MEDICAL DEVICE POSITION GUIDANCE SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN A NONINVASIVE AND AN INVASIVE DEVICE

• US 20120226148A1
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corpak Medystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jaggi, David S., Kay, Donald A., Killam, Joseph P., Manzella, Salvatore Jr., Moy, King Y., Platt, David K., Purnell, Shawn G., Shapiro, Alan R., Shaughnessy, Michael C., Witt, Mark C., Zachara, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,174 B2
• 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 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• 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 5/07 Endoradiosondes

Abstract

A medical device position guidance system having a noninvasive medical device communicable with an invasive medical device. The system provides outputs useful to assess the position of an invasive medical device in an animal, such as a human. A magnetic field is used to gather information about the position of the invasive device. Radio waves are used to communicate this information between the noninvasive device and the invasive device.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with a noninvasive device, the catheter assembly comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter operatively coupled to the processor;

a sensor operatively coupled to the processor, the sensor being configured to, in response to a magnetic field being directed toward and reaching the sensor, output electric impulses;

a tube configured to support the sensor, the tube having an end portion configured to be inserted into an animal; and

a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor, in cooperation with the sensor and the transmitter, to;

(a) convert the electric impulses to a series of modulated radio waves; and

(b) wirelessly transmit, to the noninvasive device, the series of modulated radio waves, the noninvasive device being;

(i) positionable over a surface of the animal; and

(ii) separate from the catheter assembly.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1, which includes a noninvasive portion which includes the transmitter.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 1, which includes a first battery operatively coupled to the processor, the noninvasive device including a second battery.

4. A noninvasive device configured to wirelessly communicate with a catheter assembly which includes a tube having an end portion configured to be inserted into an animal, the noninvasive device comprising:

a processor;

a magnetic field generator operatively coupled to the processor, the magnetic field generator being configured to generate the magnetic field; and

a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

(i) receive wirelessly transmitted series of modulated radio waves from the catheter assembly; and

(ii) using the received wirelessly transmitted series of modulated radio waves, determine;

(A) a distance between the noninvasive device and the end of the tube; and

(B) a direction in which the end of the tube is pointing; and

(iii) cause a display device to indicate the distance and the direction, the noninvasive device being;

(a) positionable over a surface of the animal; and

(b) separate from the catheter assembly.

5. The noninvasive device claim 4, wherein the tube includes a noninvasive portion which includes transmitter that transmits the wirelessly transmitted series of modulated radio waves.

6. The noninvasive device claim 4, which includes a first battery operatively coupled to the processor, the catheter assembly including a second battery.