Method for guiding a medical device

• US 8,221,402 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Francischelli, David E., Hissong, James B., Keogh, James R., Skarda, James R., Stewart, Mark T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/298,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/49, 606 27- 34, 600/439, 600/466, 600/411, 600/424, 601/2, 601/3
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2053 Tracking an applied voltage gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/397 electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A device and method for ablating tissue is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating member in the patient, positioning the ablating member in a desired position to ablate tissue, emitting ablating energy from the ablating member to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ablating member from the patient.

Claims

1. A method of performing an ablation procedure within a patient, comprising:

placing a fiduciary marker in the patient;

then

acquiring a three-dimensional image of a portion of the patient using an imaging device, the three-dimensional image including the fiduciary marker;

then

registering the three-dimensional image to the patient using the fiduciary marker to obtain a registered three-dimensional image;

then

guiding a portion of an ablation device comprising a sensor into a desired position within the patient while viewing the registered three-dimensional image using a guidance device, the guidance device displaying a current position of the sensor;

then

energizing the ablation device to ablate tissue;

performing the ablation procedure within the patient;

wherein the fiduciary marker is positioned subcutaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image is one of a fluoroscopic image, a computed tomography image, and a magnetic resonance image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a coil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasound transducer.

6. A method of performing an ablation procedure within a patient, comprising:

placing a fiduciary marker in the patient;

then

acquiring a three-dimensional image of a portion of the patient using an imaging device, the three-dimensional image including the fiduciary marker;

then

registering the three-dimensional image to the patient using the fiduciary marker to obtain a registered three-dimensional image;

then

guiding a portion of an ablation device comprising a sensor into a desired position within the patient while viewing the registered three-dimensional image using a guidance device, the guidance device displaying a current position of the sensor;

then

energizing the ablation device to ablate tissue;

performing the ablation procedure within the patient;

wherein the fiduciary marker is positioned in one of the trachea, the bronchi, and the esophagus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the three-dimensional image is one of a fluoroscopic image, a computed tomography image, and a magnetic resonance image.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises a coil.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasound transducer.

11. A method of performing an ablation procedure within a patient, comprising:

placing a fiduciary marker in the patient;

then

acquiring a three-dimensional image of a portion of the patient using an imaging device, the three-dimensional image including the fiduciary marker;

then

registering the three-dimensional image to the patient using the fiduciary marker to obtain a registered three-dimensional image;

then

guiding a portion of an ablation device comprising a sensor into a desired position within the patient while viewing the registered three-dimensional image using a guidance device, the guidance device displaying a current position of the sensor;

then

energizing the ablation device to ablate tissue;

performing the ablation procedure within the patient;

wherein the fiduciary marker is inserted in the cardiovascular system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the three-dimensional image is one of a fluoroscopic image, a computed tomography image, and a magnetic resonance image.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a coil.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasound transducer.