# US 12,383,223 B2 · Percutaneous, ultrasound-guided introduction of medical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,383,223 B2 - Document ID: US12383223B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/174,395 - Filed: 2018-10-30 - Published: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2025-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-30 - Assignees: Muffin Incorporated - Applicants: Muffin Incorporated - Inventors: Neal E. Fearnot; Peter S. McKinnis; Kasper Klausen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12383223B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 8/5238: {for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image} - A61B 8/5246: {combining images from the same or different imaging techniques, e.g. color Doppler and B-mode} - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 2034/2063: {Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound} - A61B 2034/2065: {Tracking using image or pattern recognition} - A61B 2090/3784: {both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter} - A61B 2090/3788: {transmitter only} - A61B 2090/3925: {ultrasonic} - A61B 2090/3966: {Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image} - A61F 2/011: {Instruments for their placement or removal} - A61F 2002/016: {made from wire-like elements} - A61F 2230/005: Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped - A61F 2230/0067: conical - A61F 2230/008: paraboloidal - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Described are methods and systems and system components useful for percutaneously delivering or retrieving vascular implant devices, such as filters, utilizing intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) imaging alone or in combination with external (e.g. transabdominal) ultrasound or other imaging technology. Implants deliverable by such systems, such as vena cava or other vascular filters, can have two or more echogenic markers spaced at such a distance that they are separately discernible by IVUS and/or external ultrasound imaging. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for ultrasound guidance, comprising: a computer processor for receiving signal data from an intravascular ultrasound probe mounted on an elongate percutaneously introducible device having a distal tip located distally of the intravascular ultrasound probe and generating ultrasound images using the signal data, wherein the intravascular ultrasound probe travels correspondingly with the elongate percutaneously introducible device; a visual display device electronically connected to the computer processor; and said computer processor and display device configured to display on the visual display device two-dimensional, real time images generated by the computer processor using the signal data simultaneously with and spaced from a three-dimensional image generated from prior-acquired intravascular ultrasound image signal data from the intravascular ultrasound probe, and wherein the computer processor and visual display device are configured to display within the three-dimensional image on the visual display a graphical image representing a position of the intravascular ultrasound probe, and wherein the computer processor is configured to perform a comparison of the two-dimensional, real time images to the prior-acquired intravascular ultrasound image signal data and to position the graphical image within the three-dimensional image based on the comparison, wherein the computer processor and visual display device are configured to display on the visual display device a reference scale, wherein the reference scale is generated from the prior-acquired three-dimensional ultrasound image and is correlated to the real time two-dimensional image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image is generated by reconstructing a plurality of previously-acquired two-dimensional, cross-sectional image data sets from the intravascular ultrasound probe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, also including the elongate percutaneously introducible device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, arranged wherein the computer processor receives the signal data via a wired data transmission connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, arranged wherein the computer processor receives the signal data via a wireless data transmission connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the visual display device comprises a display monitor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the elongate percutaneously introducible device is a dilator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the prior-acquired intravascular ultrasound image signal data comprises position-tracking data correlated to image data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the computer processor is configured to compare the two-dimensional, real time images to the prior-acquired intravascular ultrasound image signal data in order to at least one of (i) position the at least one of a reference scale and a graphical image and (ii) adjust the at least one of a reference scale and a graphical image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, also comprising an external ultrasound imaging probe connected to the computer processor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the computer processor and display device are configured to display real-time external ultrasound images positionally registered to the three-dimensional image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the external ultrasound imaging probe is tuned to receive an ultrasound signal from the intravascular ultrasound probe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, also comprising a second external ultrasound imaging probe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, for ultrasound guidance of the delivery of a percutaneously-deliverable vascular device, the system also comprising: the elongate percutaneously introducible device; a delivery catheter; and a percutaneously-deliverable vascular device received in the delivery catheter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the percutaneously-deliverable vascular device is a filter, stent, stent valve, occluder, embolization device, or anastomosis device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, also comprising the elongate percutaneously introducible device, and wherein the elongate percutaneously introducible device is a delivery sheath carrying a percutaneously deliverable vascular device configured for deployment from a distal opening at the distal tip of the delivery sheath. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the graphical image also represents a position of the distal tip of the elongate percutaneously introducible device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the percutaneously deliverable vascular device is a filter, stent, stent valve, occluder, embolization device, or anastomosis device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate percutaneously introducible device includes one or more visible markers on a proximal end of the device, and wherein said computer processor and display device are configured to correlate a position of the intravascular ultrasound probe on the reference scale with the one or more visible markers.