Method and apparatus for localizing an ultrasound catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging system, comprising:
- an ultrasound catheter including a tubular body, comprising;
a localizer sensor adapted and configured to generate positional information for the ultrasound catheter, the localizer sensor comprising;
a first annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body; and
a second annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body displaced from the first annular sensor along a length of the tubular body; and
an imaging ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body so as to have a first restricted field of view; and
a controller coupled to the localizer sensor and the ultrasound catheter,wherein the first restricted field of view spans less than 360 degrees about the tubular body, andwherein the controller is configured to determine a position and direction of the ultrasound catheter in six dimensions with respect to a frame of reference defined by a recognizable heart structure imaged by the imaging ultrasound sensor, and to co-register ultrasound images from the imaging ultrasound sensor with the frame of reference.
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Abstract
An imaging system is provided with an ultrasound catheter and a controller coupled to the ultrasound catheter. The catheter includes a localizer sensor configured to generate positional information for the ultrasound catheter, and an imaging ultrasound sensor having a restricted field of view. The controller co-registers images from the imaging ultrasound sensor with positional information from the localizer sensor.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An imaging system, comprising:
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an ultrasound catheter including a tubular body, comprising; a localizer sensor adapted and configured to generate positional information for the ultrasound catheter, the localizer sensor comprising; a first annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body; and a second annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body displaced from the first annular sensor along a length of the tubular body; and an imaging ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body so as to have a first restricted field of view; and a controller coupled to the localizer sensor and the ultrasound catheter, wherein the first restricted field of view spans less than 360 degrees about the tubular body, and wherein the controller is configured to determine a position and direction of the ultrasound catheter in six dimensions with respect to a frame of reference defined by a recognizable heart structure imaged by the imaging ultrasound sensor, and to co-register ultrasound images from the imaging ultrasound sensor with the frame of reference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of displaying medical images from a catheter-based imaging ultrasound sensor having a first restricted field of view, the method comprising:
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generating at least one image with the imaging ultrasound sensor; receiving ultrasound signals at a first annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the catheter body and at a second annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the catheter body at a position displaced along a length of the catheter body from the first annular ultrasound sensor; calculating a six dimensional position and direction of the imaging ultrasound sensor with respect to a frame of reference defined by a recognizable heart structure imaged by the imaging ultrasound sensor based on the ultrasound signals received at the first and second annular ultrasound sensors; coregistering the calculated position with the at least one generated image within the frame of reference defined by the recognizable heart structure; and displaying the at least one generated image based on the calculated positional and directional information, wherein the first restricted field of view spans less than 360 degrees about a body of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An imaging system, comprising:
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an ultrasound catheter including a tubular body, comprising; a localizer sensor adapted and configured to generate positional information for the ultrasound catheter, the localizer sensor comprising; a first annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body; a second annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the tubular body, the second annular sensor being displaced from the first annular sensor along a length of the tubular body; and an imaging ultrasound sensor positioned relative to the tubular body so as to have a first restricted field of view; a first positioning catheter comprising at least one ultrasound transducer; and a controller coupled to the localizer sensor, the first positioning catheter and the ultrasound catheter, wherein the first restricted field of view spans less than 360 degrees about the tubular body, and wherein the controller is configured to determine position and direction of the ultrasound catheter in six dimensions with respect to a frame of reference defined by the first positioning catheter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A medical imaging system, comprising:
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a catheter including an imaging ultrasound sensor having a first restricted field of view spanning less than 360 degrees about a body of the catheter; means for generating at least one image, with the imaging ultrasound sensor; means for receiving ultrasound signals at a first annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the catheter body and a second annular ultrasound sensor positioned on the catheter body displaced along a length of the catheter body from the first annular ultrasound sensor; means for calculating a six dimensional position and direction of the imaging ultrasound sensor with respect to a frame of reference defined by a recognizable heart structure imaged by the imaging ultrasound sensor based on the ultrasound signals received at the first and second annular ultrasound sensors; means for coregistering the calculated position with the at least one generated image within the frame of reference defined by the recognizable heart structure; and means for displaying the at least one generated image based on the calculated positional and directional information. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification