Catheter locator apparatus and method of use
First Claim
1. A method of guiding a coil used in relation to a catheter to be inserted into a subject body wherein said coil radiates signal energy;
- the method including the steps of;
a) using a coil detection means having at least two signal energy detectors wherein said detection means is located with reference to a predetermined location on or part of said subject body and generating a signal based on a spatial separation of a said radiating coil from said detection means;
b) displaying a predetermined symbol representative of an area on or part of a non-subject body wherein said signal generated by said detection means is used to display a predetermined coil symbol representative of said coil at a position on a display device relative to said predetermined body symbol for use by a clinician to guide a positioning of said coil and said catheter into said subject body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method of catheter and radiating coil location in a human body and in particular to the determination over time of the location of the tip of a catheter as it is inserted and during its use in the body. In particular when a radiating coil is used in conjunction with a catheter, a coil locating device can be used to determine the distance the coil is from the device and hence its depth in the body of a patient. To assist a clinician using the coil-locating device, a display is provided that shows both a reference image of a part or portion of a body (non-subject body) and an image of the coil located on the display with reference to the reference image. This is achieved by locating the coil-locating device on or over a predetermined landmark on the patient'"'"'s body. The coil and its associated signal wires can be incorporated into a stylet, guide wire or a catheter. The coil locating device has a preferable triangular shape in plan view that allows it uppermost apex to be orientated towards the head of the patient and for an axis of the device to be aligned with the mid sagittal plane of the patient. Preferable landmarks on a human body include the xiphoid sternal junction and the caudal/mid sagittal aspect of the jugular sternal notch.
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Citations
86 Claims
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1. A method of guiding a coil used in relation to a catheter to be inserted into a subject body wherein said coil radiates signal energy;
- the method including the steps of;
a) using a coil detection means having at least two signal energy detectors wherein said detection means is located with reference to a predetermined location on or part of said subject body and generating a signal based on a spatial separation of a said radiating coil from said detection means;
b) displaying a predetermined symbol representative of an area on or part of a non-subject body wherein said signal generated by said detection means is used to display a predetermined coil symbol representative of said coil at a position on a display device relative to said predetermined body symbol for use by a clinician to guide a positioning of said coil and said catheter into said subject body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- the method including the steps of;
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5. The method according to claim 5 wherein a predetermined body symbol representative of an area on or part of a non-subject body is displayed that is representative of the sternum of a non-subject human body thus delineating on said display a portion of the upper skeleton of a human body.
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13. A catheter locator apparatus for assisting a user'"'"'s placement of a catheter into a subject body, the catheter locator apparatus comprising:
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a pair of wires usable with the catheter, the wires having a first end and a second end;
a processor in electronic communication with the first end of the wires;
a radiating coil connected to the second end of the wires, the radiating coil having various locations in the subject body;
a detector device in electronic communication with the processor, the detector device adapted to be positioned in relation to a predetermined portion of the subject body;
reference data retrieved by the processor which specifies at least one reference image which represents at least one predetermined image;
indicator data generated by the processor which specifies at least one indicator image which provides information related to at least one location of the radiating coil in the subject body; and
a monitor in electronic communication with the processor which displays the indicator image and the reference image. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for use in conjunction with a medical instrument, the medical instrument having a first end and a second end, the first end movable between a plurality of anatomical locations within a subject body, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one energy radiating member operatively coupled to the first end of the medical instrument, the energy radiating member producing a plurality of signals;
at least one energy receiving member receiving energy from the energy radiating member;
at least one processor in communication with the energy receiving member, the processor producing signal data based on the signals;
at least one data storage device in communication with the processor, the data storage device storing the signal data and image data in association with the signal data, the image data representing a plurality of images, each of the images indicating one of the anatomical locations; and
at least one display device communicating with the processor, the display device displaying the images. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An apparatus for use in conjunction with a medical instrument, the medical instrument having a first end and a second end, the first end movable within a subject body along a path having a shape, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one energy radiating member operatively coupled to the first end of the medical instrument;
at least one energy receiving member receiving energy from the energy radiating member;
at least one processor in communication with the energy receiving member; and
at least one display device communicating with the processor, the display device displaying an image which indicates information related to the shape of the path. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. An apparatus for graphically depicting data regarding catheter movement during placement of a catheter within a subject body, the catheter having a first end and a second end moveable along a placement path, comprising:
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an energy radiating member adapted to cooperate with the second end of the catheter;
an energy receiving member external to the patient, the energy receiving member receiving energy from the energy radiating member;
a data processor communicating with the energy receiving member, the data processor capable of producing data indicative of position changes of the second end of the catheter along the placement path; and
a visual display device communicating with the data processor, the visual display device displaying graphically the position change data of the second end of the catheter along the placement path. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for aiding a user in positioning a medical instrument in a portion of a subject body, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) coupling at least one energy radiating member to a first end of the medical instrument;
(b) positioning at least one energy receiving member with reference to a predetermined location on or part of said subject body;
(c) the user to insert a predetermined length of the first end into the subject body;
(d) causing the energy radiating member to produce a plurality of signals while the length of the medical instrument is being moved inside the subject body;
(e) transforming received signals into signals for communication to a processor;
(f) performing at least one calculation based on the transformed signals;
(g) producing data based on the calculation; and
(h) graphically representing the data. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A wire bundle for use with a catheter locator apparatus which includes:
- (a) a processor in electronic communication with a predetermined portion of a proximal end of the wire bundle, (b) a radiating coil connected to a predetermined portion of a distal end of the wire bundle, the radiating coil having various locations in a subject body;
(c) a detector device in electronic communication with the processor, the detector device is located with reference to a predetermined location on or part of said subject body;
(d) reference data retrieved by the processor which specifies at least one reference image which represents at least one predetermined image;
(e) indicator data generated by the processor which specifies at least one indicator image which provides information related to at least one location of the radiating coil in the subject body; and
(f) a monitor in electronic communication with the processor which displays the indicator image and the reference image, said wire bundle comprising;
a first wire having a predetermined stiffness adapted to control positioning of a flexible tube;
a second wire adapted to transmit signals between the radiating coil and the processor; and
means for binding the second wire to the first wire. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86)
- (a) a processor in electronic communication with a predetermined portion of a proximal end of the wire bundle, (b) a radiating coil connected to a predetermined portion of a distal end of the wire bundle, the radiating coil having various locations in a subject body;
Specification