Method and system for probe positioning in transesophageal echocardiography

• US 5,906,578 A
• Filed: 06/18/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Govinda N. Rajan, Ravi Subramanian, Valavanur A. Subramanian
• Original Assignee: Govinda N. Rajan, Ravi Subramanian, Valavanur A. Subramanian
• Inventors: Subramanian, Ravi, Rajan, Govinda N., Subramanian, Valavanur A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US08/877,608
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 600/426, 600/437, 600/424, 600/463, 382/113, 382/278
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• 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 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0116 self-propelled, e.g. autonomous robots A61M25/0122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A method of optimally positioning an imaging device comprising the steps of storing a reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired view with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with the reference image; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a desired image of a patient with an imaging device, comprising:

positioning the imaging device;

continuously obtaining an acquired view comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device;

periodically comparing the acquired view with the desired image using an automatic, not manual, technique; and

adjusting the position of the imaging device if the acquired view is not substantially similar to the desired image.

2. A method of optimally positioning a probe during transesophageal cardiography, comprising:

storing a reference image;

positioning a probe within a patient'"'"'s esophagus;

continuously obtaining an acquired view of the patient'"'"'s heart with the probe, wherein the acquired view comprises a video image;

determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with the reference image; and

periodically adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.

3. A method of optimally positioning an imaging device, comprising:

obtaining a database of reference images taken from a plurality of patients with a probe, wherein the database is saved in an artificial intelligence module;

continuously obtaining an acquired view of a patient with the imaging device;

determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one reference image from the database; and

adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the artificial module comprises a neural network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the artificial module comprises a rule based expert system.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the artificial module comprises a fuzzy logic expert system.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the database includes data regarding the approximate position of the probe for obtaining at least one of the reference images.

8. A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising:

storing at least one reference image;

continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device;

determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using neural network techniques; and

adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.

9. A method of optimally positioning an imaging device to obtain a desired image of a patient, comprising:

storing at least one reference image;

continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device;

determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using a rule based expert system; and

adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.

10. A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising:

storing at least one reference image;

continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of a patient with the imaging device;

determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using a fuzzy logic expert system; and

adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.

11. A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising:

sequentially storing a plurality of one reference images;

continuously obtaining an acquired view comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device;

determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with alternating stored reference images using an automatic, not manual, technique; and

adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.