CATHETER LOCATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE
First Claim
1. A method of locating a coil used in relation to a catheter to be inserted into a subject body wherein the coil radiates signal energy, the method comprising:
- using a coil detector device having at least two coil detectors wherein the coil detector device is located with reference to a predetermined location on the subject body and is configured to generate a signal based on a spatial separation of a the radiating coil from the coil detector device; and
displaying a predetermined symbol representative of a portion of a non-subject body wherein the signal generated by the coil detector device is used to display a predetermined coil symbol representative of the radiating coil at a position on a display device relative to the predetermined symbol for use by a clinician to guide a positioning of the radiating coil and the catheter into the subject body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method of catheter and radiating coil location in a human body and in particular to the determination over time of the location of the tip of a catheter as it is inserted and during its use in the body. In particular when a radiating coil is used in conjunction with a catheter, a coil locating device can be used to determine the distance the coil is from the device and hence its depth in the body of a patient. To assist a clinician using the coil-locating device, a display is provided that shows both a reference image of a part or portion of a body (non-subject body) and an image of the coil located on the display with reference to the reference image. This is achieved by locating the coil-locating device on or over a predetermined landmark on the patient'"'"'s body. The coil and its associated signal wires can be incorporated into a stylet, guide wire or a catheter. The coil locating device has a preferable triangular shape in plan view that allows its uppermost apex to be orientated towards the head of the patient and for an axis of the device to be aligned with the mid sagittal plane of the patient. Preferable landmarks on a human body include the xiphoid sternal junction and the caudal/mid sagittal aspect of the jugular sternal notch.
5 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of locating a coil used in relation to a catheter to be inserted into a subject body wherein the coil radiates signal energy, the method comprising:
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using a coil detector device having at least two coil detectors wherein the coil detector device is located with reference to a predetermined location on the subject body and is configured to generate a signal based on a spatial separation of a the radiating coil from the coil detector device; and displaying a predetermined symbol representative of a portion of a non-subject body wherein the signal generated by the coil detector device is used to display a predetermined coil symbol representative of the radiating coil at a position on a display device relative to the predetermined symbol for use by a clinician to guide a positioning of the radiating coil and the catheter into the subject body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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9. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
displaying the predetermined coil symbol representative of the radiating coil at predetermined intervals of time while the catheter is inserted into or retracted from the body such that the catheter can be tracked and displayed.
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10. The method according to claim 10, wherein the tracked path is constructed for display by calculating a line of best fit from a plurality of signals generated by the coil detector device.
Specification