CONTROLLED ACTUATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF A MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20100228076A1
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sync-Rx, Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Sync-Rx, Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Blank, Jacob, Tolkowsky, David
• Application Number:
  US12/781,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22044 with a pointed tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22094 for crossing total occlusions, i.e. piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/254 being adapted depending on the stage of the surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• 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 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• 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 5/7289 : Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 : Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 : for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 : involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 : for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 : for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 : for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5217 : extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 : combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 : involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 : for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0891 : for diagnosis of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 : involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 : Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 : Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10121 : Fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 : Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 : Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 : Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 : Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0014 : using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 : Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 : using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 : of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/034 : of medical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 : Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Apparatus is described including a sensor that senses a phase of cyclic motion of a portion of a subject'"'"'s body. During a first phase of a first cycle of the cyclic motion, a tool modulator does not to facilitate movement of a tool with respect to the portion. Subsequent to the first phase, in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle is at a second phase thereof, the modulator facilitates movement of the tool. In a cycle subsequent to the first cycle, the modulator facilitates movement of the tool, during the entire subsequent cycle. During the first phase of the first cycle, an accumulation-facilitator facilitates an accumulation of energy in the accumulation-facilitator. An accumulation-inhibitor inhibits accumulation of energy in the accumulation-facilitator during the subsequent cycle, by actively inhibiting movement of at least a portion of the accumulation-facilitator. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes cyclic motion, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing a phase of the cyclic motion;

a tool at least a portion of which is configured to be moved with respect to the portion of the subject'"'"'s body; and

a tool modulator configured;

during a first phase of a first cycle of the cyclic motion, not to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool,

subsequent to the first phase of the first cycle, in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at a second phase thereof, to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool, and

in a cycle subsequent to the first cycle, to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool, during the entire subsequent cycle;

an accumulation-facilitator configured, during the first phase of the first cycle, to facilitate an accumulation of energy in the accumulation facilitator; and

an accumulation-inhibitor configured to inhibit accumulation of energy in the accumulation-facilitator during the subsequent cycle, by actively inhibiting movement of at least a portion of the accumulation-facilitator.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a balloon, at least a portion of which is configured to be inflated in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at the second phase thereof.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising inflation fluid, the balloon being configured to be inflated with the inflation fluid, wherein the accumulation-facilitator comprises a surface configured to facilitate an accumulation of energy by moving in response to pressure from the inflation fluid, and wherein the accumulation-inhibitor is configured to inhibit the movement of the surface during the subsequent cycle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the surface is configured to facilitate the accumulation of energy by becoming elastically deformed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a spring, wherein the surface is configured to facilitate an accumulation of energy by facilitating an accumulation of energy in the spring.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at the second phase thereof,

the surface is configured to automatically release at least some of the accumulated energy by applying pressure to the inflation fluid, and

the accumulation-inhibitor is configured to move automatically such that the accumulation inhibitor inhibits movement of the surface.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the accumulation inhibitor is configured to assist in the release of energy from the surface by moving automatically.

8. Apparatus for use with a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes cyclic motion, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing a phase of the cyclic motion;

a tool at least a portion of which is configured to be moved with respect to the portion of the subject'"'"'s body; and

a tool modulator configured;

during a first phase of a first cycle of the cyclic motion, not to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool,

subsequent to the first phase of the first cycle, in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at a second phase thereof, to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool, and

in a cycle subsequent to the first cycle, to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool, during the entire subsequent cycle;

an accumulation facilitator configured, during the first phase of the first cycle, to facilitate an accumulation of energy in the accumulation facilitator; and

an accumulation-bypass mechanism configured to cause the accumulation facilitator to be bypassed during the subsequent cycle.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tool comprises a balloon, at least a portion of which is configured to be inflated in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at the second phase thereof.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising inflation fluid, the balloon being configured to be inflated with the inflation fluid, wherein the accumulation-facilitator comprises a surface configured to facilitate an accumulation of energy by moving in response to pressure from the inflation fluid, and wherein the accumulation-bypass mechanism is configured to cause the inflation fluid not to flow past the surface during the subsequent cycle.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the surface is configured to facilitate the accumulation of energy by becoming elastically deformed.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a spring, wherein the surface is configured to facilitate an accumulation of energy by facilitating an accumulation of energy in the spring.

13. (canceled)

14. Apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing a phase of the cyclic activity;

a tool configured to be deployed within a blood vessel of a subject;

a balloon having a central portion disposed inside the tool and overhanging portions that are disposed outside the tool, the balloon configured to couple the tool to the blood vessel, by the balloon being inflated inside the tool while the balloon and the tool are inside the blood vessel; and

a control unit configured, while the balloon and the tool are inside the blood vessel, to inflate the balloon such that at least one of the overhanging portions of the balloon becomes appositioned to an inner surface of the blood vessel, in response to the sensor sensing that the cyclic activity is at a given phase thereof.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured to inflate the balloon continuously during at least one period selected from the group consisting of:

a period before the balloon becomes appositioned to the surface, and a period after the balloon becomes appositioned to the surface.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the tool comprises a tool selected from the group consisting of a stent, a replacement valve, and a graft.

17-27. -27. (canceled)

28. Apparatus for use with a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes cyclic motion, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing a phase of the cyclic motion;

a tool at least a portion of which is configured to be moved with respect to the portion of the subject'"'"'s body;

a tool-actuation element configured to actuate the tool to move; and

a tool modulator configured;

during a first phase of a first cycle of the cyclic motion, not to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool,

subsequent to the first phase of the first cycle, in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at a second phase thereof, to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool, and

in a cycle subsequent to the first cycle, to facilitate movement of the portion of the tool, during the entire subsequent cycle;

an accumulation-facilitator configured, during the first phase of the first cycle, to facilitate an accumulation of the tool-actuation element in the accumulation facilitator; and

an accumulation-inhibitor configured to inhibit accumulation of the tool-actuation element in the accumulation-facilitator during the subsequent cycle, by actively inhibiting movement of at least a portion of the accumulation-facilitator.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the tool comprises a balloon, at least a portion of which is configured to be inflated in response to the sensor sensing that the first cycle of the cyclic motion is at the second phase thereof, and wherein the tool-actuation element comprises inflation fluid, the balloon being configured to be inflated with the inflation fluid.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29,

wherein the accumulation-facilitator comprises a chamber, a surface of which chamber is configured to facilitate an accumulation of the inflation fluid in the chamber by the surface being disposed in a first position with respect to the chamber,

wherein the surface is configured to release at least a portion of the accumulated inflation fluid by moving to a second position with respect to the chamber, and

wherein the accumulation-inhibitor is configured to inhibit the accumulation of the inflation fluid in the chamber, by inhibiting movement of the surface from the second position with respect to the chamber, during the subsequent cycle.

31-34. -34. (canceled)