System and method for navigating a guide wire

A method for navigating a guide wire during a catheter procedure, the method comprising:

• receiving a set of parameters defining a predetermined path of an anatomy passing at least one junction point at a correct first branch and a side branch;
• advancing a guide wire through the predetermined path using a catheter procedure system;
• determining if a distal tip of the guide wire is in the predetermined path based at least on at least one image of a region of interest past the junction point using a controller of the catheter procedure system;
• retracting the guide wire using the catheter procedure system to a position before the junction point if the distal tip of the guide wire is not in the predetermined path past the junction point;
• rotating the guide wire about a longitudinal axis of the guide wire while the guide wire is being retracted using the catheter procedure system if the guide wire is not in the predetermined path, wherein the guide wire is rotated a predetermined amount;
• repeating the steps of advancing the guide wire, determining if the distal tip of the guide wire is in the predetermined path, and retracting the guide wire using the catheter procedure system until the guide wire is in the predetermined path, wherein when the guide wire is rotated only with the first retraction of the guide wire.

A catheter procedure system comprising:

• a bedside system comprising a guide wire, a guide wire advance/retract actuator coupled to the guide wire and a guide wire rotate actuator coupled to the guide wire;
• and
• a workstation coupled to the bedside system, the workstation comprising:
• a user interface;
• at least one display;
• and
• a controller coupled to the bedside system, the user interface and the at least one display, the controller programmed to:
• determine whether the guide wire will advance into a side branch;
• automatically rotate the proximal end of the guide wire about a longitudinal axis of the guide wire a predetermined amount using the guide wire rotate actuator while the guide wire is being retracted;
• and
• advance the guide wire avoiding the side branch.

A catheter procedure system, comprising:

• a bedside system comprising a guide wire, a guide wire advance/retract actuator coupled to the guide wire and a guide wire rotate actuator coupled to the guide wire;
• and
• a workstation coupled to the bedside system, the workstation comprising:
• a user interface;
• at least one display;
• and
• a controller coupled to the bedside system, the user interface and the at least one display, the controller programmed to:
• automatically rotate the proximal end of the guide wire about a longitudinal axis of the guide wire a predetermined amount using the guide wire rotate actuator while the guide wire is being retracted;
• wherein the controller is further programmed to determine if a distal tip of the guide wire is in a desired path based at least on at least one image of a region of interest past a junction point at a correct first branch and a side branch;
• retract the guide wire using the guide wire advance/retract actuator, wherein the guide wire is rotated while the guide wire is being retracted;
• and repeat the steps of advance the guide wire and retract the guide wire until the guide wire is in the predetermined path past the junction point.