System and method of recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure

• US 6,558,333 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Super Dimension Ltd.
• Inventors: Gilboa, Pinhas, Tolkowsky, David, Hollander, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/838,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407-471, 600/372, 600/310, 600/373-381, 600/481-518, 736/20--26, 367/7, 367/11, 367/130, 367/138, 378/98-- 9, 128/916, 128/897, 128/898, 128/899, 606/130
• US Class Current: 600/466
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• 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 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• 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 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure. The method includes establishing locations of the body, an imaging instrument and a location implement included within a catheter, and allows at least one point-of-interest to be displayed in the context of an image of the portion of the body, even in cases in which a relative location of the body and the imaging instrument are changed.

Claims

1. A method of recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a location of the body;

(b) inserting at least one catheter into a portion of the body, said at least one catheter including a first location implement;

(c) using an imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body;

(d) establishing a location of said imaging instrument;

(e) advancing said at least one catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and via a locating implement other than said imaging instrument recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; and

(f) displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest in context of an image of said portion of the body, said image being generated by said imaging instrument;

such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in context of said image even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a second location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via said locating implement.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second location implement and said locating implement form a non-imaging locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by ensuring that said body is fixed at a known location during the procedure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by image processing of features in said image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with physiological activity of the body.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one catheter includes a probing catheter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one catheter has an ablation ability.

11. A system of recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising:

(a) a first mechanism for establishing a location of said body;

(b) at least one catheter insertable into a portion of the body, said at least one catheter being supplemented with a first location implement;

(c) an imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body;

(d) a locating implement other than said imaging instrument for locating said first location implement and for establishing a location of said at least one catheter; and

(e) a second mechanism for establishing a location of said imaging instrument;

such that, by inserting said at least one catheter into said portion of the body;

using said imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body;

establishing a location of said imaging instrument;

advancing said at least one catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest;

so that in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter and said imaging instrument are known, said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in a highlighted fashion in context of an image of said portion of the body generated by said imaging instrument even in cases where a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first mechanism includes a second location implement attachable onto said body, whereas establishing said location of the body is effected via said locating implement.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said second location implement and said locating implement form a non-imaging locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said first mechanism is effected by ensuring that said body is fixed at a known location during the procedure.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said first mechanism is effected by image processing of features in said image.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said first mechanism is synchronized with physiological activity of the body.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one catheter includes a probing catheter.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one catheter has an ablation ability.