Catheter device

• US 20050165303A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rahn, Norbert, Pfister, Marcus, Kleen, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/367 creating a 3D dataset from 2D images using position information
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• 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 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

Catheter device comprising a catheter, in particular an intravascular catheter, for insertion into an area being examined, in particular into a vessel or cavity-containing organ in the body of a person or animal, wherein in the area of the catheter tip a device (3) is provided for emitting excitation light for light-optically exciting an area being examined surrounding said catheter tip, furthermore a device (3) is provided for collecting response light emitted, owing to excitation, from the area being examined, and furthermore a position sensor (13, 24, 27) is provided enabling said catheter tip'"'"'s spatial position and/or orientation to be registered in a system of coordinates of a position-registering system (7, 14).

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A catheter device for fluorescence or autofluorescence medical examination, comprising:

a catheter having a catheter tip for inserting into an examination area;

an excitation device arranged adjacent to the catheter tip for emitting excitation light adapted to light-optically exciting an investigation area adjacent to the catheter tip;

a receiver device for receiving response light emitted from the investigation area as consequence of the light-optically excitation of the investigation area;

a position sensor for detecting a spatial position or an orientation of the catheter tip relative to a coordinate system of a position detecting device; and

an image recording control device adapted to;

control the light-optically exciting of the investigation area;

control a generation of fluorescent or autofluorescent two-dimensional medical images using image signals, the image signals generated using the response light;

reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the investigation area using the two-dimensional medical images and the spatial position or the orientation respectively of the catheter tip; and

control a recording of at least one of the two-dimensional medical images based on a detected change of position or change of orientation respectively relative to a previous position or orientation respectively of the moving catheter tip for reducing an image data volume to be recorded, wherein the detected change of position or orientation respectively triggers the recording of the two-dimensional image only if the detected change of position or orientation respectively matches or exceeds a pre-defined travel increment.

12. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the travel increment is at least two-dimensional thus having at least two directional components and the recording of the two-dimensional image is only triggered if the detected change of position or orientation respectively matches or exceeds the pre-defined travel increment with regard to at least one of the directional components.

13. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the catheter is an intravascular catheter.

14. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the examination area is a vessel or a hollow organ of a human or an animal.

15. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the coordinate system has six coordinates and the position sensor is adapted to detect the spatial position relative to the six coordinates.

16. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the image recording control device is further adapted to merge a recorded two-dimensional image with a image data record recorded by an external imaging examination device, the merging providing for an exact positioning of the recorded two-dimensional image within the image data record.

17. The catheter device according to claim 16, wherein the image data recorded is a three-dimensional image data record of at least part of the examination area.

18. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the excitation device includes an optical fiber arranged inside the catheter and directed to the catheter tip.

19. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the receiver device includes a further optical fiber arranged inside the catheter and directed up to the catheter tip.

20. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the catheter comprises a single optical fiber for ducting the excitation light and registering the response light.

registering the response light.

21. The catheter device according to claim 11, further comprising a light collecting device for collecting the response light, the light collecting device including at least one light sensors arranged adjacent to the catheter tip, wherein an output signal of the light sensor is transmitted over at least one signal line arranged inside the catheter.

22. The catheter device according to claim 21, wherein a plurality of light sensors are arranged inside the catheter, the light sensors forming a sensor array.

23. The catheter device according to claim 11, wherein the catheter tip includes a section transparent for the excitation and the response light.

24. The catheter device according to claim 11, further comprising a triggering device for triggering an image recording process of the catheter device using a registered movement of an organ adjacent to the examination area or the investigation area.

25. The catheter device according to claim 24, wherein the triggering device includes an ECG.