Intrabody Probe Navigation via Electrical Self-Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation techniques for intrabody probes, such as catheters, face challenges in accurately determining their position within body cavities due to variability in electrical environments and the need for complex setups with body surface electrodes, which can be sensitive to changes and less effective in providing precise spatial coordinates.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating and measuring a plurality of electrical fields using electrodes within the body to create position-identifying data sets, which are then used to estimate the intrabody position coordinates within a spatial coordinate system, allowing for accurate navigation and mapping of body cavities by associating these data sets with anatomical data and using them to guide probe movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If body surface electrodes are used for navigation, then the setup is complex and sensitive to changes, but position determination accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical field generation function from the body surface electrodes and relocates it to intrabody electrodes positioned within the body cavity. This eliminates the need for complex body surface electrode setups while improving position determination accuracy by measuring electrical fields directly at the target location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intrabody electrodes as an intermediary between the navigation system and the body cavity. These electrodes serve dual functions: generating electrical fields for position sensing and measuring the fields to determine probe position, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Measurement precision
If body surface electrodes are used for navigation, then the system is sensitive to external electrical variations, but position determination accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement location from the body surface environment to the intrabody environment. By positioning electrodes within the body cavity, the system eliminates sensitivity to external electrical variations while maintaining high position determination accuracy through direct local measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by generating and measuring electrical fields locally within the body cavity using intrabody electrodes. This localized approach creates a measurement environment that is isolated from external electrical interference, thereby improving both accuracy and reducing sensitivity to external variations.
3Measurement precision
If intrabody electrodes are used to generate and measure electrical fields, then position determination accuracy improves, but the system requires self-sensing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical field generation and measurement functions into a single intrabody electrode system. The same electrodes that generate the electrical fields also measure them, creating a self-sensing capability that improves position determination accuracy while maintaining system versatility through integrated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The intrabody electrode system performs self-service by generating its own electrical fields and measuring them autonomously. This self-sensing approach eliminates the need for external field generation equipment, thereby improving position determination accuracy while maintaining adaptability through self-contained operation.
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 enhances the accuracy of intrabody probe positioning and navigation by reducing sensitivity to external electrical variations and improving the precision of spatial coordinate determination, enabling effective reconstruction of body cavity shapes and navigation within complex anatomical spaces.
Implementation Method 1
generating a plurality of electrical fields using the plurality of electrodes; measuring, at the intrabody position and using the plurality of electrodes, a position-identifying data set comprising a plurality of measurements of the plurality of electrical fields
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for position determination are described for using an intrabody probe having a plurality of electrodes to generate a plurality of different electrical fields, and to also measure, using the plurality of electrodes, a measurement set (a Ve-e measurement set) comprising a plurality of measurements of the plurality of different electrical fields while the probe remains in one position. From the Ve-e measurement set, spatial position coordinates for the intrabody probe are estimated within an intrabody coordinate system, using an established mapping between previously observed Ve-e measurement sets and positions in the intrabody coordinate system. Systems and methods for generating and selecting such mappings are also described.