Trocar and stylet stabilizer

Inventors

Eisenthal, Andrew • Weiss, Clifford R. • Gupta, Shashwat • SCHUTTE, Wade • LIDDELL, Robert Patrick • Ruppel, III, Edward • LIU, Sabrina

Assignees

Johns Hopkins University

Abstract

Various stabilizers for supporting a trocar and stylet are disclosed. In some implementations, a stabilizer may include a main portion through which a trocar and stylet may be inserted and supported, and a plurality of stabilizing portions to prevent movement of the stabilizer when the stabilizer is placed on a patient's body.

Core Innovation

Disclosed is a trocar-and-stylet stabilizer for radiology-guided biopsies, including a main portion through which a trocar and a stylet are inserted. The stabilizer further includes a plurality of stabilizing portions configured to be removable from the main portion based on at least one of perforated sections or lines between the main portion and the plurality of stabilizing portions. The perforated sections or lines enable adjustment of a size of the plurality of stabilizing portions by removing a subset of the plurality of stabilizing portions.

The stabilizer is optionally formed with a translucent main portion and radiopaque markings to assist visual alignment of an insertion through the stabilizer. Stabilizing structures include portions such as wings or structural members, and features such as ridges or grooves configured to provide friction. The stabilizer can optionally include an adhesive backing to removably bond the stabilizer to skin and form an air seal.

A biopsy workflow is described in which a stabilizer is placed over an entry point, a trocar and stylet are inserted into the stabilizer, and radiological imaging is generated to determine whether the trocar and stylet are inserted at a correct trajectory. The trocar and stylet are advanced into the patient's body based on determining correct trajectory, the stylet is removed from the trocar, and a biopsy tool is inserted into the trocar to perform a biopsy. After biopsy, the biopsy tool is removed from the trocar and the stylet is reinserting into the trocar, and the trocar and stylet are removed from the patient's body through the stabilizer, with optional trajectory adjustment based on determining an incorrect trajectory and generating another radiological image.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims provide coverage for a biopsy method, a biopsy system, and a biopsy-use device, each centered on a stabilizer with a main portion and removable stabilizing portions whose size is adjustable via perforated sections or lines, combined with radiological image-based determination of a correct trajectory, including an optional corrective workflow.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage combines a stabilizer whose size is adjustable by removing a subset of removable stabilizing portions defined by perforated sections or lines, with biopsy procedure steps that use a radiological image to determine whether trocar and stylet insertion is at a correct trajectory, and a workflow option that includes trajectory adjustment and generating another radiological image if the trajectory is incorrect.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications