Abstract: A needle assembly positionable under visual guidance from an ultrasound system. An elongate body extends distally from a hub along a longitudinal axis and defines a lumen. Reverberation features reverberate incident waves to produce reflected waves to be received by the ultrasound system. The reverberation features may be disposed within the lumen and axially spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis. The reverberation features may include opposing portions of an inner surface of a sidewall that define a gap that is smaller or shaped differently than an inner diameter of the lumen. The elongate body may include a solid section near a beveled tip, and the reverberation features are bores defined within the solid section and axially spaced apart from one another. The elongate body may be removably disposed within a sheath in which a distal end of the sheath is axially positioned proximal to the reverberation features.

Abstract: A needle assembly positionable under visual guidance from an ultrasound system. An elongate body extends distally from a hub along a longitudinal axis and defines a lumen. Reverberation features reverberate incident waves to produce reflected waves to be received by the ultrasound system. The reverberation features may be disposed within the lumen and axially spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis. The reverberation features may include opposing portions of an inner surface of a sidewall that define a gap that is smaller or shaped differently than an inner diameter of the lumen. The elongate body may include a solid section near a beveled tip, and the reverberation features are bores defined within the solid section and axially spaced apart from one another. The elongate body may be removably disposed within a sheath in which a distal end of the sheath is axially positioned proximal to the reverberation features.

Abstract: An introducer assembly to facilitate ultrasound guidance. The introducer assembly includes an obturator removably disposed within a sheath. The obturator includes a solid section near its distal end. A reverberation feature is disposed within the solid section and configured to reverberate an incident wave to produce reflected waves. An ultrasound system generates a visual artifact in response to receiving the reflected waves. The visual artifact is easy to see on a display and facilitates identification of the tip of the needle. The reverberation feature may include a bore angled relative to a longitudinal axis. The bore or an opening may be positioned distal to the sheath. A plug may be disposed within the bore with the plug formed from a material different than that of the elongate body. The obturator may include a beveled tip with the bore extending through surfaces of the beveled tip.

Abstract: A needle assembly positionable within anatomy of a patient under visual guidance from an ultrasound system. The needle assembly includes an elongate body and a sidewall including an inner surface defining a lumen. A reverberation feature may include opposing portions of the inner surface defining a gap shaped differently than and/or sized smaller than an inner diameter of the lumen. The reverberation feature is configured to reverberate an incident wave to produce reflected waves, from which a visual artifact is generated with the ultrasound system. The opposing portions may be disposed at superior and inferior aspects of the sidewall. The reverberation feature may include opposing planar surfaces oriented parallel or inclined relative to a longitudinal axis, and/or opposing arcuate surfaces extending towards the longitudinal axis. Methods of positioning the needle assembly near target anatomy of a patient, for example within a vessel, under visual guidance are disclosed.

Abstract: An introducer assembly to facilitate ultrasound guidance. The introducer assembly includes an obturator removably disposed within a sheath. The obturator includes a solid section near its distal end. A reverberation feature is disposed within the solid section and configured to reverberate an incident wave to produce reflected waves. An ultrasound system generates a visual artifact in response to receiving the reflected waves. The visual artifact is easy to see on a display and facilitates identification of the tip of the needle. The reverberation feature may include a bore angled relative to a longitudinal axis. The bore or an opening may be positioned distal to the sheath. A plug may be disposed within the bore with the plug formed from a material different than that of the elongate body. The obturator may include a beveled tip with the bore extending through surfaces of the beveled tip.

Abstract: A needle assembly positionable within anatomy of a patient under visual guidance from an ultrasound system. The needle assembly includes an elongate body and a sidewall including an inner surface defining a lumen. A reverberation feature may include opposing portions of the inner surface defining a gap shaped differently than and/or sized smaller than an inner diameter of the lumen. The reverberation feature is configured to reverberate an incident wave to produce reflected waves, from which a visual artifact is generated with the ultrasound system. The opposing portions may be disposed at superior and inferior aspects of the sidewall. The reverberation feature may include opposing planar surfaces oriented parallel or inclined relative to a longitudinal axis, and/or opposing arcuate surfaces extending towards the longitudinal axis. Methods of positioning the needle assembly near target anatomy of a patient, for example within a vessel, under visual guidance are disclosed.