Position tracking and imaging system for use in medical applications
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient'"'"'s body and for displaying images of the patient'"'"'s body responsive to the position of the medical instrument, said method comprising:
- securing a patient reference unit from movement with respect to the patient'"'"'s body while permitting the patient'"'"'s body to be moved within an operating environment;
securing a remote unit from movement with respect to the medical instrument;
positioning an operating environment reference unit within the operating environment;
associating at least one field generator with at least one of the patient reference unit, the remote unit and the operating environment reference unit;
associating at least one field sensor with at least one of the patient reference unit, the remote unit and the operating environment reference unit;
generating a position characteristic field with the at least one field generator;
producing position data responsive to a sensor output signal produced by the at least one field sensor that is responsive to the presence of the position characteristic field such that the sensor output signal is representative of a position of the remote unit with respect to the patient reference unit;
obtaining image data representing a plurality of images of the patient'"'"'s body; and
displaying an image of the patient'"'"'s body based on the image data and responsive to position image data that varies for different position data.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of monitoring a position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient'"'"'s body, including positioning a patient reference unit on a portion of the patient'"'"'s body; positioning a remote unit with respect to the medical instrument; associating at least one field sensor with at least one of the patient reference unit and the remote unit; generating an electromagnetic position characteristic field; producing position data responsive to a sensor output signal that is responsive to the presence of the electromagnetic position characteristic field such that the sensor output signal is representative of a position of the remote unit with respect to the patient reference unit; determining image data representing a plurality of images of the patient'"'"'s body; and displaying an image of the patient'"'"'s body based on the image data and responsive to position image data that varies for different position data.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient'"'"'s body and for displaying images of the patient'"'"'s body responsive to the position of the medical instrument, said method comprising:
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securing a patient reference unit from movement with respect to the patient'"'"'s body while permitting the patient'"'"'s body to be moved within an operating environment;
securing a remote unit from movement with respect to the medical instrument;
positioning an operating environment reference unit within the operating environment;
associating at least one field generator with at least one of the patient reference unit, the remote unit and the operating environment reference unit;
associating at least one field sensor with at least one of the patient reference unit, the remote unit and the operating environment reference unit;
generating a position characteristic field with the at least one field generator;
producing position data responsive to a sensor output signal produced by the at least one field sensor that is responsive to the presence of the position characteristic field such that the sensor output signal is representative of a position of the remote unit with respect to the patient reference unit;
obtaining image data representing a plurality of images of the patient'"'"'s body; and
displaying an image of the patient'"'"'s body based on the image data and responsive to position image data that varies for different position data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of monitoring a position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient'"'"'s body, said method comprising:
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positioning a patient reference unit on a portion of the patient'"'"'s body;
positioning a remote unit with respect to the medical instrument;
associating at least one field sensor with at least one of the patient reference unit and the remote unit;
generating an electromagnetic field;
producing position data responsive to a sensor output signal that is responsive to the presence of the electromagnetic field such that the sensor output signal is representative of a position of the remote unit with respect to the patient reference unit;
obtaining image data representing a plurality of images of the patient'"'"'s body; and
displaying an image of the patient'"'"'s body based on the image data and responsive to position image data that varies for different position data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. A method of monitoring a position of a medical instrument having a remote unit secured thereto with respect to a patient'"'"'s body, said method comprising:
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generating an electromagnetic field;
moving the medical instrument having the remote unit within the multidirectional field;
producing position data responsive to a sensor output signal that is responsive to the presence of the electromagnetic field such that the sensor output signal is representative of a position of a remote unit, which is secured to the medical instrument, with respect to a reference unit that is secured to a portion of the patient'"'"'s body;
obtaining image data representing a plurality of images of the patient'"'"'s body; and
displaying an image of the patient'"'"'s body based on the image data and responsive to position image data that varies for different position data.
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Specification