Abstract: A needle guide for use with a handheld probe having a connector protruding from a probe surface. The needle guide can include an upper portion including an upper surface, a lower portion defining a cavity to receive the connector of the handheld probe, and a needle channel. The needle channel can extend from a proximal portion of the upper surface to a distal end of the upper surface. The needle channel can have a fixed size. The needle guide can include a guide surface extending into the upper portion and the lower portion of the needle guide at a proximal end of the needle guide. The guide surface can include a concave shape with a conical surface that funnels into a proximal end of the needle channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a venting system for an electronic device. The electronic device having a body defining an internal cavity having one or more electronic systems disposed within the internal cavity. The venting system includes a plurality of fins defining a plurality of vent apertures in fluid communication with the internal cavity. One or more of the plurality of the fins includes one or more fin channels configured to direct fluid away from the vent apertures and the fins to one or more drainage channels.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein the cannula is substantially non-magnetic so as to not distort the magnetic field of the magnetic element.

Abstract: A needle guide for use with a handheld probe having a connector protruding from a probe surface. The needle guide can include an upper portion including an upper surface, a lower portion defining a cavity to receive the connector of the handheld probe, and a needle channel. The needle channel can extend from a proximal portion of the upper surface to a distal end of the upper surface. The needle channel can have a fixed size. The needle guide can include a guide surface extending into the upper portion and the lower portion of the needle guide at a proximal end of the needle guide. The guide surface can include a concave shape with a conical surface that funnels into a proximal end of the needle channel.

Abstract: A needle-guidance system is disclosed including single-patient equipment, multi-patient equipment, and an RFID reader-writer. The single-patient equipment can include a vascular access device (“VAD”) having a needle and an RFID tag. The RFID tag can be incorporated into the VAD or packaging for the VAD. The console can be configured to automatically start needle tracking for a clinician on an integrated display screen of the console after receiving RFID-tag data from the RFID tag and processing with a processor of the console instructions of needle-tracking software provided by memory of the console for the needle tracking. The RFID reader-writer can be configured to read the RFID-tag data from the RFID tag and write additional RFID-tag data to the RFID tag. The RFID reader-writer can be provided with the packaging for the VAD or the multi-patient equipment. A method of the needle-guidance system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Needle guide systems for a sonography device are disclosed. The needle guide systems include both fixed and adjustable needle guides. In one embodiment, the needle guide includes a needle guide body that is rotatably mounted to a probe of a sonography device. A plurality of needle channels is disposed on a surface of the needle guide body. Each needle channel can be selectively rotated into position to guide a needle into a body of a patient at a predetermined needle insertion angle. If another needle insertion angle is desired, the needle guide is rotated to place a new needle channel defining the desired needle insertion angle into position. In another embodiment, a needle guide is disclosed and includes an extended guide feature, such as a guide cone, to assist in inserting a needle into the needle channel.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body utilizing ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. The guidance system can include an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a blood vessel. One or more sensors can be included with the probe. The sensors can sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system can include a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system can include a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is configured to be coaxially aligned with the needle cannula.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. The guidance system can include an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors can be included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system can include a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle, and a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, in which a magnetic axis of the magnetic element can be configured to be coaxially or otherwise aligned with the cannula axis.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is configured to be coaxially aligned with the needle cannula.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is configured to be coaxially or otherwise aligned with the needle cannula.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein the cannula is substantially non-magnetic so as to not distort the magnetic field of the magnetic element.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle or other medical component into the body of a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the detectable characteristic sensed by the sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the needle in three spatial dimensions. In yet another embodiment, systems and methods for determining the length of the needle to be guided by the guidance system are disclosed.

Abstract: Needle guide systems for a sonography device are disclosed. The needle guide systems include both fixed and adjustable needle guides. In one embodiment, the needle guide includes a needle guide body that is rotatably mounted to a probe of a sonography device. A plurality of needle channels is disposed on a surface of the needle guide body. Each needle channel can be selectively rotated into position to guide a needle into a body of a patient at a predetermined needle insertion angle. If another needle insertion angle is desired, the needle guide is rotated to place a new needle channel defining the desired needle insertion angle into position. In another embodiment, a needle guide is disclosed and includes an extended guide feature, such as a guide cone, to assist in inserting a needle into the needle channel.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is configured to be coaxially or otherwise aligned with the needle cannula.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. A needle assembly including a hub, cannula, and magnetic element is also disclosed, wherein a magnetic axis of the magnetic element is configured to be coaxially aligned with the needle cannula.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle or other medical component into the body of a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the detectable characteristic sensed by the sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the needle in three spatial dimensions. In yet another embodiment, systems and methods for determining the length of the needle to be guided by the guidance system are disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for repeatedly monitoring the communication bus type and concurrently monitoring to determine if termination of the communication bus is necessary. The method comprises the steps of initializing several communication lines to logical high; determining based on the value of the input lines whether the communication bus is a parallel bus or SCSI bus; if the bus is SCSI bus, sending a low signal followed by a high signal across the output of one of the communication lines; sensing whether the communication line follows the biasing; if the output communication line follows the biasing, terminating the communication bus; if the output communication line does not follow the biasing, not terminating the communication bus. The apparatus comprises eight communication lines of the communication bus and a microprocessor electrically connected to the communication bus for stimulating and monitoring the eight communication lines in accordance with the above method.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing peripherals from back powering a host computer is disclosed. The apparatus use a timer and associated logic circuitry to determine the time period between signals being sent to the host computer from the peripheral device. Under predetermined time-out conditions, the current output by the peripheral is disabled to prevent the peripheral from back powering a main computer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for repeatedly monitoring the communication bus type and concurrently monitoring to determine if termination of the communication bus is necessary. The method comprises the steps of initializing several communication lines to logical high; determining based on the value of the input lines whether the communication bus is a parallel bus or SCSI bus; if the bus is SCSI bus, sending a low signal followed by a high signal across the output of one of the communication lines; sensing whether the communication line follows the biasing; if the output communication line follows the biasing, terminating the communication bus; if the output communication line does not follow the biasing, not terminating the communication bus. The apparatus comprises eight communication lines of the communication bus and a microprocessor electrically connected to the communication bus for stimulating and monitoring the eight communication lines in accordance with the above method.