Systems and methods for guiding a medical instrument
First Claim
1. A tracking system for a medical device, the medical device including a distal portion for insertion into the body of a patient and a proximal portion remaining external to the patient body, the proximal portion of the medical device at least temporarily associated with a magnetic element, the system comprising:
- a tracking circuit to track movement of the medical device, the tracking circuit including;
a processor that computes position data of the medical device according to detection of the magnetic element; and
a memory for storing the position data;
a first medical imaging system for imaging a first body portion of the patient, the first medical imaging system including an interface for communicating information relating to the position data of the medical device; and
a second medical imaging system for imaging a second body portion of the patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. In other embodiments, a guidance system for guiding rigid or other medical instruments is disclosed, together with various example implementations thereof.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A tracking system for a medical device, the medical device including a distal portion for insertion into the body of a patient and a proximal portion remaining external to the patient body, the proximal portion of the medical device at least temporarily associated with a magnetic element, the system comprising:
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a tracking circuit to track movement of the medical device, the tracking circuit including; a processor that computes position data of the medical device according to detection of the magnetic element; and a memory for storing the position data; a first medical imaging system for imaging a first body portion of the patient, the first medical imaging system including an interface for communicating information relating to the position data of the medical device; and a second medical imaging system for imaging a second body portion of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for tracking a distal portion of a medical device with respect to a body of a patient, the medical device including a proximal portion that remains external to the patient and a distal portion for insertion into the body of the patient, the method comprising:
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imaging a first body portion with a first medical imaging system for depiction on a display; detecting a magnetic element associated with the proximal portion of the medical device; determining a position of the distal portion of the medical device according to the detected magnetic element; depicting on the display the position of the distal portion of the medical device together with the first body portion; imaging a second body portion with a second medical imaging system; and depicting the second body portion together with the position of the distal portion of the medical device and the first body portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A virtual tracking system for a virtual medical device, the virtual medical device including a tangible proximal portion that is at least temporarily associated with a magnetic element, the system comprising:
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a tracking circuit to track movement of the virtual medical device, the tracking circuit including; at least one a reception component that detects the magnetic element; and a processor that iteratively computes position data of a virtual distal portion of the virtual medical device according to detection of the magnetic element so as to simulate insertion of a distal portion of a medical device into the body of a patient; and a display for depicting an image relating to the position data of the virtual distal portion of the virtual medical device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification