Empowering clinicians with dynamic needle guidance.

Lumbar punctures are an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in clinical neurology, but over 25% are unsuccessful due patient anatomy, scoliosis, or prior surgeries. Ethos’ technology interfaces with existing ultrasound equipment to provide continuous needle visualization and path prediction. Our role was to design the physical elements of the system to enhance functionality and ease of use.

To reliably position the needle in relation to the ultrasound probe, we designed a reusable Smart Bracket that houses the technology to read the needle position and display the anticipated needle trajectory onto the ultrasound image. Then we designed 2 disposable elements: a Needle Guide that allows the clinician to accurately position the needle, and a Shield that protects the sterile probe cover during assembly, minimizing contamination risk.

To streamline the overall system, we integrated the electronics and a tablet (to display the projected needle trajectory) into a single enclosure, and designed an adjustable arm that attaches it to the ultrasound cart. This allows the clinician to adjust the system to their preferences, or swing it to the back of the cart when not in use.

The disposable Needle Guide and Shield are injection molded, but the majority of the components can be 3D printed to reduce tooling costs, a critical consideration for this start-up company.