Scope position and orientation feedback device

• US 20040204645A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Chen, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US10/411,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed, for mapping the progress of a medical device such as an endoscope within the body of a patient. In one implementation, a flexible display is positioned across the abdomen of the patient. Signals are received by the display from the endoscope, and converted into visual indicium of the location of the endoscope. The display reveals a visible map of the progress of the endoscope, in real time, which may be in 1:1 size correspondence with the path of the endoscope.

Claims

1. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device within the body of a patient, comprising the steps of:

introducing a device into the body, the device carrying at least one signal source thereon;

providing a display, having a first side for facing the patient and a second side for displaying indicium of the location of the signal source;

positioning the first side such that it faces the patient; and

displaying an indicium of the location of the signal source on the second side.

2. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 1, wherein the introducing step comprises introducing an endoscope into the body.

3. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 1, wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the first side in contact with the patient.

4. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 3, wherein the positioning step comprises forming the first side into a nonplanar configuration to conform to the surface of the patient.

5. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 1, wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the first side such that it faces the patient'"'"'s abdomen.

6. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 1, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a line which approximates the shape of the path of the device within the patient.

7. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 1, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying at least a first point and a second point which coincide with the path of the device within the patient.

8. A method of tracking the spatial orientation of a device as in claim 1, wherein the size of the displayed indicium and the size of the path of the device within the body are in approximately a 1:

1 relationship.

9. A spatial orientation sensor, for sensing the location within the body of at least one signal source, comprising a flexible pad having a first side for contacting the patient, and a second side for displaying indicium of the location of the signal source.

10. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, wherein the indicium comprise light emitting diodes.

11. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, wherein the indicium display the actual x and y location of the signal source and are vertically displaced from the signal source in the z direction.

12. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of receivers for sensing the location of the signal source.

13. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, further comprising a control unit for analyzing the signals sensed by the receivers, determining the location of the signal source, and activating display indicium corresponding to the location of the signal source.

14. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 13, further comprising a central processing unit for analyzing the signals.

15. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, wherein the flexible pad has an area of at least about one square foot.

16. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, wherein the flexible pad has an area within the range of from about one square foot to about nine square feet.

17. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 9, wherein the flexible pad has a thickness of no more than about two inches.

18. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 12, wherein the receivers are capable of detecting ultrasound.

19. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 12, wherein the receivers are capable of detecting a radio frequency signal.

20. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 12, wherein the receivers are capable of detecting a magnetic field.

21. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 12, wherein the receivers are capable of detecting infrared light.

22. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 12, wherein the receivers are capable of detecting ultraviolet light.

23. The spatial orientation sensor of claim 12, wherein the flexible pad comprises a radio frequency identification tag transponder.

24. An endoscope tracking system, comprising:

an array of sensors carried by a support;

a display, carried by the support; and

an endoscope, carrying a plurality of signal sources thereon.

25. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the array of sensors is configured to sense signals emitted from the plurality of signal sources.

26. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signals are selected from the group consisting of radio frequency, ultrasound, magnetic, light or radioactivity.

27. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signal sources are removably carried by the endoscope.

28. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signal sources are attached to the endoscope.

29. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signal sources are spaced axially apart along a tracking zone of the endoscope.

30. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signal sources generate a signal in response to an input signal carried through the endoscope.

31. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signal sources generate a constant signal.

32. The endoscope tracking system of claim 24, wherein the signal sources generate a signal in response to receipt of an interrogator signal.

33. The endoscope tracking system of claim 32, wherein the interrogator signal source is carried by the support.

34. The endoscope tracking system of claim 32, wherein the interrogator signal source is carried remotely from the support.

35. A method of displaying the location of a medical device within a body, comprising the steps of:

introducing a medical device into the body;

propagating at least a first signal from the medical device;

receiving the signal by a receiver outside of the body; and

displaying an indicium of the signal;

wherein the displaying step comprises displaying an indicium which corresponds with the actual location of the origin of the propagated signal in approximately a 1;

1 size relationship, at least in the x and y axes.

36. A method of displaying the location of a medical device as in claim 35, wherein the display does not display z axis location information.

37. A method of displaying the location of a medical device as in claim 35, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the indicium on a flexible pad.

38. A method of displaying the location of a medical device as in claim 35, wherein the flexible pad in contact with the body.

39. A method of displaying the location of a medical device as in claim 35, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the indicium on a display that is positioned remotely from the body.

40. A detection device, for detecting the location of a signal source within the body, comprising a support having a plurality of detectors thereon, such that a first plurality of detectors generate a first signal indicative of the proximity of the signal source, which is distinguishable from any signal generated from a second plurality of detectors which are more remote from the source.

41. A detection device, for detecting the location of a signal source within the body as in claim 40, wherein the first signal is a visible signal.

42. A detection device, for detecting the location of a signal source within the body as in claim 40, further comprising a display carried by the support for displaying the first signal.