ULTRASONIC GUIDANCE OF SUBCUTANEOUS TUNNELING

• US 20100305428A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stadler, Robert, Bonner, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/512,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305428A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• 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 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

A method of tracking a medical device in a body includes inserting the medical device into a body and emitting a sonic signal from a transceiver coupled to the medical device. The method further includes receiving an echo of the sonic signal with the transceiver and detecting a location of the medical device in the body based on the received echo.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a medical device in a body comprising:

inserting the medical device into a body;

emitting a sonic signal from a transceiver coupled to the medical device;

receiving an echo of the sonic signal with the transceiver; and

detecting a location of the medical device in the body based on the received echo.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is at a predetermined distance from a leading end of the medical device, and wherein detecting a location of the medical device includes detecting a location of the leading end of the medical device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a depth of the medical device based on a reflection of the sonic signal from at least one of a lung and a skin-air interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a distance of the medical device from a predetermined target location based on a reflection of the sonic signal from a spinal column.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising distinguishing between a plurality of echoes to detect the location of the medical device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein emitting a sonic signal comprises emitting an ultrasonic signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is one of a tunneling tool, a catheter, a neurological stimulating device, a neurological recording device, a shunt, and an electrical lead.

8. A method of creating a subcutaneous tunnel in a body comprising:

inserting a leading end of a tunneling tool into a body;

creating the subcutaneous tunnel as the leading end advances in the body;

emitting a sonic signal from an emitter on the tunneling tool;

receiving an echo of the sonic signal; and

detecting a location of the leading end in the body based on the received echo.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting a depth of the leading end within the body based on a reflection of the sonic signal from at least one of a lung and a skin-air interface.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting a distance of the leading end from a predetermined target location based on a reflection of the sonic signal from a spinal column.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising emitting an external sonic signal from outside the body, receiving the external sonic signal, and detecting a distance of the leading end from a predetermined target location based on the received external sonic signal.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising distinguishing between a plurality of echoes to detect the location of the leading end.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising inserting a medical device into the body via the subcutaneous tunnel.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein emitting a sonic signal comprises emitting an ultrasonic signal.

15. A tracking system comprising:

a medical device for being introduced into a body of a patient;

a transceiver that emits a sonic signal and that receives an echo of the sonic signal, the transceiver being coupled to the medical device; and

a controller that detects a location of the medical device in the body based on the echo received by the transceiver.

16. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein the transceiver is an ultrasonic transceiver that emits an ultrasonic signal.

17. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein the controller distinguishes between a plurality of echoes to detect the location of the medical device.

18. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein the medical device includes a leading end, wherein the transceiver is at a predetermined distance from the leading end, and wherein the controller detects a location of the leading end of the medical device based on the echo received by the transceiver.

19. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein the controller detects a depth of the medical device within the body based on a reflection of the sonic signal from at least one of a lung and a skin-air interface.

20. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein the controller detects a distance of the medical device from a predetermined target location based on a reflection of the sonic signal from a spinal column.

21. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein the medical device is one of a tunneling tool, a catheter, a neurological stimulating device, a neurological recording device, a shunt, and an electrical lead.

22. A tunneling system for creating a subcutaneous tunnel in a body comprising:

a tunneling tool having a leading end that creates the subcutaneous tunnel as the leading end advances in the body;

an emitter that emits a sonic signal, the emitter being coupled to the tunneling tool;

a receiver that receives an echo of the sonic signal; and

a controller that detects a location of the leading end in the body based on the echo received by the receiver.

23. The tunneling system of claim 22, wherein the emitter is an ultrasonic emitter that emits an ultrasonic signal.

24. The tunneling system of claim 22, wherein the controller distinguishes between a plurality of echoes to detect the location of the leading end.

25. The tunneling system of claim 22, wherein the controller detects a depth of the leading end within the body based on a reflection of the sonic signal from at least one of a lung and a skin-air interface.

26. The tunneling system of claim 22, wherein the controller detects a distance of the leading end from a predetermined target location based on a reflection of the sonic signal from a spinal column.

27. The tunneling system of claim 22, further comprising an external sonic device that emits a sonic signal from outside the body, and wherein the controller detects a distance of the leading end from a predetermined target location based on the sonic signal from the external sonic device.

28. The tunneling system of claim 22, wherein the tunneling tool is elongate.

29. The tunneling system of claim 22, wherein the tunneling tool includes an attachment mechanism for removably coupling to a medical device.

30. The tunneling system of claim 29, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a hook that is movable relative to the main body.

31. The tunneling system of claim 30, wherein the tunneling tool includes an actuator for selectively moving the hook relative to the main body.

32. A method of creating a subcutaneous tunnel in a body comprising:

coupling an electrical lead of a cardiac defibrillator to a tunneling tool;

inserting a leading end of the tunneling tool into a body;

creating the subcutaneous tunnel as the leading end advances in the body;

advancing the electrical lead in the tunnel;

emitting at least one ultrasonic signal from an emitter coupled adjacent the leading end;

receiving a plurality of echoes of the at least one ultrasonic signal;

detecting a depth of the leading end within the body based on a reflection of the at least one ultrasonic signal from a lung and a skin-air interface;

detecting a distance of the leading end from a predetermined target location based on a reflection of the at least one ultrasonic signal from a spinal column;

detaching the tunneling tool from the electrical lead when the leading end is located approximately at the predetermined target location; and

removing the tunneling tool from the body.