Acoustic Imaging Navigation for Hidden Anatomic Passageways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive medical procedures face challenges in navigating anatomic passageways that are not directly visible with optical imaging devices, leading to potential tissue trauma and complications such as pancreatitis due to inaccurate deployment of interventional tools.
Innovation Solution
A flexible elongate device equipped with an optical imaging device and an acoustic imaging device, such as ultrasound, generates acoustic images to guide the deployment of interventional tools along identified paths, avoiding sensitive tissues by using a control system to process and provide navigation based on these images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical imaging devices are used to navigate anatomic passageways, then direct visualization is achieved, but hidden passageways cannot be identified leading to inaccurate tool deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines optical imaging and acoustic imaging modalities into a single integrated navigation system. The optical imaging device provides direct visualization of visible structures while the acoustic imaging device simultaneously captures hidden passageways, merging both data streams to provide comprehensive anatomical information for accurate tool deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Acoustic imaging serves as an intermediary modality that bridges the gap between visible and hidden anatomical structures. The acoustic images provide information about passageways not directly visible to optical devices, acting as a mediator to reveal hidden structures and enable accurate navigation to targets within concealed passageways.
2Productivity
If interventional tools are deployed without acoustic imaging guidance, then procedure speed is maintained, but tissue trauma and complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary acoustic imaging to identify and map hidden passageways and anatomical structures before deploying interventional tools. This advance visualization allows operators to plan precise tool trajectories that avoid sensitive tissues, preventing trauma while maintaining efficient procedure execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated imaging system provides continuous feedback during tool deployment by displaying both optical and acoustic images. This real-time feedback allows operators to monitor tool position relative to hidden and visible structures, adjusting the deployment path to avoid tissue trauma while maintaining procedural efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic imaging is integrated with flexible elongate devices, then navigation accuracy in hidden passageways is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic imaging device and optical imaging device are nested within or integrated with the flexible elongate device structure. This nested arrangement allows multiple imaging modalities to be housed within a single deliverable platform, improving navigation accuracy through hidden passageways while managing device complexity through compact integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise and safe insertion of interventional tools into hidden anatomic passageways, minimizing tissue trauma and reducing procedure time by providing accurate guidance through acoustic imaging.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic imaging device, such as ultrasound
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a flexible elongate device including an optical imaging device and a working channel, an acoustic imaging device carried by the flexible elongate device and configured to generate a plurality of acoustic images of a region of interest, and an interventional tool extendable through the working channel of the flexible elongate device. The system also includes a control system configured to receive the plurality of acoustic images of the region of interest from the acoustic imaging device and provide guidance for inserting the interventional tool along a path through an anatomic orifice and an anatomic passageway of the region of interest, wherein the guidance is generated based on the plurality of acoustic images.