Systems and methods for guilding diagnostic or therapeutic devices in interior tissue regions

• US 5,740,808 A
• Filed: 10/28/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EP Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McGee, David, Panescu, Dorin, Swanson, David K., Whayne, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIELDS, DERRICK LAMAR
• Application Number:
  US08/739,508
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.01, 128/660.03, 128/662.03, 128/662.06
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

A catheter tube carries an operative element, such as, for example, an imaging element to visualize tissue. The catheter tube also carries a support structure, which surrounds the operative element. A steering element moves the operative element relative to the support structure. A guidance element generates an electric field within the support structure, while sensing spatial variations in the electric field during movement of the imaging element. The guidance element generates an output that locates the imaging element relative to the support structure based upon an analysis of the sensed spatial variations. The support structure preferably carries an identification code, which represents the specific spatial geometry of the support structure. The support structure outputs the identification code to the guidance element for consideration when generating the location-specific output.

Claims

1. A system comprising

a catheter tube having a distal region,

an imaging element on the distal region to visualize tissue,

a support structure on the distal region surrounding the imaging element,

a steering element coupled to the imaging element to move the imaging element relative to the support structure, and

a guidance element comprising a generating component to generate an electric field within the support structure, a sensing component to sense spatial variations in the electric field during movement of the imaging element, and a processing component to generate an output that locates the imaging element relative to the support structure based upon an analysis of the sensed spatial variations.

2. A system according to claim 1

wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasound transducer.

3. A system according to claim 1

wherein the imaging element comprises a fiber optic assembly.

4. A system according to claim 1

wherein the imaging element includes a phased array ultrasound transducer assembly.

5. A system according to claim 1

wherein the support structure has an axis, and

wherein the steering element moves the imaging element along the axis.

6. A system according to claim 1

wherein the support structure has an axis, and

wherein the steering element moves the imaging element transverse to the axis.

7. A probe according to claim 1

wherein the support structure has an axis, and

wherein the steering element rotates the imaging element about the axis.

8. A system according to claim 1

wherein the support element forms a three-dimensional structure.

9. A system according to claim 8

wherein the three-dimensional structure keeps tissue from contacting the imaging element.

10. A system according to claim 1

wherein the generating component includes at least one electrode carried by the imaging element and conditioned by the generating element to transmit electrical energy.

22. A system according to claim 10 or 21

wherein the sensing element conditions the at least one electrode to sense the spatial variations.

23. A system according to claim 1 or 11

wherein the generating component includes an electrode array carried by the support structure and conditioned by the generating element to transmit electrical energy.

24. A system according to claim 23

wherein the sensing element conditions the electrode array to sense the spatial variations.

25. A system according to claim 1 or 11

wherein the guidance element includes a comparator to compare the identification code to prescribed criteria and generate an output based upon the comparison.

26. A system according to claim 25

wherein the comparator disables the guidance element when the comparison fails to meet a prescribed condition.

27. A system according to claim 1 or 11

wherein the input disables the guidance element in the absence of an identification output.

28. A system according to claim 1 or 11

wherein the input disables the guidance element when the identification output fails to meet preestablished criteria.

11. A system comprising

a catheter tube having a distal region,

an operative element on the distal region,

a support structure on the distal region surrounding the operative element, the support structure having a predetermined spatial geometry,

a steering element coupled to the operative element to move the operative element relative to the support structure,

an identification code that uniquely identifies the predetermined spatial geometry of the support structure,

an identification element attached in association with the support structure to retain the identification code and adapted to provide an identification output representative of the identification code, and

a guidance element including a generating component to generate an electric field within the support structure, the electric field being characterized, at least in part, by the predetermined spatial geometry of the support structure, a sensing component to sense spatial variations in the electric field during movement of the operative element, an input to receive the identification output, and a processing component to generate an output that locates the operative element relative to the support structure based upon an analysis of the sensed spatial variations, and also taking into account the identification output.

12. A system according to claim 11

wherein the operative element comprises an imaging element for visualizing tissue.

13. A system according to claim 12

wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasound transducer.

14. A system according to claim 12

wherein the imaging element comprises a fiber optic assembly.

15. A system according to claim 12

wherein the imaging element includes a phased array ultrasound transducer assembly.

16. A system according to claim 11

wherein the support structure has an axis, and

wherein the steering element moves the operative element along the axis.

17. A system according to claim 11

wherein the support structure has an axis, and

wherein the steering element moves the operative element transverse to the axis.

18. A system according to claim 11

wherein the support structure has an axis, and

wherein the steering element rotates the operative element about the axis.

19. A system according to claim 11

wherein the support element forms a three-dimensional structure.

20. A system according to claim 19

wherein the three-dimensional structure keeps tissue from contacting the imaging element.

21. A system according to claim 11

wherein the generating component includes at least one electrode carried by the operative element and conditioned by the generating element to transmit electrical energy.