Attachment with one or more sensors for precise position determination of endoscopes

• US 6,203,493 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/117,792
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 600/117, 600/114, 600/407, 600/409, 600/424, 128/899
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/363 Use of fiducial points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• 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 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 : Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0025 : having a collapsible lumen
• 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 2025/1052 : for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 : by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 : Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 : Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A locatable endoscope (14) attachment including an attachment (20) connectable to an insertion tube portion of an endoscope for determining the endoscope'"'"'s (14) position; and one or more sensors (22), fixedly positioned with respect to the attachment (20), which are used for determining the positions of the one or more sensors (22). Preferably, when the attachment (20) is fixedly attached to the endoscope (14), the one or more sensors (22) are distanced from elements of the endoscope which interfere with determining the positions of the one or more sensors (22).

Claims

1. A locatable endoscope attachment for an insertion tube portion of an endoscope having interfering elements comprising:

an attachment connectable to an insertion tube portion of an endoscope for determining the endoscope'"'"'s position;

one or more sensors, fixedly positioned with respect to the attachment, which are used for determining the positions of the one or more sensors, wherein the attachment is fixedly attached to the endoscope and the one or more sensors are distanced from the interfering elements of the endoscope, the one or more sensors being embedded within the attachment, wherein the one or more sensors transmit or receive magnetic fields; and

a plurality of markings on the outside of the attachment which indicate the positions of the one or more sensors.

2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a tube.

3. A position determining system for an endoscope having interfering elements comprising:

an attachment connectable to a position of an endoscope;

at least one sensor within said attachment distanced from the interfering elements of the endoscope, said at least one sensor for transmitting or receiving magnetic fields;

a plurality of markings on the outside of the attachment which indicate the position of the at least one sensor; and

a sheath for covering said attachment.

4. The position determining system of claim 3 including an endoscope.