Multi-Core Fiber Optic Shape Sensing for Medical Instrument Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic tracking systems for medical devices like guidewires and catheters are prone to interference from consumer electronics and have limited depth range, relying on magnetic fields that expose patients to radiation and contrast media, and lack accurate orientation determination within the body.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic shape sensing system using a multi-core optical fiber with spatially distributed reflective gratings to measure strain-induced wavelength shifts, providing 3D information for real-time 2D display of medical instruments within the body, allowing accurate orientation determination and anatomical representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If electromagnetic tracking systems are used to track medical devices, then radiation exposure and contrast media are eliminated, but electromagnetic interference from consumer electronics occurs and depth range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic tracking systems with a fiber optic-based tracking system. Instead of using magnetic fields that are susceptible to interference from consumer electronics, the system uses optical fibers to transmit light signals for tracking the position and orientation of medical devices. This substitution of electromagnetic fields with optical fields eliminates the harmful electromagnetic interference while maintaining tracking reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical fibers as an intermediary medium between the tracking system and the medical device. The optical fibers carry light signals that reflect off the medical device to provide position and orientation information. This intermediary approach allows for reliable tracking without being affected by electromagnetic interference from consumer electronics or other sources.
2Reliability
If fiber optic shape sensing system is used to track medical instruments, then electromagnetic interference is eliminated, but orientation determination accuracy must be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical fiber into multiple segments or uses multiple optical fibers arranged in specific configurations. Each segment or fiber provides information about a specific aspect of the medical device's position or orientation. By segmenting the sensing system, the patent achieves accurate orientation determination through the combined information from multiple segments while maintaining immunity to electromagnetic interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional position tracking to three-dimensional orientation determination by utilizing the spatial arrangement of multiple optical fibers or the polarization state of light. This dimensional expansion allows the system to accurately determine orientation in 3D space while maintaining the benefits of fiber optic technology, including immunity to electromagnetic interference.
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
Enables accurate tracking of medical instruments within the body without radiation exposure, immune to electromagnetic interference, and provides real-time anatomical orientation for safe and precise medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
each core fiber of the multi-core optical fiber is configured with an array of sensors (reflective gratings), which are spatially distributed over a prescribed length of the core fiber
Implementation Method 2
These distributed measurements may include wavelength shifts having a correlation with strain experienced by the sensor
Implementation Method 3
The multi-core optical fiber is configured to receive broadband light from a console during advancement through the vasculature of a patient, where the broadband light propagates along at least a partial distance of the multi-core optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus and method directed to placing a medical device into a body of a patient, including performing operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to a plurality of core fibers of a multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral width, and processing the reflected light signals associated with the plurality of core fibers to determine (i) a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber relating to the medical device including the multi-core optical fiber, and (ii) an orientation of the multi-core optical fiber relative to a reference frame of the body. Additional operations include generating a display illustrating the physical state of the multi-core optical fiber based at least on the orientation determined during processing of the reflected light. Typically, the display is a two-dimensional representation of the multi-core optical fiber in accordance with the determined orientation.