METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STEERABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PATH DEFINITION AND FOLLOWING DURING INSERTION AND RETRACTION
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- storing waypoints of a steerable medical device, wherein said stored waypoints comprise an ordered sequence of locations, and further wherein said ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path for moving an articulatable portion of said steerable medical device within a patient;
constraining said articulatable portion of said steerable medical device to follow said safe path as said articulatable portion moves within said patient.
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Abstract
Waypoints for a steerable medical device are stored as the steerable medical device is moved within a patient. The stored waypoints are an ordered sequence of locations. The ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path within the patient for moving an articulatable portion of the steerable medical device. The articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to follow the safe path as the articulatable portion moves within the patient. For example, the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to remain within a boundary region enclosing the safe path as the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device follows the safe path.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing waypoints of a steerable medical device, wherein said stored waypoints comprise an ordered sequence of locations, and further wherein said ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path for moving an articulatable portion of said steerable medical device within a patient; constraining said articulatable portion of said steerable medical device to follow said safe path as said articulatable portion moves within said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a steerable medical device having an articulatable portion; and a controller, coupled to said steerable medical device, comprising; a processor; a memory coupled to said processor; and a medical device controller coupled to said processor and to said steerable medical device; and wherein said processor stores in said memory an ordered sequence of locations; and said processor analyzes said ordered sequence of locations and outputs to said medical device controller at least one command to constrain said articulatable portion within a boundary region enclosing a safe path defined by said ordered sequence of locations. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification