supported by the guide member. The guide member may be configured to operably couple with the transrectal probe and may include a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end, and a length extending along a longitudinal axis between the distal and proximal ends. The displacement member may be configured to support the access needle and displace the access needle along at least a portion of the length of the guide member between the distal and proximal ends. The access needle may extend into the subcutaneous tissue when the access needle is displaced to the distal end.

The present disclosure relates generally to positioning elongate members at a target site within a body lumen, such as for acquiring a biopsy from a peripheral airway. Some embodiments are particularly directed to an elongate member with an embedded transducer positioned at a predefined rotational angle with respect to a projected position of an instrument extended out of a distal opening of a first lumen in the elongate member. In many such embodiments, a rotational transducer may be positioned within a second lumen in the elongate member to generate a radial image including indicia of the embedded transducer. Accordingly, an operator may determine a projected position of the instrument prior to extending the instrument out of the lumen. In several embodiments, the embedded transducer may include a forward imaging transducer, such as a fiber optic.

A system and method for prostate cancer treatment under local anesthesia includes creating a superficial skin and subcutaneous block in a perineal area of a patient by administering a first anesthetizing agent; creating a deep nerve block under ultrasound guidance by administering a second anesthetizing agent, the second anesthetizing agent infiltrating cavernosal nerve bundle tissue and periprostatic space; and ablating prostate tissue. The office-based method, statistical models and computer generated treatment plans identify and ablate prostate tissue containing cancer through or via the perineum while preserving prostate function, and critical anatomical structures. Multiple technologies are integrated and processed to deliver a safe treatment procedure, under local anesthesia by integrating the information of magnetic resonance imaging and planning the ablative treatment using algorithms that ensure maximal precision in both killing cancerous tissue and preserving healthy tissue along with its corresponding function.