ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD GENERATOR ALIGNMENT

• US 20190000559A1
• Filed: 06/25/2018
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Berman, David Burdick, Rafii-Tari, Hedyeh, Jeevan, Prasanth, Robert, Nicolas E.
• Granted Patent: US 11,832,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0216 Sampling brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00809 Lung operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2059 Mechanical position encoders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2065 Tracking using image or pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0228 Microwave sensors
• 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 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 : mounted on an invasive device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 : of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/00 : Operating tables; Auxiliary appliances therefor illumination of operating tables F21L, F21S or F21V ; adjustability of tables in general A47B9/00; tables for radiation diagnosis A61B6/04, drainage or irrigation pans, bags, or attachments A61G7/02, A61G7/0503

Abstract

Systems and methods for electromagnetic field generator alignment are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of the EM field, one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient. The system may also include a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on the one or more EM sensor signals, encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field, and provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.

Claims

1. A system configured to facilitate alignment of a field generator and one or more electromagnetic (EM) sensors with respect to each other, the system comprising:

an EM sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of an EM field generated by the EM field generator, one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient;

a processor; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to;

determine a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on the one or more EM sensor signals;

encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field; and

provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render the encoded data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the working volume comprises (i) a first sub-volume and (ii) a second sub-volume larger than and enveloping the first sub-volume; and

the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to;

encode the representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes of the field generator, and

provide the encoded representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes to the display.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:

encode user instructions to a user of the system to position the field generator such that the EM sensor is positioned within at least one of the first and second sub-volumes, and

provide the encoded user instructions to the display.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least two additional EM sensors, the EM sensors are configured to be placed on the patient so as to surround an area of interest.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the area of interest at least partially overlaps an anatomical feature of the patient.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:

encode user instructions to position the field generator such that a defined number of the EM sensors are positioned within the first working volume, and

provide the encoded user instructions to the display.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:

encode user instructions to position;

(i) a first one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s mid sternum, (ii) a second one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s left lateral eighth rib, and (iii) a third one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s left lateral eighth rib; and

provide the encoded user instructions to position the first to third EM sensors on the patient to the display.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:

receive input from the user that one of the second and third EM sensors cannot be positioned with the working volume;

encode user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors closer to the field generator than the one of the second and third EM sensors'"'"' current position; and

provide the encoded user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors to the display.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

determine a position of an EM sensor with respect to a field generator based on one or more EM sensor signals, the EM sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of an EM field generated by the field generator, the one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient;

encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field; and

provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the working volume comprises (i) a first sub-volume and (ii) a second sub-volume larger than and enveloping the first sub-volume, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

encode the representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes of the field generator, and

provide the encoded representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes to the display.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

encode user instructions to a user of the system to position the field generator such that the EM sensor is positioned within at least one of the first and second sub-volumes, and

provide the encoded user instructions to the display.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the EM sensor and at least two additional EM sensors are configured to be placed on the patient so as to surround an area of interest.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the area of interest at least partially overlaps an anatomical feature of the patient.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

encode user instructions to position the field generator such that a defined number of the EM sensors are positioned within the first working volume, and

provide the encoded user instructions to the display.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

encode user instructions to position;

(i) a first one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s mid sternum, (ii) a second one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s left lateral eighth rib, and (iii) a third one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s left lateral eighth rib; and

provide the encoded user instructions to position the first to third EM sensors on the patient to the display.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

receive input from the user that one of the second and third EM sensors cannot be positioned with the working volume;

encode user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors closer to the field generator than the one of the second and third EM sensors'"'"' current position; and

provide the encoded user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors to the display.

17. A method of facilitating alignment of a field generator and an electromagnetic (EM) sensor with respect to each other, the method comprising:

determining a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on one or more EM sensor signals, the EM sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of an EM field generated by the EM field generator, the one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient; and

encoding a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field; and

providing the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the working volume comprises (i) a first sub-volume and (ii) a second sub-volume larger than and enveloping the first sub-volume, the method further comprising:

encoding the representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes of the field generator, and

providing the encoded representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes to the display.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

encoding user instructions to a user of the system to position the field generator such that the EM sensor is positioned within at least one of the first and second sub-volumes, and

providing the encoded user instructions to the display.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the EM sensor and at least two additional EM sensors are configured to be placed on the patient so as to surround an area of interest.

21. The method of claim 20, the area of interest at least partially overlaps an anatomical feature of the patient.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

encoding user instructions to position the field generator such that a defined number of the EM sensors are positioned within the first working volume, and

providing the encoded user instructions to the display.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

encoding user instructions to position;

(i) a first one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s mid sternum, (ii) a second one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s left lateral eighth rib, and (iii) a third one of the EM sensors on the patient'"'"'s left lateral eighth rib; and

providing the encoded user instructions to position the first to third EM sensors on the patient to the display.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving input from the user that one of the second and third EM sensors cannot be positioned with the working volume;

encoding user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors closer to the field generator than the one of the second and third EM sensors'"'"' current position; and

providing the encoded user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors to the display.