SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIGHT BASED LUNG VISUALIZATION

• US 20150073269A1
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: STOPEK, JOSHUA B., BRANNAN, JOSEPH D., DICKHANS, WILLIAM J., LADTKOW, CASEY M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,448,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• 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 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• 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 5/066 Superposing sensor position on an image of the patient, e.g. obtained by ultrasound or x-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30

Abstract

A system for light based interrogation of a lung includes a memory, an electromagnetic (EM) board, an extended working channel (EWC), an EM sensor, a light source, a light receptor and a processor. The memory stores a 3D model and a pathway plan of a luminal network and the EM board generates an EM field. The EWC navigates a luminal network of a patient toward a target in accordance with the pathway plan and the EM sensor extends distally from a distal end of the EWC and is configured to sense the EM field. The light source is located at or around the EWC and is configured to emit light, and the light receptor is located at or around the EWC and is configured to sense reflected light from airway of the luminal network. The processor converts the reflected light into light based data and identifies a type of tissue.

Claims

1. A method for light-based interrogation comprising:

importing a three dimensional (3D) model of a luminal network and a pathway plan to navigate toward a target;

generating an electromagnetic (EM) field about the luminal network;

inserting an EM sensor, a light source, and a light receptor into the luminal network following the pathway plan toward the target;

sensing, at the EM sensor, the EM field;

synchronizing a location of the EM sensor in the EM field with the 3D model;

emitting, at the light source, light;

receiving, at the light receptor, light reflected from the luminal network; and

predicting based on the reflected light a type or density of the target, the presence of one or more blood vessels, disease state, or sufficiency of treatment of the target.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a scale factor between a coordinate system of the EM field and a coordinate system of the 3D model.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising scaling a traveled distance of the EM sensor to synchronize movement of the EM sensor in the 3D model based on the pathway plan and the scale factor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating images based on the reflected light.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising integrating the generated images with the 3D model.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising displaying the integrated 3D model based on a location of the EM sensor.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the generated image shows an interior of the luminal network.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising calculating a distance between a location of the EM sensor and a location of the light receptor.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein integrating the generated images with the 3D model is based on the distance.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising recognizing a breathing pattern of the patient.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising identifying the location of the EM sensor by compensating for patient'"'"'s breathing based on the breathing pattern.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the generated images are selectively fused to create a composite image data set with the 3D model.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a status based on a location of the EM sensor.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the status indicates whether the light receptor is located at a not-in-target location, the target, or a location adjacent to healthy tissue.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the status indicates whether treatment of the target is complete.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether a density of the target is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying a notice notifying a determination result of whether the density of the target is less than or equal to the predetermined value.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether a color of the treated target has achieved a predetermined change in color.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising displaying a notice notifying a determination result of whether the color of the treated target has achieved the predetermined change in color.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the emitted light wavelength ranges from 400 nanometer to 700 nanometer.