Instruments with location markers and methods for tracking instruments through anatomical passageways
First Claim
1. A system for tracking an instrument in a patient, comprising:
- a catheter including an elongated flexible tube having a distal section configured to be passed through a passageway in a human;
a first magnetic marker surrounding a first outer portion of the distal section of the tube;
a second magnetic marker surrounding a second outer portion of the distal section of the tube, wherein—
each of the first and second magnetic markers include a transponder having an alternating magnetic circuit and a capacitor electrically connected to the alternating magnet circuit,the alternating magnetic circuit includes a tubular ferrite core and a coil having a plurality of windings surrounding the tubular ferrite core, andthe alternating magnetic circuit is configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted pulsed magnetic excitation field from external of the passageway in the human and to wirelessly transmit a pulsed magnetic location signal in response to the pulsed magnetic field;
a generally rigid support surrounding the tube and extending between the first and the second magnetic markers, and configured to separate the first magnetic marker from the second magnetic marker; and
an external excitation source comprising an energy storage device, a source coil, and a switching network coupled to the energy storage device and the source coil, the source coil being configured to wirelessly transmit the pulsed magnetic excitation field to energize the transponder of each of the first and second magnetic markers, and the switching network being configured to alternately transfer (a) stored energy from the energy storage device to the source coil and (b) energy in the source coil back to the energy storage device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Instruments and methods for tracking such instruments in a human patient. One embodiment of an instrument in accordance with the invention comprises an elongated body, such as an elongated flexible member, which has a distal section configured to be passed through a vessel or other passageway in a human. The instrument can further include a lumen through the distal section and a magnetic marker having a transponder at the distal section. The transponder includes a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted magnetic excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a magnetic location signal in response to the excitation energy. The magnetic marker, for example, can be attached to or otherwise integral with the instrument.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for tracking an instrument in a patient, comprising:
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a catheter including an elongated flexible tube having a distal section configured to be passed through a passageway in a human; a first magnetic marker surrounding a first outer portion of the distal section of the tube; a second magnetic marker surrounding a second outer portion of the distal section of the tube, wherein— each of the first and second magnetic markers include a transponder having an alternating magnetic circuit and a capacitor electrically connected to the alternating magnet circuit, the alternating magnetic circuit includes a tubular ferrite core and a coil having a plurality of windings surrounding the tubular ferrite core, and the alternating magnetic circuit is configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted pulsed magnetic excitation field from external of the passageway in the human and to wirelessly transmit a pulsed magnetic location signal in response to the pulsed magnetic field; a generally rigid support surrounding the tube and extending between the first and the second magnetic markers, and configured to separate the first magnetic marker from the second magnetic marker; and an external excitation source comprising an energy storage device, a source coil, and a switching network coupled to the energy storage device and the source coil, the source coil being configured to wirelessly transmit the pulsed magnetic excitation field to energize the transponder of each of the first and second magnetic markers, and the switching network being configured to alternately transfer (a) stored energy from the energy storage device to the source coil and (b) energy in the source coil back to the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A catheter device, comprising:
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an elongated tube structure having a distal section configured to be passed through a passageway in a human, wherein the distal section includes a rigid region and first and second flexible regions on opposite sides of the rigid region; a first magnetic marker surrounding the first flexible region of the tube structure; and a second magnetic marker surrounding the second flexible region of the tube structure; wherein— the rigid region is configured to separate the first and second magnetic markers, each of the first and second magnetic markers includes a magnetic circuit having a tubular ferrite core surrounding a corresponding one of the first and second flexible regions, and a coil having a plurality of windings surrounding the tubular ferrite core, and the magnetic circuit is configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted pulsed magnetic excitation field from external of the passageway in the human and to wirelessly transmit a pulsed magnetic location signal in response to the pulsed magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification