MEDICAL DEVICE WITH BEACON

• US 20080172065A1
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Shaw, William J., OSTROVSKY, ISAAC, Rauker, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/623,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/392 Radioactive markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• 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 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

An apparatus includes an elongate body configured to be at least partially inserted into a gastrointestinal lumen. The elongate body is configured to perform a medical procedure within the gastrointestinal lumen. A beacon element is coupled to the elongate body. The beacon element is configured to be identified within the gastrointestinal lumen using a sensing device. A method includes imaging a gastrointestinal lumen with an imaging device. An apparatus is inserted at least partially into a gastrointestinal lumen. The apparatus has an elongate portion, a tool portion and a beacon element. The location of the beacon element is identified within the gastrointestinal lumen using a sensing device. The tool portion is moved to an area of interest within the gastrointestinal lumen based on the location of the beacon element.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an elongate body configured to be at least partially inserted into a gastrointestinal lumen, the elongate body configured to perform a medical procedure within the gastrointestinal lumen; and

a beacon element coupled to the elongate body, the beacon element configured to be identified within the gastrointestinal lumen using a sensing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beacon element is active.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beacon element is passive.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is active.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is passive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal lumen is a colon, the elongate body includes a snare portion, the snare portion configured to capture a polyp from within the colon.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a sheath coupled to the elongate body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a sensor, the beacon element configured to be detected by the sensor to identify a location of the beacon element within the gastrointestinal lumen.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beacon element is a gamma emitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is associated with an imaging device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is associated with a computed tomography scanner.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beacon element is radioactive.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beacon element includes a radio frequency identifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is configured to receive a radio frequency identification signal from the beacon element.

15. A method, comprising:

imaging a gastrointestinal lumen on an imaging device;

inserting an apparatus at least partially into the gastrointestinal lumen, the apparatus having an elongate portion, a tool portion and a beacon portion;

identifying a location of the beacon portion within the gastrointestinal lumen using a sensing device; and

moving the tool portion to an area of interest within the gastrointestinal lumen while monitoring the location of the beacon element on a sensing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the gastrointestinal lumen is a colon, the method further comprising:

snaring a polyp from within the colon using the tool portion; and

withdrawing the apparatus from the colon.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the gastrointestinal lumen is a colon.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

prior to the identifying, locating an area of interest within the gastrointestinal lumen.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

prior to the identifying, locating an area of interest within the gastrointestinal lumen; and

storing coordinates associated with the area of interest.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

an elongate body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the elongate body configured to be inserted at least partially in a colon; and

a medical tool, the medical tool coupled to the elongate body, the medical tool including a beacon portion configured to be identified within the colon using a sensing device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensing device is associated with an imaging device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the beacon portion is a gamma emitter.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the medical tool is configured to capture a polyp from within the colon.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the medical tool is configured to view an interior of the colon.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the beacon element is an electromagnetic radiator.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the beacon element is radioactive.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the beacon element includes a radio frequency identifier.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensing device is configured to receive a radio frequency identification signal from the beacon element.