Navigation and imaging system sychronized with respiratory and/or cardiac activity

• US 8,057,397 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nafis, Christopher Allen, Li, Dun Alex, Griffin, Weston Blaine, Jensen, Vernon Thomas, Wildes, Douglas Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US11/863,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 600/424, 600/437, 600/443, 600/450, 600/462, 600/467, 600/471
• US Class Current: 600/467
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data

Abstract

An imaging and navigation system is disclosed herein. The imaging and navigation system includes a computer and an ultrasonic imaging device disposed at least partially within an ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic imaging device is connected to the computer and is adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image. The imaging and navigation system also includes a tracking system connected to the computer. The tracking system is adapted to estimate a position of a medical instrument. The imaging and navigation system also includes a display connected to the computer. The display is adapted to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasonic imaging device and to graphically convey the estimated position of the medical instrument.

Claims

1. An imaging and navigation system comprising:

a computer;

an ultrasonic imaging device disposed at least partially within an ultrasound catheter, the ultrasonic imaging device connected to the computer, the ultrasonic imaging device being adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image;

a tracking system connected to the computer, the tracking system adapted to estimate a position of a medical instrument;

a first tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ultrasound catheter;

a second tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to a dynamic reference catheter;

a monitoring system connected to the computer, the monitoring system configured to monitor respiratory and/or cardiac activity;

a display connected to the computer, the display adapted to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasonic imaging device and to graphically convey the estimated position of the medical instrument;

wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the ultrasonic imaging device with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.

2. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound catheter comprises:

a transducer array disposed at least partially within a catheter housing; and

a motor coupled with the transducer array, the motor being configured to rotate the transducer array within the catheter housing in order to image a three-dimensional volume.

3. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the tracking system with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.

4. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1, wherein one of the tracking elements comprises a field generator, and the other of the tracking elements comprises a field sensor.

5. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1, further comprising a catheter control system connected to the computer and to the ultrasound catheter.

6. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1, further comprising an input device operatively associated with the display, the input device being adapted to facilitate surgical planning.

7. An imaging and navigation system comprising:

a computer;

an ultrasound catheter connected to the computer, the ultrasound catheter being configured to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image, the ultrasound catheter system comprising;

(a) a transducer array disposed at least partially within a catheter housing;

(b) a controller coupled with the transducer array, the controller being configured to control the transducer array in order to image a three-dimensional volume;

an ablation control system connected to the computer and to an ablation catheter;

a tracking system connected to the computer, the tracking system configured to estimate a position of the ablation catheter;

a first tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ultrasound catheter;

a second tracking element connected to the tracking system and adapted for attachment to the ablation catheter;

a monitoring system connected to the computer, the monitoring system configured to monitor respiratory and/or cardiac activity; and

a display connected to the computer, the display configured to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasound catheter and to graphically convey the estimated position of the ablation catheter;

wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the tracking system with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.

8. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7, wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the ultrasound catheter with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.

9. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7, further comprising a third tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to a dynamic reference catheter.

10. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7, further comprising a catheter control system connected to the computer, the ultrasound catheter and the ablation catheter.

11. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7, wherein the ultrasound catheter comprises an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter.

12. An imaging and navigation system comprising:

a computer;

an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter connected to the computer, the ICE catheter comprising;

(a) a transducer array disposed at least partially within a catheter housing;

(b) a motor coupled with the transducer array, the motor being configured to rotate the transducer array within the catheter housing in order to obtain a three-dimensional volume;

an ablation control system connected to the computer and to an ablation catheter;

a tracking system connected to the computer the tracking system configured to estimate a position and orientation of the ablation catheter;

a first tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ICE catheter;

a second tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ablation catheter;

a monitoring system connected to the computer, the monitoring system configured to monitor the respiratory and/or cardiac activity;

a display connected to the computer, the display configured to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ICE catheter and to graphically convey the estimated position and orientation of the ablation catheter;

wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the ICE catheter with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.

13. The imaging and navigation system of claim 12, wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the tracking system with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.

14. The imaging and navigation system of claim 13, further comprising a third tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to a dynamic reference catheter.

15. The imaging and navigation system of claim 14, wherein one of the tracking elements comprises a field generator, and another of the tracking elements comprises a field sensor.

16. The imaging and navigation system of claim 15, further comprising an input device operatively associated with the display, the input device being adapted to facilitate surgical planning.