Luminal mapping
First Claim
1. A system creating a 3D image of a lumen of a subject comprising:
- a) an invasive device for insertion into a lumen of a subject;
b) a distance determination means incorporated into an insertion end of the invasive device for measuring a distance from the insertion end to the inside wall of the lumen at a plurality of angular locations;
c) at least one device locating means located in the invasive device;
d) a tracking means for tracking the device locating means as an operator moves the invasive device in the subject to determine an instantaneous 3D location of the invasive device;
e) a storage device for storing 3D locations and measured distances for later retrieval;
f) a display device for providing graphical displays to the operator; and
g) a signal interpretation device coupled to the distance determination means and storage device for retrieving the stored measured distances and stored 3D locations to create and display on the display device 3D images of lumen according to operator movement of the invasive device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An invasive probe for mapping the walls of a lumen employs a real-time tracking means and a wall distance measurement means. As the probe is advanced within the lumen, the real-time tracking means provides three-dimensional coordinates of the probe'"'"'s position and orientation. Concurrent with probe localization, the distance between the probe and the lumen walls is measured. Both the probe position and the wall distance measurement are sent to a data acquisition system which in turn provides a graphic or numeric display to the operator. Probe tracking can be performed with radio-frequency, magnetic resonance, ultrasonic techniques or the like. If desired, lumen wall distance measurements can be performed with magnetic resonance or ultrasound methods. Lumen wall distance measurements can also be performed with mechanical devices such as balloons and/or expanding structures.
56 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system creating a 3D image of a lumen of a subject comprising:
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a) an invasive device for insertion into a lumen of a subject;
b) a distance determination means incorporated into an insertion end of the invasive device for measuring a distance from the insertion end to the inside wall of the lumen at a plurality of angular locations;
c) at least one device locating means located in the invasive device;
d) a tracking means for tracking the device locating means as an operator moves the invasive device in the subject to determine an instantaneous 3D location of the invasive device;
e) a storage device for storing 3D locations and measured distances for later retrieval;
f) a display device for providing graphical displays to the operator; and
g) a signal interpretation device coupled to the distance determination means and storage device for retrieving the stored measured distances and stored 3D locations to create and display on the display device 3D images of lumen according to operator movement of the invasive device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
magnetic resonance (MR) tracking equipment.
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3. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 1 wherein the tracking means comprises:
radio-frequency (RF) tracking equipment.
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4. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 1 wherein the distance determination means comprises:
ultrasonic distance measurement equipment.
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5. The system creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 4 wherein the ultrasonic distance measurement equipment comprises:
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a) an ultrasonic beam transducer for providing an ultrasonic beam along an axis, and for sensing incident ultrasonic energy;
b) a rotatable ultrasonic mirror angled with respect to an axis of ultrasonic beam for reflecting the ultrasonic beam to a plurality of radial locations of the lumen around the axis of the ultrasonic beam, the ultrasonic transducer receiving ultrasonic energy reflected back from the lumen and providing the ultrasonic energy to the signal interpretation device.
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6. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 1 wherein the distance determination means comprises at least one magnetic resonance (MR) receive coil for receiving an MR signal from surrounding lumen, and for passing the received MR signal to the signal interpretation device.
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7. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 1 wherein the distance determination means comprises a mechanical expansion device.
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8. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 7 wherein the mechanical expansion device comprises:
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a) a shaft free to rotate through an angle θ
with respect to invasive device;
b) a spiral spring having a center end and an outer end, the center end connected to the shaft with the outer end fixed with respect to the invasive device;
c) a rotation means connected to the shaft capable of rotating the shaft and for equating rotation θ
to diameter of spiral spring, and for passing the diameter to signal interpretation device.
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9. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 8 further comprising:
an elastic sock attached to invasive device surrounding spiral spring facilitating movement of invasive device through lumen.
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10. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 1 wherein the distance determination means comprises an inflatable expansion device.
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11. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 10 wherein the inflatable expansion device comprises:
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a) an inflatable balloon;
b) an inflater pipe coupled to the inflatable balloon;
c) a calibrated metering pump operating to pump fluid into, or out of, inflatable balloon though inflater pipe, operating to keep track of the amount of fluid in inflatable balloon, and for calculating lumen diameter based upon the amount of fluid in inflatable balloon.
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12. The system for creating a 3D image of a lumen of claim 1 further comprising:
a user interface coupled to the signal interpretation device for acquiring operator defined input and for providing this input to the signal interpretation device.
Specification