Medical device position guidance system with wireless connectivity between a noninvasive and an invasive device

• US 9,687,174 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CORPAK MedSystems, Inc. (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jaggi, David S., Killam, Joseph P., Kay, Donald A., Manzella, Jr., Salvatore, Moy, King Y., Platt, David K., Purnell, Shawn G., Witt, Mark C., Shaughnessy, Michael C., Shapiro, Alan R., Zachara, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernandez, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLOGG, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/472,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 600424, 606130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes

Abstract

A medical device position guidance system having a noninvasive medical device communicable with an invasive medical device. The system provides outputs useful to assess the position of an invasive medical device in an animal, such as a human. A magnetic field is used to gather information about the position of the invasive device. Radio waves are used to communicate this information between the noninvasive device and the invasive device.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with a noninvasive device, the catheter assembly comprising:

an invasive portion that is configured to be inserted into an animal;

a noninvasive portion, which includes;

a catheter extension;

a connector;

a processor; and

a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the processor;

a sensor which is included in the invasive portion and is operatively coupled to the processor, the sensor being configured to, in response to a magnetic field being directed toward and reaching the sensor, output electric impulses;

a tube configured to support the sensor, the tube having an end member which is included in the invasive portion and is configured to be inserted into the animal;

an elongated conductor connected to the processor, wherein the connector is between the catheter extension and the tube, and the elongated conductor has a length that extends through the catheter extension, through the connector, and continues through the tube to the sensor; and

a memory device which is included in the noninvasive portion, the memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor, in cooperation with the sensor and the wireless transmitter, to;

(a) convert the electric impulses to a series of modulated radio waves; and

(b) wirelessly transmit, from the wireless transmitter in the noninvasive portion outside the animal to the noninvasive device, the series of modulated radio waves, the noninvasive device being;

(i) positionable over a surface of the animal; and

(ii) separate from the catheter assembly.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1, which includes a first battery operatively coupled to the processor.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the noninvasive portion further includes an indicator configured to indicate an operating parameter.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 3, wherein the operating parameter includes battery strength.

5. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the end member includes a thermal energy ablation device.

6. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the end member includes a stent.

7. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the end member includes a balloon.