Robotically guided catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a human-controllable steerable catheter comprising a thumb control configured to manually control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and a robot comprising;
an end-effector coupled to the thumb control; and
a controller configured to drive the end-effector to manipulate in an automated fashion the thumb control in response to the position signal to position the distal tip of the catheter at a desired position based on the six dimensions of location and orientation information, the controller comprising an algorithm that uses an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the desired position, responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for use with a steerable catheter that includes a thumb control adapted to control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter. The apparatus includes a robot, including an end-effector, adapted to be coupled to the thumb control, and a controller, adapted to drive the end-effector to deflect the distal tip by manipulating the thumb control.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a human-controllable steerable catheter comprising a thumb control configured to manually control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and a robot comprising;
an end-effector coupled to the thumb control; and
a controller configured to drive the end-effector to manipulate in an automated fashion the thumb control in response to the position signal to position the distal tip of the catheter at a desired position based on the six dimensions of location and orientation information, the controller comprising an algorithm that uses an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the desired position, responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a human-controllable steerable catheter comprising a thumb control configured to manually control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and a robot comprising;
-
6. An apparatus comprising:
- a human-controllable steerable catheter that includes controls configured to control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and the controls being generally optimized for manipulation by a human hand; and
a robot comprising;
at least one end-effector coupled to at least a portion of the controls; and
a controller configured to drive the at least one end-effector to deflect the distal tip in response to the position signal by inducing motion of the portion of the controls that generally mimics motion of the portion of the controls induced when a human hand manipulates the controls, the controller comprising an algorithm that uses an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the desired position, responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- a human-controllable steerable catheter that includes controls configured to control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and the controls being generally optimized for manipulation by a human hand; and
-
11. Apparatus comprising:
- a human-controllable steerable catheter comprising controls configured to manually control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and the controls being generally optimized for manipulation by a human hand; and
a robot, comprising;
at least one end-effector coupled to at least a portion of the controls; and
a controller configured to drive the end-effector to position the distal tip of the catheter at a desired position based on the six dimensions of location and orientation information by inducing motion of the portion of the controls that generally mimics motion of the portion of the controls induced when a human hand manipulates the controls, the controller comprising an algorithm that uses an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the desired position, responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information.
- a human-controllable steerable catheter comprising controls configured to manually control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter and a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter, and the controls being generally optimized for manipulation by a human hand; and
-
12. Apparatus comprising:
- a human-controllable steerable catheter, comprising;
a distal tip configured to be controllably deflectable in no more than two directions for any given rotation of the distal tip, such that a set of all points to which the tip can be deflected at the given rotation forms a deflection curve for the given rotation; and
a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip; and
a robot configured to manipulate a proximal end of the catheter; and
a control unit configured to;
receive the position signal, and position the distal tip of the catheter at a target by manipulating the robot in response to the position signal to;
position the distal tip of the catheter in a vicinity of the target, responsive to the position signal based on the six dimensions of location and orientation information using an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the target, rotate the proximal end of the catheter in order to cause the distal tip of the catheter to roll to a rotation the deflection curve of which includes the target, the rotation determined responsive to the position signal, and deflect the distal tip of the catheter along the deflection curve to the target. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- a human-controllable steerable catheter, comprising;
-
16. Apparatus comprising:
- a human-controllable steerable catheter having a distal tip, the catheter comprising a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip;
a robot configured to be coupled to a proximal end of the catheter; and
a control unit comprising an algorithm that uses an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to a desired position, wherein the control unit is configured to;
drive the robot to apply rotation to the proximal end of the catheter, receive the position signal, responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information of the position signal, determine a roll of the distal tip of the catheter, and responsive to a determination that the roll lags the rotation, drive the robot to move a portion of the proximal end of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a human-controllable steerable catheter having a distal tip, the catheter comprising a position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information, the position sensor being fixed in a vicinity of the distal tip;
-
22. A method for use with a human-controllable steerable catheter having a distal tip configured to be controllably deflectable in no more than two directions for any given rotation of the distal tip, such that a set of all points to which the tip can be deflected at the given rotation forms a deflection curve for the given rotation, the method comprising:
- receiving a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information from a vicinity of the distal tip of the human-controllable steerable catheter; and
robotically positioning, using a robot, the distal tip of the catheter at a target by;
robotically positioning the distal tip of the catheter in a vicinity of the target, responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information of the position signal using an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the target, robotically rotating a handle control at the proximal end of the catheter in order to cause the distal tip of the catheter to roll to a rotation the deflection curve of which includes the target, the rotation determined responsive to the six dimensions of location and orientation information of the position signal, and robotically deflecting the distal tip of the catheter along the deflection curve to the target. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
- receiving a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information from a vicinity of the distal tip of the human-controllable steerable catheter; and
-
25. A method for use with a human-controllable steerable catheter having a distal tip and a proximal end, the method comprising:
- robotically rotating a handle control at the proximal end of the human-controllable steerable catheter;
receiving a position signal indicative of six dimensions of location and orientation information from a vicinity of the distal tip of the catheter;
responsive to the position signal, determining a roll of the distal tip; and
responsive to a determination that the roll lags the rotation, robotically moving, using a robot, a portion of the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the steps of robotically rotating and robotically moving are performed in an automated fashion using an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- robotically rotating a handle control at the proximal end of the human-controllable steerable catheter;
Specification