Guides for insertable tools

Abstract

The present approach relates to the manufacture and use of guides inserts for use in the insertion of certain tools into a patient. Guide inserts as discussed herein allow tools to be inserted at arbitrary, including non-perpendicular, orientations relative to a grid in which the guide insert is positioned. Both customizable and configurable guide inserts are contemplated and described.

1 . A medical tool guide, comprising:
 a base sized and shaped to be inserted into an opening of a tool guide grid; and   a guide channel, wherein the guide channel has an arbitrary orientation relative to a surface of the tool guide grid when the medical tool guide in inserted into the tool guide grid.   
     
     
         2 . The medical tool guide of  claim 1 , wherein the medical tool guide is fabricated from a 3D printable composition. 
     
     
         3 . The medical tool guide of  claim 1 , wherein the medical tool guide is fabricated by forming the guide channel in a block of material. 
     
     
         4 . The medical tool guide of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel is defined has a non-90 degree altitude with respect to the surface of the tool guide grid. 
     
     
         5 . The medical tool guide of  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel is offset relative to the center of the medical tool guide. 
     
     
         6 . The medical tool guide of  claim 1 , wherein the fabrication and orientation of the guide channel is determined by the location of a target region determined from image data. 
     
     
         7 . The medical tool guide of  claim 1 , wherein the medical tool guide comprises an MRI biopsy grid insert and the tool guide grid comprises a biopsy grid. 
     
     
         8 . A method for manufacturing a medical tool guide, comprising:
 receiving an indication of a selected target region within a set of image data;   based on the selected target region, determining a grid location for insertion of a tool guide;   based on the selected target region and the grid location, determining at least a guide channel orientation for the tool guide; and   fabricating the tool guide to have a shaft defining a guide channel at the determined guide channel orientation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selected target region comprises a lesion location within a patient tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the grid location comprises an opening from among a plurality of openings defined by a biopsy grid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the guide channel orientation is an arbitrary orientation relative to a grid in which the tool guide will be inserted. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the guide channel orientation comprises at least an altitude and an azimuth of the guide channel. 
     
     
         13 . A medical tool guide, comprising:
 a base sized and shaped to be inserted into an opening of a tool guide grid;   a rotatable structure configured to fit on or within the base and defining a guide channel; and   a securing cap configured to secure the rotatable structure to the base and to prevent rotation of the rotatable structure when secured.   
     
     
         14 . The medical tool guide of  claim 13 , orientation of the rotatable structure is determined by the location of a target region determined from image data. 
     
     
         15 . The medical tool guide of  claim 13 , wherein the medical tool guide comprises an MRI biopsy grid insert and the tool guide grid comprises a biopsy grid. 
     
     
         16 . The medical tool guide of  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable structure comprises a protruding shaft defining at least a portion of the guide channel. 
     
     
         17 . The medical tool guide of  claim 16 , wherein the protruding shaft comprises a telescoping structure such that the length of the protruding shaft can be adjusted. 
     
     
         18 . A method for configuring a medical tool guide, comprising:
 receiving an indication of a selected target region within a set of image data;   based on the selected target region, determining a grid location for insertion of a tool guide;   based on the selected target region and the grid location, determining at least a guide channel orientation for the tool guide; and   based on the determined guide channel orientation, adjusting, without user intervention, a rotatable component of the tool guide, wherein the rotatable structure defines at least a portion of the guide channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising locking the rotatable component at the determined guide channel orientation after the adjustment step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the guide channel orientation is an arbitrary orientation relative to a grid in which the tool guide will be inserted.