Electromagnetic Tracking for Endovascular Prosthesis Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current endovascular prosthesis placement techniques lack accurate real-time positioning and motion compensation, leading to potential complications such as stroke, thrombus, or endoleak due to insufficient imaging guidance and inability to correct for breathing or cardiac motion during deployment.

Innovation Solution

The system employs electromagnetic or other tracking systems with movable position indicating elements to provide detailed position sensor space data for enhanced placement and deployment of endovascular prostheses, allowing for dynamic referencing and correction of motion, and includes a delivery instrument, tracking system, imaging modality, computer system, and display device for precise image-guided placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If x-ray guidance is used for endovascular prosthesis placement, then the placement can be monitored, but the positioning precision is insufficient leading to potential complications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidplacement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical x-ray fluoroscopy guidance with an electromagnetic tracking system that uses electromagnetic fields to detect and track the position of the prosthesis and delivery device in real-time, providing more precise three-dimensional positioning data without ionizing radiation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring the position of the endovascular prosthesis and delivery device through electromagnetic sensors, providing immediate positional information to operators to enable precise placement and adjust positioning before deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional placement techniques are used, then the procedure is simpler, but motion compensation for breathing or cardiac cycle is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion compensation capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically tracks and compensates for motion by continuously monitoring the positions of anatomical landmarks and the prosthesis throughout the cardiac and respiratory cycles, automatically adjusting the reference frame to maintain accurate positioning despite physiological motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces electromagnetic tracking sensors and a computer system as intermediaries between the physical prosthesis and the operator, enabling motion compensation through real-time detection and computational correction of positional data without adding mechanical complexity to the prosthesis itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If detailed measurements and planning are performed, then placement accuracy may be improved, but the procedure time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary three-dimensional mapping and measurement of the vascular anatomy and prosthesis position before deployment using electromagnetic tracking, allowing operators to plan and verify placement in advance with high precision, reducing the need for time-consuming adjustments during the procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach enables accurate and precise placement of endovascular prostheses by providing real-time feedback on location and motion, reducing the risk of complications and improving the effectiveness of the procedure.

Implementation Method 1

electromagnetic or other tracking systems that track one or more position indicating elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2046196B1System for image-guided endovascular prosthesis
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 PHILIPS ELECTRONICS LTD
  • EP2046196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2046196B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2046196B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The invention provides systems and methods for obtaining position sensor space data regarding an endovascular prosthesis within an anatomical region of a patient, wherein at least one position indicating element is movable within an endovascular prosthesis is tracked by a tracking system. A guidance portion of the endovascular prosthesis constrains movement of position indicating elements within the endovascular prosthesis.