Catheter Registration Using Electrical Readings and 3D Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional intra-body navigation methods, such as real-time x-ray imaging, are not accurate enough for positioning catheters within the body, especially during organ movement like the beating heart, leading to potential inaccuracies in medical procedures and increased radiation exposure.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that transform electrical readings from a catheter into anatomically corresponding image points on a pre-acquired 3D image, using a mapping transformation that accounts for organ movement, allowing for precise catheter navigation without manual registration and reducing the need for real-time x-ray imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If real-time x-ray imaging is used for catheter navigation, then the operator can determine catheter location, but radiation exposure increases and measurement precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter positioning accuracyVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary registration system that maps electrical readings to pre-acquired 3D images, serving as a mediator between the catheter and the imaging system. This allows accurate catheter positioning through electrical signal mapping rather than direct real-time x-ray imaging, thereby reducing radiation exposure while maintaining or improving measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical x-ray imaging system with an electrical field-based navigation system. By substituting real-time x-ray imaging with electrical reading transformation and 3D image registration, the system achieves accurate catheter localization without the harmful radiation effects of continuous fluoroscopy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If real-time x-ray imaging is used to navigate catheter, then catheter location can be determined, but the method is not accurate enough for positioning within defined tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter positioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning reliability within tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary registration of the 3D image space with the electrical reading space before the actual catheter navigation procedure. By pre-establishing the transformation relationship between electrical readings and anatomical locations, and accounting for organ movement in advance, the system ensures reliable and accurate catheter positioning within defined tolerances during the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where electrical readings from multiple electrodes are continuously transformed and registered to the 3D image, providing real-time feedback on catheter position. This feedback loop, combined with movement compensation, ensures the catheter remains positioned within the required tolerance for safe and effective procedure performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual registration is used to map electrical readings to 3D image, then anatomical correspondence can be established, but processing time and resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical correspondence accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated registration system that performs the mapping between electrical readings and 3D image points without requiring manual intervention. The system self-calibrates by using the known geometric relationships between electrodes and automatically computes the transformation parameters, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining high anatomical correspondence accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the registration problem from a complex manual matching task to a parameter optimization problem. By changing the approach from manual point-by-point registration to automated parameter transformation based on electrical reading geometry, the system achieves rapid and accurate anatomical correspondence with minimal processing time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11819293B2Systems and methods for registration of intra-body electrical readings with a pre-acquired three dimensional image

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 NAVIX INT

AI summary

There is provided a method of displaying a pre-acquired three dimensional (3D) image of at least a portion of an organ of a patient, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of electrical readings, each from a different electrode mounted on a catheter inside the portion of the organ of the patient, wherein the electrodes are mounted on the catheter at known distances from each other, transforming the plurality of electrical readings to a corresponding plurality of image points using a mapping transformation that transforms each electrical reading of the catheter from inside the portion of the organ of the patient to an anatomically corresponding image point in the 3D image based on the known distances, and displaying the 3D image with a marking of at least one of the plurality of image points.