Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to a magnetizer. The magnetizer can include a housing and one or more magnets positioned in an interior of the housing. The housing can include a top face, a bottom face, and a plurality of side faces adjoining the top face and the bottom face. The top face can include a first opening configured to receive a needle, the first opening having a first cross-sectional area. One of the plurality of side faces can include a second opening having a second cross-sectional area. The second cross-sectional area can be at least one third of the first cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to a magnetizer comprising at least one magnet; and a housing, the housing comprising: a top face; a bottom face positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the top face; a plurality of faces adjoining the top face and the bottom face; an interior comprising an interior surface formed at least in part by the top face, the bottom face and the plurality of faces; wherein the top face includes a first opening configured to receive a medical device; and wherein the at least one magnet is positioned within the interior of the housing. A face of the plurality of faces may include a second opening to expose at least a portion of the interior surface through the second opening. The second opening may be larger than the first opening.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is disclosed including a body (102), a lens included on head portion (44) of the body, a stabilizing portion (146) extending from the body and configured to stabilize the body on a skin surface of a patient without user assistance, and a finger-grip portion (110) configured to enable a user of the ultrasound probe to grasp and maneuver the ultrasound probe during use thereof with no more than two or three fingers on a single hand of the user. The ultrasound probe may further include a cable conduit (194) and a cable boot (195) configured to house a distal-end portion of a power-and-data cable and to keep the cable away from the head portion. The stabilizing portion may include a latitudinal channel (147) that reduces a surface area of the stabilizing portion intended to face the skin surface of the patient, in order to facilitate movement of the ultrasound probe across the skin surface and to reduce suction hen gel is present and the ultrasound probe is removed from the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (“probe”) for use with an ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. In particular, the probe is sized and configured so as to be supported and readily used with as little as one finger on a single hand of a user of the imaging system. This configuration enables remaining fingers on the hand of the user to be employed for other purposes, such as skin traction and patient contact. In one embodiment, therefore, an ultrasound probe is disclosed, comprising a body, a lens included on head portion of the body, a stabilizing portion extending from the body and configured to stabilize the body on a skin surface of a patient without user assistance, and a finger grip portion configured to enable a user of the probe to grasp and maneuver the probe during use thereof with no more than two fingers on a single hand of the user.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a vessel assessment system configured to image a target vessel and determine which vascular access device (VAD) to use to access the target vessel while remaining within one or more insertion parameters of percentage vessel occupancy, and dwell length given a predetermined range of insertion angles. The system can superimpose a target vessel sizing ring to measure a diameter or cross-sectional area, or to measure a depth of the target vessel. Further, the system can provide a list of VAD's that can access the target vessel within one or more insertion parameters. The system can provide an icon representing the VAD superimposed over the target vessel to provide a visual representation of the vascular access device within the target vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to stabilizing a rollstand for an ultrasound system. The system, apparatus and method pertain to a rollstand comprising a base, an off-center vertical support, and an overhanging support for an ultrasound display of the ultrasound system. The off-center vertical support rises vertically from the base and is offset horizontally from a centroid of the base. A center of gravity of the rollstand may be located above the centroid of the base and above a vascular site of a patient being imaged by the ultrasound system. The overhanging support may be offset horizontally from the centroid of the base in a direction substantially opposite the off-center vertical support.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (“probe”) for use with an ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. In particular, the probe is sized and configured so as to be supported and readily used with as little as one finger on a single hand of a user of the imaging system. This configuration enables remaining fingers on the hand of the user to be employed for other purposes, such as skin traction and patient contact. In one embodiment, therefore, an ultrasound probe is disclosed, comprising a body, a lens included on head portion of the body, a stabilizing portion extending from the body and configured to stabilize the body on a skin surface of a patient without user assistance, and a finger grip portion configured to enable a user of the probe to grasp and maneuver the probe during use thereof with no more than two fingers on a single hand of the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to a magnetizer comprising at least one magnet; and a housing, the housing comprising: a top face; a bottom face positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the top face; a plurality of faces adjoining the top face and the bottom face; an interior comprising an interior surface formed at least in part by the top face, the bottom face and the plurality of faces; wherein the top face includes a first opening configured to receive a medical device; and wherein the at least one magnet is positioned within the interior of the housing. A face of the plurality of faces may include a second opening to expose at least a portion of the interior surface through the second opening. The second opening may be larger than the first opening.

Abstract: Needle-guidance systems, components, and methods thereof are disclosed. A needle-guidance system can include a console, a needle magnetizer incorporated into the console, an RFID-tag reader incorporated into the console, and an ultrasound probe. The console can be configured to instantiate a needle-guidance process for guiding insertion of a magnetized needle into a blood vessel of a patient using a combination of ultrasound-imaging data, magnetic-field data, and RFID-tag information for the needle received by the console. The ultrasound probe can be configured to provide to the console electrical signals corresponding to both the ultrasound-imaging data and the magnetic-field data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a needle shield for an ultrasound probe. The needle shield fits closely with an ultrasound probe head, and any associated structures, and prevents accidental damage from needle punctures and the like. Further the needle shield includes a guide wedge that allows a user to stabilize the probe at an angle relative to the skin surface. This allows perpendicular needle access to the target vessel without the probe obstructing the needle. Further the needle shield includes an acoustic lens to modify the acoustic beam and compensate for the angle position of the probe head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for introducing and/or controlling a snare in a lumen (e.g., a lumen of a catheter tube, a body lumen, etc.). In one example, a snare loading device can reduce the size of a loop on a snare to allow the snare to be inserted into the catheter tube. Furthermore, before and/or after insertion of the snare into the catheter tube, the snare loading device can control the snare, by transferring motion thereto.

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: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for tracking medical devices such as needles and catheters. For example, an ultrasound-imaging system is configured to perform a set of operations for accessing a blood vessel, recommending a proper approach angle for approaching the blood vessel with the medical device, recommending a proper insertion angle for inserting the medical device in the blood vessel, ensuring a final placement of a sufficient length of the medical device within the blood vessel, and following, or tracking, a procedure for placing the medical device in the blood vessel. In addition, the ultrasound-imaging system is configured to perform a set of operations for optimizing an ultrasound image about the blood vessel or a targeted location of the blood vessel.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (“probe”) for use with an ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. In particular, the probe is sized and configured so as to be supported and readily used with as little as one finger on a single hand of a user of the imaging system. This configuration enables remaining fingers on the hand of the user to be employed for other purposes, such as skin traction and patient contact. In one embodiment, therefore, an ultrasound probe is disclosed, comprising a body, a lens included on head portion of the body, a stabilizing portion extending from the body and configured to stabilize the body on a skin surface of a patient without user assistance, and a finger grip portion configured to enable a user of the probe to grasp and maneuver the probe during use thereof with no more than two fingers on a single hand of the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for introducing and/or controlling a snare in a lumen (e.g., a lumen of a catheter tube, a body lumen, etc.). In one example, a snare loading device can reduce the size of a loop on a snare to allow the snare to be inserted into the catheter tube. Furthermore, before and/or after insertion of the snare into the catheter tube, the snare loading device can control the snare, by transferring motion thereto.