# US 12,108,994 B2 · Nasal patient tracking device and method of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,108,994 B2 - Document ID: US12108994B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/901,987 - Filed: 2022-09-02 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-02 - Assignees: Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Inventors: Stefan Wolfsberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108994B2 ## CPC - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 1/233: for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes {, e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes} - A61B 17/24: for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose (for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00); Tongue scrapers - A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras} - A61B 1/24: for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth - A61B 5/061: {Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body (A61B1/00158 takes precedence)} - A61B 34/30: Surgical robots - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61B 2017/00898: {expandable upon contact with fluid} - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61B 2034/2055: {Optical tracking systems} - A61B 2090/3762: {using computed tomography systems [CT]} - A61B 2090/3958: {emitting a signal} - A61B 2090/3983: {Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery} - A61B 2090/3991: {having specific anchoring means to fixate the marker to the tissue, e.g. hooks} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A patient tracking device for insertion into a body cavity includes a flexible conformable sensor housing having a sensor cavity therein. The housing conforms to the body cavity when inserted therein. A sensor is disposed within the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A patient tracking device for insertion into a body cavity comprising: a flexible conformable sensor housing comprising a sensor cavity therein, wherein the housing is configured to conform to the body cavity when inserted therein; and a sensor disposed within the housing; wherein the sensor housing is formed of flexible, resilient, compressible, expandable, and conformable material; wherein the sensor housing has a first form at rest, a second form as it is being inserted, and a third form within the body cavity, where the first, second and third forms are each different; wherein in the second form the sensor housing is compressed and in the third form the sensor housing automatically expands to conform and fix the patient tracking device in the body cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a handle coupled to the housing for removing the housing from the body cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 2 wherein the handle comprises a string coupled to the sensor housing and configured to retain the sensor in the sensor cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor with a wired communication cable for wired coupling to an interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 4 wherein said wired communication cable extends through a lateral end side of the sensor housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 5 wherein the lateral end side comprises a slot coupled to a cavity, said slot and cavity sized to receive said sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a separate sensor retainer separate from the sensor housing and configured for retaining the sensor within the sensor cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 7 wherein the sensor comprise an electromagnetic sensor with a wireless transmitter for wirelessly communicating with an interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 7 wherein the separate sensor retainer comprises a fastener, clip, or adhesive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 7 wherein the separate sensor retainer comprises a draw string. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 7 wherein the separate sensor retainer is biocompatible housing material positioned in the sensor cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing is composed of hydroxylated polyvinyl acetate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor cavity is pre-formed in an interior of the sensor housing to receive the sensor therein. ### Claim 14 A method of forming a patient tracking device comprising: forming a sensor cavity within a flexible conformable housing sized to fit within a body cavity; inserting an electromagnetic sensor within the sensor cavity; and retaining the electromagnetic sensor within the sensor cavity with a separate retainer; wherein the sensor housing is formed of flexible, resilient, compressible, expandable, and conformable material; wherein the sensor housing has a first form at rest, a second form as it is being inserted, and a third form within the body cavity, where the first, second and third forms are each different; wherein in the second form the sensor housing is compressed and in the third form the sensor housing automatically expands to conform and fix the patient tracking device in the body cavity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14 wherein retaining the electromagnetic sensor comprises retaining the electromagnetic sensor by using at least one of a separate fastener, clip, adhesive, and drawstring. ### Claim 16 A patient tracking device for positioning within a body cavity, comprising: a sensor housing defining a sensor cavity within the sensor housing; a tracking sensor sized and configured to be disposed within the sensor cavity in the sensor housing; and a separate retainer configured to retain the tracking sensor relative to the sensor cavity; wherein the sensor housing is formed of flexible, resilient, compressible, expandable, and conformable material; wherein the sensor housing has a first form at rest, a second form as it is being inserted, and a third form within the body cavity, where the first, second and third forms are each different; wherein in the second form the sensor housing is compressed and in the third form the sensor housing automatically expands to conform and fix the patient tracking device in the body cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The patient tracking device as reciting claim 16 wherein the sensor housing is configured to automatically conform to a portion of the subject upon the patient tracking device being positioned within a subject. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 16 wherein the separate retainer comprises a fastener, a clip, or an adhesive. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 16 wherein the tracking sensor is an electromagnetic tracking sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The patient tracking device as recited in claim 16 wherein the separate retainer is a clip separate from the sensor housing having a pair of opposed arms and configured to provide a clamping force for securing the tracking sensor relative to the sensor housing.