Needle Sensor Imaging Plane for Ultrasound Tool Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive medical procedures lack efficient systems and methods for accurately tracking the location of tools relative to catheters or probes, which hinders precise imaging and navigation during medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a flexible elongate device with a working channel and an annular array of imaging elements, including ultrasound transmitters and sensors, is used to generate images of the tool's position, utilizing a controller to determine the optimal imaging plane that includes the tool's distal tip, and a localization sensor to ensure accurate visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a catheter or probe is used to deliver tools to target tissue, then minimally invasive procedures are enabled, but efficient tracking of tool location relative to the catheter is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the imaging elements directly onto the catheter or probe body, merging the delivery function and the imaging function into a single integrated device. This allows real-time visualization of tool location without requiring separate complex external imaging systems, thereby improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging elements are nested within or on the surface of the catheter/probe structure, with the working channel for tool delivery positioned centrally and imaging elements arranged around it. This nested arrangement enables simultaneous tool delivery and imaging without requiring separate external systems, resolving the contradiction between tracking accuracy and system complexity.
2Loss of information
If multiple imaging elements are used to capture images at different locations, then comprehensive visualization is improved, but computational burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the necessary imaging data from the multiple imaging elements based on the detected tool position. Rather than processing all images from all imaging elements equally, the system selectively processes only those images relevant to the current tool location, reducing computational burden while maintaining visualization completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple imaging elements to capture comprehensive data but processes only a subset of this data at any given time based on tool position. This partial processing approach ensures complete visualization capability while avoiding the excessive computational load of processing all possible images simultaneously.
3Manufacturing precision
If the imaging plane does not include the tool position, then image generation is simpler, but the image does not accurately represent the tool's position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic imaging plane selection system that automatically adjusts which imaging elements are activated and which imaging plane is used based on the real-time position of the tool. This dynamic adaptation ensures the imaging plane always includes the tool position for accurate representation, while the system maintains simplicity by only processing the relevant subset of imaging data rather than all possible planes.
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
Enhances real-time visualization of tools within the target tissue, reducing computational burden and ensuring the displayed image accurately represents the tool's position, thereby improving procedural accuracy and safety by avoiding critical structures like vasculature.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of imaging elements may include an array of ultrasound transmitters configured to generate ultrasound waves
Implementation Method 2
an array of ultrasound sensors configured to detect reflected ultrasound waves
Implementation Method 3
The ultrasound sensors may include whisper gallery mode (WGM) resonators
Implementation Method 4
The plurality of imaging elements may include an array of transducers configured to generate and detect ultrasound waves
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a flexible elongate device, a tool, and a controller. The flexible elongate device includes a working channel extending to an opening in a distal portion of the flexible elongate device and a plurality of imaging elements. The tool is extendable through the working channel and the opening. The controller has one or more processors configured to determine a position associated with a portion of the tool, and control at least a portion of the plurality of imaging elements to generate an image that includes an imaging plane that includes the position associated with the portion of the tool.