Inductively coupled RF tracking system for use in invasive imaging of a living body
First Claim
1. A radiofrequency (RF) tracking system to track an invasive device in a living subject comprising:
- a) radiofrequency (RF) source for generating an RF signal;
b) an interface assembly having1. retaining device and2. inducting coil connected to the RF source for transmitting the RF signal;
c) an invasive device having an equipment end held by the retaining device and a distal end intended to be inserted in said subject, the invasive device also having1. a communicating coil in the equipment end inductively coupled to the inducting coil receiving the RF signal transmitted by the inducting coil,2. electrical leads connected to the communicating coil for passing the received RF signal, and3. a transmitting coil in the distal end connected to the electrical leads, for transmitting the RF signal into said subject;
d) a sterile shield fitting between the interface assembly and the invasive device for creating an antiseptic sterile barrier between the invasive device and the interface assembly;
e) an RF tracking means for calculating a position of the transmitting coil indicating the location and orientation of the invasive device from the RF signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
RF tracking system employs a RF invasive device coupled to surgical tracking equipment for tracking the invasive device. An inductive coupling permits the device to be quickly coupled to, and decoupled from, the equipment. The coupling comprises an inducting coil which transmits a signal from the surgical tracking equipment to a communicating coil in the invasive device. The signal received by the communicating coil passes along leads to a tracked coil in a distal end of the invasive device. The tracked coil transmits the signal as RF energy which is received by the surgical tracking equipment which superimposes the position of the distal end of the invasive device on an X-ray image and displays it on a monitor A sterile shield is employed as a sterile barrier between the inducting coil and the equipment end of the invasive device to prevent contamination of the invasive device by the inducting coil. The cross-section of the invasive device at its equipment end can be made identical to the rest of the invasive device to permit other invasive devices to pass completely over the invasive device.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A radiofrequency (RF) tracking system to track an invasive device in a living subject comprising:
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a) radiofrequency (RF) source for generating an RF signal; b) an interface assembly having 1. retaining device and 2. inducting coil connected to the RF source for transmitting the RF signal; c) an invasive device having an equipment end held by the retaining device and a distal end intended to be inserted in said subject, the invasive device also having 1. a communicating coil in the equipment end inductively coupled to the inducting coil receiving the RF signal transmitted by the inducting coil, 2. electrical leads connected to the communicating coil for passing the received RF signal, and 3. a transmitting coil in the distal end connected to the electrical leads, for transmitting the RF signal into said subject; d) a sterile shield fitting between the interface assembly and the invasive device for creating an antiseptic sterile barrier between the invasive device and the interface assembly; e) an RF tracking means for calculating a position of the transmitting coil indicating the location and orientation of the invasive device from the RF signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radiofrequency (RF) tracking system to track an invasive device in a living subject comprising:
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a) radiofrequency (RF) source for transmitting an RF signal into said subject; b) an invasive device having an equipment end and a distal end intended to be inserted in said subject, the invasive device also having 1. receiving coil in the distal end adapted for receiving the RF signal from said RF source; 2. an electrical leads connected to the receiving coil for passing the received RF signal, and 3. communicating coil in the equipment end connected to the electrical leads for transmitting the RF signal; c) an interface assembly having 1. retaining device for retaining the equipment end of the invasive device, and 2. inducting coil inductively coupled to the communicating coil for receiving the RF signal transmitted by the communicating coil; d) a sterile shield fitting between the interface assembly and the invasive device creating an antiseptic sterile barrier between the invasive device and the interface assembly; e) an RF tracking means coupled to the inducting coil for calculating a position of the receiving coil indicating the location and orientation of the invasive device from the received RF signal.
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11. An antiseptic electrical connection for passing a signal between a non-antiseptic set of leads and an antiseptic set of electrical leads in a sterile environment comprising:
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a) an interface assembly having 1. retaining device, and 2. inducting coil connected to the non-antiseptic set of leads; b) a sterile housing held by the retaining device having a communicating coil connected to said set of antiseptic leads being inductively coupled to the inducting coil for communicating said signal with the inducting coil; c) a sterile shield fitting between the sterile housing and the interface assembly creating an antiseptic sterile barrier between the sterile housing, the antiseptic leads, and the interface assembly and non-antiseptic leads. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification