DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING MEDICAL PROCEDURES IN TREE-LIKE LUMINAL STRUCTURES
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is described for use with an imaging device (31) that acquires a pre-procedure image of a portion of a subject'"'"'s body disposed at a pre-procedure position. An input unit receives from a user an indication of two or more lines within the image that correspond to respective branches of a multi-branch luminal structure. A probe (1) moves within the portion along two or more lines in the structure that respectively correspond to the two or more lines within the image. A location sensor (18) coupled to the probe senses location coordinates along the two or more lines, while the portion is at a current position. A control unit (34) registers the image of the portion with the portion'"'"'s current position by registering (a) the two or more lines within the image, with (b) the location coordinates along the two or more lines. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
97 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. Apparatus for use with (a) an airway of a subject, the airway leading to a region suffering from pulmonary disease, (b) an imaging device configured to acquire a pre-procedure image of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body that includes at least a portion of the region, and (c) a display configured to display the acquired image, the apparatus comprising:
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a plug configured to be placed in the airway, the plug defining an opening therethrough that is in an open state thereof when something is inserted through the opening and is in a closed state thereof when nothing is inserted through the opening; a tool having a distal portion configured to be inserted through the opening to a site distal to the plug and to facilitate suctioning therethrough of fluid, the fluid being disposed within the region and distal to the plug; and a location sensor coupled to the distal portion of the tool, configured (a) to sense a location of the distal portion of the tool when the distal portion of the tool is at the site distal to the plug and (b) to facilitate location of the distal portion of the tool in the acquired image. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36-88. -88. (canceled)
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89. A method for use with an airway of a subject, the airway leading to a region suffering from pulmonary disease, the method comprising:
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acquiring a pre-procedure image of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body that includes at least some of the region; inserting a plug in the airway, the plug defining an opening therethrough that is in an open state thereof when something is inserted through the opening and is in a closed state thereof when nothing is inserted through the opening; inserting a suctioning tool through the opening in the plug and toward fluid that is disposed (a) within the region and (b) distal to the plug; generating an indication of a location of a distal portion of the tool within the pre-procedure image, when the distal portion of the tool is distal to the plug, by sensing a location of the distal portion of the tool; directing the distal portion of the tool toward the fluid using the indication of the location of the distal portion within the pre-procedure image; and suctioning the fluid through the tool subsequent to the directing of the distal portion of the tool toward the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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97-115. -115. (canceled)
Specification