Medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter and method for position determination
First Claim
1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging catheter for determining a catheter position within a cardiovascular system, the catheter comprising:
- a flexible ultrasound catheter rod comprising a shaft portion and a distal end portion adapted for insertion into a patient;
an ultrasound transducer operatively connected with the distal end portion; and
a plurality of local deformation sensors spaced along the ultrasound catheter rod.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter and method for determining a position of the catheter within the cardiovascular system is provided. Local bending and twisting is measured at multiple locations along the catheter. By integrating the measurements, the position and orientation of the catheter is determined. Based on the catheter position information, the location and orientation of an ultrasound transducer array connected with the catheter is known. The imaging array position and orientation information may be used to assist a physician in determining the tissue structure or fluid being scanned and/or assist in the accurate generation of three-dimensional representations.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging catheter for determining a catheter position within a cardiovascular system, the catheter comprising:
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a flexible ultrasound catheter rod comprising a shaft portion and a distal end portion adapted for insertion into a patient;
an ultrasound transducer operatively connected with the distal end portion; and
a plurality of local deformation sensors spaced along the ultrasound catheter rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining a position of a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging catheter within a cardiovascular system, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) measuring a local deformation at each of a plurality of locations along the ultrasound imaging catheter while inserted in a patient;
(b) integrating the local deformation measurements; and
(c) determining a position of an ultrasound transducer array as a function of (b). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25)
(d) removably inserting a shaft comprising at least one deformation sensor.
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15. The method of claim 10 wherein (a) comprises measuring an amount of bend.
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16. The method of claim 10 wherein (a) comprises measuring an amount of twist.
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17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
(d) positioning multiple sets of strain gauges at each of the plurality of locations.
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18. The method of claim 10 wherein (a) comprises:
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(a1) measuring an amount of bend at each of the plurality of locations along the catheter; and
(a2) measuring an amount of twist at the distal end of the catheter.
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19. The method of claim 10 wherein (b) comprises fitting the local deformation measurements to a curve.
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20. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
(d) interpolating moment data associated with positions between the plurality of locations.
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21. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
(d) aligning image data as a function of the position of the ultrasound transducer.
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22. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
(d) producing a 3D image data set as a function of the position of the ultrasound transducer.
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25. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
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(d) measuring a rotation at an insertion point;
wherein the determined position is responsive to the measured rotation.
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23. A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging catheter for determining a catheter position within a cardiovascular system during use of the catheter, the catheter comprising:
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a flexible ultrasound catheter rod comprising a shaft portion and a distal tip portion;
an ultrasound transducer operatively connected with the distal tip portion;
at least one strain gauge around a circumference of the ultrasound catheter rod; and
a plurality of strain gauges spaced apart along the catheter rod. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification