Ultrasound-Guided Remote Medical Navigation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote medical navigation systems rely heavily on x-ray imaging, leading to significant exposure for patients and healthcare practitioners, and require large, costly equipment for magnetic field generation.
Innovation Solution
The use of ultrasound imaging to control and navigate medical devices within the body, reducing or eliminating the need for x-ray imaging and allowing for smaller, less expensive magnetic field sources by integrating ultrasound systems with remote navigation systems for precise device orientation and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If x-ray imaging is used for navigation guidance, then navigation accuracy and physician control are improved, but radiation exposure to patients and practitioners increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ultrasound imaging as an intermediary modality to replace x-ray imaging for navigation guidance. The ultrasound system provides real-time imaging of the operating region and medical device position without ionizing radiation, while the x-ray system is retained as a backup or supplementary tool, thus eliminating the need for continuous radiation exposure during navigation procedures.
2Power
If large source magnets are used for magnetic navigation, then magnetic field strength and navigation control are improved, but equipment size, cost, and facility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical constraint of large source magnets with a computational approach using image registration and fusion technology. By registering ultrasound images with pre-acquired three-dimensional anatomical models, the system achieves precise navigation control without requiring strong magnetic fields, thus eliminating the need for large, expensive magnet systems and their associated facility requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ultrasound imaging is used instead of x-ray imaging, then radiation exposure is reduced and equipment size is decreased, but navigation guidance capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-acquiring three-dimensional anatomical models (such as CT or MRI scans) before the navigation procedure. These pre-acquired models are then registered with real-time ultrasound images during the procedure, providing comprehensive navigation guidance capability. This preliminary preparation enables the ultrasound system to deliver complete navigation information without radiation exposure.
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 control and accuracy of medical device navigation within the body while minimizing exposure to radiation and reducing equipment complexity and cost, allowing for more efficient and safer procedures.
Implementation Method 1
magnetic navigation systems which use one or more external source magnets (either permanent magnets of electromagnets) to create a magnetic field in a direction that causes magnetically responsive elements on the medical device to align in a desired direction
Implementation Method 2
ultrasonically imaging the operating region
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a remote medical navigation system using ultrasound, employs ultrasound imaging from a medical device to supplement or to replace conventional x-ray imaging of the operating region during navigation.