| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080283771 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMBINING ULTRASOUND IMAGE ACQUISITION WITH FLUOROSCOPIC IMAGE ACQUISITION - A system and method to image an imaged subject is provided. The system comprises an ultrasound imaging system including an imaging probe operable to move internally and acquire ultrasound image data of the imaged subject, a fluoroscopic imaging system operable to acquire fluoroscopic image data of the imaged subject during image acquisition by the ultrasound imaging system, and a controller in communication with the ultrasound imaging system and the fluoroscopic imaging system. A display can be illustrative of the ultrasound image data acquired with the imaging probe in combination with a fluoroscopic imaging data acquired by the fluoroscopic imaging system. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287777 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REGISTER A TRACKING SYSTEM WITH AN INTRACARDIAC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (ICE) IMAGING SYSTEM - A system to navigate an object traveling in an imaged subject is provided. The system includes a four-dimensional (4D) imaging system to create a first three-dimensional model of the acquired imaged data correlated relative to a time reference and defined relative to a first image coordinate system. A second imaging system creates a second three-dimensional model of the imaged subject defined relative to a second image coordinate system. A tracking system tracks movement and orientation of the object relative to a tracking coordinate system. A controller includes program instructions in combination with the processor operable to register the first and second image coordinate systems and the tracking coordinate system relative to a world coordinate system, and to combine the three-dimensional model created by the 4D imaging system with the three-dimensional model created by the second imaging system with a tracked location of the object relative to the world coordinate system. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287778 | IMAGING AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM - An imaging and navigation system is disclosed herein. The imaging and navigation system includes a computer and an ultrasonic imaging device disposed at least partially within an ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic imaging device is connected to the computer and is adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image. The imaging and navigation system also includes a tracking system connected to the computer. The tracking system is adapted to estimate a position of a medical instrument. The imaging and navigation system also includes a display connected to the computer. The display is adapted to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasonic imaging device and to graphically convey the estimated position of the medical instrument. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287790 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DELIVERY OF AN INSTRUMENT TO AN IMAGED SUBJECT - An embodiment of an imaging system of an imaged subject is provided. The imaging system comprises a controller, and an imaging system and a display in communication with the controller. The imaging system can include an imaging probe having a marker representative of a unique identifier. The display can be illustrative of the imaged data acquired with the imaging probe in combination with a graphic representation of an imaging plane vector representative of a general direction of a field of view (FOV) of image acquisition of the imaging probe traveling through the imaged subject. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287794 | METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING AN IMAGING ND NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A method for implementing an imaging and navigation system to perform a medical procedure such as cardiac ablation is disclosed herein. The a method includes implementing an ultrasonic imaging device to provide a generally real time three-dimensional patient image, identifying a target site on the generally real time three-dimensional patient image, directing a medical instrument to the target site using a tracking system, and performing a medical procedure at the target site. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287802 | Method for minimizing tracking system interference - A method for minimizing tracking system interference caused by a motor driven ultrasonic imaging device is disclosed herein. The method includes providing an ultrasonic imaging device adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image. The ultrasonic imaging device includes a motor configured to rotate a transducer array within a catheter housing. The method for minimizing tracking system interference also includes estimating a noise signal produced by the motor, selecting a tracking system signal strength and/or frequency adapted to minimize a tracking system interference, and implementing a field generator to produce a tracking system signal at the selected tracking system signal strength and/or frequency. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287803 | INTRACARDIAC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION IN COMBINATION WITH POSITION TRACKING SYSTEM - A system and method to display a four-dimensional (4D) model of an imaged anatomy is provided. The system comprises a controller, and an imaging system including an imaging probe in communication with the controller. The imaging probe can acquire generally real-time, 3D image data relative to a direction of image acquisition along an imaging plane. The system also includes a tracking system in communication with the controller. The tracking system includes at least one tracking element integrated with the imaging probe. The system is operable to process the generally real-time, 3D image data acquired by the imaging probe relative to generally real-time tracking information acquired by the tracking system so as to display the 4D model of the imaged anatomy. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287805 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO GUIDE AN INSTRUMENT THROUGH AN IMAGED SUBJECT - A system and method to image an imaged subject is provided. The system comprises a controller, and an imaging system including an imaging probe in communication with the controller. The imaging probe acquires image data with movement through the imaged subject. The system also includes an ablation catheter including a marker having a unique identifier to be detected in the acquired image data, and a tracking system having one of a plurality of tracking elements located at the imaging probe and at least another tracking element located at the ablation catheter. A display illustrates the image data acquired with the imaging probe in combination with a graphic representation of an imaging plane vector representative of a general direction of a field of view (FOV) of image acquisition of the imaging probe in spatial relation to a graphic representation of the identifier and the location of the ablation catheter. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080287860 | SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH A TRACKABLE ULTRASOUND CATHETER - A surgical navigation system including an ultrasound catheter is disclosed herein. The ultrasound catheter includes a flexible catheter housing defining a distal end, a transducer array disposed at least partially within the catheter housing, and a motor coupled with the transducer array. The motor is configured to rotate the transducer array in order to image a three-dimensional volume. The ultrasound catheter also includes a tracking element adapted to provide an estimate of a position and/or orientation of the distal end of the catheter housing. The tracking element is disposed within the catheter housing and immediately adjacent to the distal end. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080317333 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CORRECTION OF FLUOROSCOPE IMAGE DISTORTION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for modeling S-distortion in an image intensifier. In an embodiment, the method may include identifying a reference coordinate on an input screen of the image intensifier. The method also includes computing a set of charged particle velocity vectors. The method also includes computing a set of magnetic field vectors. The method also includes computing the force exerted on the charged particle in an image intensifier. Certain embodiments of the present invention include an iterative method for calibrating an image acquisition system with an analytic S-distortion model. In an embodiment, the method may include comparing the difference between the measured fiducial shadow positions and the model fiducial positions with a threshold value. If the difference is less than the threshold value, the optical distortion parameters are used for linearizing the set of acquired images. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090002968 | APPARATUS FOR UNIVERSAL ELECTROMAGNETIC NAVIGATION TARGET FOR FLUOROSCOPIC SYSTEMS - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for an electromagnetic shield assembly for use with C-arms. In an embodiment, the system may include a ring shield configured to encompass an x-ray detector. The ring shield may have a first window opening to receive x-rays. The system may also include a window shield configured to shield the first window opening of the ring shield. Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a system for a universal navigation target. In an embodiment, the system may include a radiolucent calibration target and an electromagnetic shield. The electromagnetic shield may include a ring shield having a first window opening to receive x-rays and a window shield configured to shield the first window opening of the ring shield. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090118620 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AN ULTRASOUND CATHETER - A surgical navigation system including an ultrasound catheter is disclosed herein. The ultrasound catheter includes a flexible catheter housing defining a distal end, a transducer array disposed at least partially within the catheter housing, and a motor coupled with the transducer array. The motor is configured to rotate the transducer array in order to image a three-dimensional (3D) volume. The ultrasound catheter also includes at least one tracking element adapted to provide an estimate of a position and orientation of the distal end of the catheter housing. The at least one tracking element is disposed within the catheter housing and located immediately adjacent to the distal end. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20110116693 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CORRECTION OF FLUOROSCOPE IMAGE DISTORTION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for modeling S-distortion in an image intensifier. In an embodiment, the method may include identifying a reference coordinate on an input screen of the image intensifier. The method also includes computing a set of charged particle velocity vectors. The method also includes computing a set of magnetic field vectors. The method also includes computing the force exerted on the charged particle in an image intensifier. Certain embodiments of the present invention include an iterative method for calibrating an image acquisition system with an analytic S-distortion model. In an embodiment, the method may include comparing the difference between the measured fiducial shadow positions and the model fiducial positions with a threshold value. If the difference is less than the threshold value, the optical distortion parameters are used for linearizing the set of acquired images. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110137152 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COOLING COMPONENTS OF A SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a surgical navigation system is provided with a transmitter assembly that includes at least one coil for creating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of a surgical operation. The surgical navigation system also includes a cooling unit thermally coupled to the transmitter assembly for dissipating heat generated by the transmitter assembly and a receiver assembly that includes at least one coil configured to generate signals induced by the field. The surgical navigation system further includes electronic circuitry coupled to and communicating with the transmitter assembly and the receiver assembly for calculating at least a position of the receiver coil. | 06-09-2011 |