LOCALIZATION SYSTEM

• US 20100145192A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Elgort, Daniel R., Albu, Lucian Remus
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/426
• 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 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 15/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electromagnetic waves or particle radiation, e.g. by the use of microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays or electrons characterised by the use of optical techniques G01B9/00, G01B11/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a localization system that can particularly be used to localize an interventional instrument (2) in the body of a patient (1). The localization system comprises an electromagnetic wave source (10) which splits an electromagnetic signal into components propagating along a probe path (20) and a reference path, respectively. Said probe path (20) comprises a signal outlet (22) for emitting the signal at the point to be located and at least one detector (23) for picking up the emitted signal. A correlator (40) is used to determine the correlation between the signal components that propagated along the probe path (20) and the reference path (30), respectively. Knowing the length of the reference path, the unknown distance between the signal outlet (22) and the detector (23) in the probe path (20) can be estimated based on the correlation information.

Claims

1. A localization system comprising

a) an electromagnetic wave source (10) for splitting an electromagnetic signal into components propagating along at least one probe path (20) and along a reference path (30);

b) the at least one probe path (20) with

a signal outlet (22) for emitting the electromagnetic signal component of the probe path at a point of interest;

a detector (23) for picking up the emitted electromagnetic signal component;

c) a correlator (40) for determining the correlation between the electromagnetic signal components that propagated along the probe path and the reference path, respectively;

c) an evaluation unit (51) for estimating the location of the signal outlet (22) relative to the detector (23) based on the determined correlation.

2. The localization system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least two, preferably at least three probe paths (20) that share the signal outlet (22) but have individual detectors (23) disposed at different positions.

3. The localization system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the detector (23) is sensitive in all spatial directions.

4. The localization system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the electromagnetic wave source (10) is a low-coherence wave source.

5. The localization system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least one waveguide (21) for connecting the electromagnetic wave source (10) with the signal outlet (22), the detector (23) with the correlator (40), and/or the electromagnetic wave source (10) with the correlator (40).

6. The localization system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises a tracking device for tracking the spatial position and/or orientation of the detector (23).

7. A medical system, comprising

an interventional instrument, particularly a catheter (2), an endoscope, or a needle;

a localization system according to claim 1 with its signal outlet (22) attached to the instrument.

8. A method for localizing a point of interest, comprising the following steps:

a) splitting an electromagnetic signal into components propagating along at least one probe path (20) and along a reference path (30);

b) in the at least one probe path;

emitting the electromagnetic signal component of the probe path from a signal outlet (22) located at the point of interest;

picking up the emitted electromagnetic signal component with a detector (23);

c) determining the correlation between the electromagnetic signal components that propagated along the probe path and the reference path, respectively;

d) estimating the location of the signal outlet relative to the detector based on the determined correlation.

9. A computer program for enabling carrying out steps c) and/or d) of the method according to claim 8.

10. A record carrier on which a computer program according to claim 9 is stored.