Respiratory Motion Compensation Using Impedance-Based Probe Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for tracking objects within the body during medical procedures face challenges in compensating for respiratory motion, which affects the accuracy of spatial coordinate measurement and visualization, especially in real-time imaging and intra-body medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving measuring probe positions over a respiration cycle, formulating respiration indicators, generating a functional relationship between these positions and indicators, extracting parameters, and applying them to compensate for respiratory motion at new probe locations, using impedance measurements between electrodes on the body and probe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time three-dimensional imaging is used to visualize the object and its surroundings during medical procedures, then visualization accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electromagnetic field copies (impedance signals) to represent the physical position of the probe instead of direct optical imaging. The impedance measurements create an electrical field representation of the probe's location, which is then processed to generate position information without requiring complex real-time 3D imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical imaging systems with an electromagnetic field-based sensing system. Instead of using cameras or other visual imaging equipment to track probe position, the system uses electromagnetic impedance measurements to detect and track the probe's location and compensate for respiratory motion
2Device complexity
If traditional position tracking systems are used without respiratory compensation, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to respiratory motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary characterization of respiratory motion by tracking the probe's position throughout entire respiratory cycles before the actual medical procedure. This preliminary data is used to create compensation algorithms that are then applied during the procedure to correct for respiratory motion in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the probe's position and uses impedance measurements to detect respiratory-induced position changes. This feedback information is processed to generate compensation vectors that are applied to correct the recorded probe positions, creating a closed-loop system that actively compensates for respiratory motion
3Device complexity
If gating to specific respiratory points is used for compensation, then computational complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is lost by excluding data from other respiratory phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous respiratory compensation by processing impedance measurements throughout the entire respiratory cycle rather than gating to specific phases. The system continuously tracks the probe's position and applies compensation based on the full respiratory trajectory, ensuring that data from all respiratory phases contributes to the final compensated position
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 continuous compensation for respiratory motion, improving the accuracy of probe positioning and tracking without being gated to specific respiratory points, thus enhancing the precision of medical procedures by stabilizing the probe's coordinates over respiration cycles.
Implementation Method 1
measuring impedances between the electrodes while measuring the first positions, and formulating the respiration indicators in response to the impedances
Data Source
AI summary
A method, including: measuring first positions of a probe fixed at a first point in a body of a patient over at least a portion of a respiration cycle of the patient, and formulating respective indicators of a respiration state of the patient at the first positions. The method further includes generating a functional relationship between the first positions and the respective indicators and extracting parameters from the functional relationship. The method also includes moving the probe to a second point of the body, measuring second positions of the probe at the second point during a subsequent respiration cycle of the patient, and applying the parameters to the second positions so as to compensate for respiratory motion of the patient at the second point.