Abstract:
The method of some embodiments of the invention assists a user in guiding a medical instrument to a subsurface target site in a patient. This method generates one or more intraoperative images. The method indicates a target site on the image(s). The method determines 3-D coordinates of the target site in a reference coordinate system. The method (1) tracks the position of the instrument in the reference coordinate system, (2) projects onto a display device a view field as seen from the position with respect to the tool in the reference coordinate system, and (3) projects onto the displayed view field indicia of the target site corresponding to the position. In some embodiments, the field of view is a view not only from the position of the instrument but also from a known orientation of the instrument in the reference coordinate system. By observing the indicia, the user can guide the instrument toward the target site by moving the instrument so that the indicia are placed or held in a given state in the displayed field of view.
Abstract:
A system for and a method of guiding an object, in particular an elongate object, such as a needle, into a region of interest, such as a body cavity, which is reached by maneuvering between hard structures, such as bone structures, for example, two adjacent vertebrae in epidural anesthesia.
Abstract:
Embodiments of needle insertion systems (100) and related methods are disclosed. One embodiment of the needle insertion system (100) includes a transducer assembly (104) configured to radiate a sound beam (408) along a first axis (410) and detect a blood vessel (114) responsive to receiving a reflected sound beam (408); and a coupler (102b) that is configured to reflect the sound beam along a second axis (412) to and from the blood vessel, the coupler configured with a guideway (108) that is oriented along a third axis (502) that enables the needle (110) to intersect the second axis in proximity to the blood vessel.
Abstract:
A marking device for identifying a subcutaneous biopsy cavity having a first nonabsorbable marker element detectable by a first imaging modality and a second nonabsorbable marker element detectable by a second imaging modality but not detectable by the first imaging modality.
Abstract:
The present invention is of system, device, and method for detection, localization, and characterization of plaque-induced stenosis of a blood vessel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a balloon catheter (101) having an expandable balloon (100) insertable into a blood vessel, which balloon comprises a plurality of pressure sensors (110, 120, 130, 140) operable to detect stenosis of the vessel, and further operable to report degrees of compressibility of stenotic regions of plaque within the vessel, thereby distinguishing between standard and vulnerable plaque.
Abstract:
An imaging system is disclosed that uses piezoelectric markers. The piezoelectric fields in combination with ultrasound reflections can be used to construct an image of an otherwise difficult to detect feature within a subject's body. In one embodiment, the invention includes a piezoelectric marker, including at least one piece of piezoelectric material, an ultrasound transducer connected to an ultrasound pulser and a receiver, a computer sequencing control connected to the receiver and the ultrasound pulser, a display connected to the computer sequencing control and electrodes connected to the computer sequencing control via amplification circuitry.
Abstract:
A system and method is provided for substantially synchronizing the acquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiable portion of heartbeat data. Specifically, a data-gathering device is adapted to acquire heartbeat data and blood-vessel data from a heart-monitoring device and a data-gathering probe, respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blood-vessel data is acquired during a cyclical portion of the heartbeat data. By identifying a cyclical (or commonly reoccurring) portion of the heartbeat data and acquiring blood-vessel data during this cyclical portion (or during an interval that substantially corresponds thereto), the blood vessel can be analyzed as if it were standing still -- i.e., not expanding and relaxing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the heart-monitoring device includes an EKG device, the data-gathering device includes an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and a computing device, and the data-gathering probe includes at least one transducer. In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gathering system further includes a retraction device adapted to move the data-gathering probe though a blood vessel at a substantially steady speed.
Abstract:
The end-effector (150) includes a sheath (152) and a medical device or needle carrier (154) that is disposed within the interior compartment (160) of the sheath. Aperture (162) is located in a portion of the sheath proximal a distal end of the sheath that is inserted into a natural or artificial cavity. This device is guided by a real-time imager.
Abstract:
The present invention provides systems for locating an imaging device within or outside of the body and for displaying a graphical representation of the imaging pattern associated with the imaging device within a global representation of the body. The imaging pattern characterizes the "field of vision" of the imaging device, and the graphical imaging pattern within the global representation of the body visually indicates the portion of the body that is being imaged by the imaging device in relation to the global representation of the body.
Abstract:
An implantable medical device including a porous membrane of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene that is treated with a hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol to render said membrane transparent to technology for viewing inside a mammalian body. These technologies include ultrasound echocardiography and video imaging such as that used during laparoscopic procedures.