Ultrasound Needle Guides: Quicker & More Accurate Ultrasound Guidance
General purpose needle guides are tools designed to provide increased precision during ultrasound-guided interventions. They have been engineered to keep the needle aligned with the sound beam of the ultrasound transducer.
Some of these biopsy needle guides even offer the ability to change the angle of approach during the procedure, while others have a predetermined angle. This improved needle visualization leads to a reduced procedure time, thus benefiting every party involved.
It is important to recognize that, from the patient’s point of view, biopsies are procedures which can involve a significant amount of discomfort. By utilizing one of our biopsy needle guides, you can increase the speed and efficiency of the procedure. Practitioners that use guides are less prone to mistakes or failed attempts, thereby increasing patient safety and comfort.
Radiologists also benefit from this reduced procedure time: an increased visualization means easier and quicker procedures. Additionally, healthcare facilities can count on a higher productivity rate from their interventional radiologists, which translates to more patients being cared for on a daily basis. All of this works to increase revenue and optimize costs.
- Reduces the number of attempts to reach a target
- Procedures are less traumatic for patients
- Improves needle placement accuracy
- Provides a predictable needle path, with the help of on-screen guidelines
Ultrasound needle guides are indicated for the following applications:
Needle guides attach to the ultrasound transducer, directly or with a bracket, and improve needle placement accuracy and needle visibility.
Needle guides will hold the needle in place: in the ultrasound plane for In-Plane approaches, or perpendicular to the ultrasound beam for Out-of-Plane procedures.
Ultrasound biopsy needle guides will hold the needle in place, on a predictable path, leading to improved workflow and reduced procedure time. During In-Plane approaches, the needle is constantly held in the ultrasound plane for increased visualization.
The constant tracking of the tip and shaft of the needle allows for a reduced needle manipulation and a facilitated navigation toward hard-to-reach targets.
Patient safety and comfort are improved as the risk of damaging surrounding structures is minimized.
Healthcare facilities can see an uptick in their revenues thanks to the use of needle guides. By using them, practitioners can provide care for more patients and also reduce the amount of costly medical errors.
Needle Guides for Radiology
In radiology, general purpose needle guides are used for numerous applications including:
- Biopsy: kidney, liver, thyroid, breast or pancreas
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA): thyroid, breast, liver
- Drainage: lungs, abdomen
Used for biopsies, needle guides help decrease the procedure time by 68% compared to freehand technique. This benefit is greatest for inexperienced operators. (1)
General purpose needle guides are especially beneficial for deep-tissue biopsies or when dealing with bariatric patients.
(1) Phal PM, Brooks DM and Wolfe R. (2005). Sonographically Guided Biopsy of Focal Lesions: A Comparison of Freehand and Probe-Guided Techniques Using a Phantom. Full study
Needle Guides for Anesthesia & Pain Management
Anesthesists must ensure that they can be as precise and as swift as possible when they are in the operating room. Ultrasound needle guides are proven to reduce procedure time and improve patient safety during nerve blocks. They are used for the following blocks:
- Axillary
- Femoral
- Infraclavicular
- Supraclavicular
- Popliteal
- Interscalene
- Spinal epidural
- Lumbar plexus
- Peripheral nerve
They are also used in pain management for joint injections, and stem cell or PRP therapies.
Decreased Procedure Time
Used for nerve blocks, ultrasound needle guides helped decreased the mean procedure time from 43 seconds to just 16 seconds. The median procedure time dropped from 33 to 10.5 seconds. (2)
Improved Needle Visibility
Needle visualization was also increased by 78% with the help of a needle guide. (2)
Needle Guides for Vascular Access
Ultrasound needle guides are used in vascular access for catheter placement, including CVC and PICC lines.
Out-of-Plane brackets allow for safe short-axis approach:
Choose the right depth before the procedure
Reduced risks of posterior wall puncture
Optimized catheter insertion angle
Quick-release feature for 2-Axis technique
General-purpose needle guides are compatible with the following vascular access procedures:
- Axillary vein
- Brachial vein
- Femoral vein
- Cephalic vein
- Internal jugular vein
- Subclavian vein
Needle guides are helpful in every type of procedure we described here. EDM is proud to offer biopsy needle guides of remarkable quality, no matter what probe you are using, adapting to majors OEMs. These guides accept a wide range of needle gauges and are available as single-use or reusable. Contact our specialists if you need more information and guidance on choosing between our range of biopsy needle guides.