US 2006/0149134 A1Published application

Catheterscope 3D guidance and interface system

AssigneeUniversity of Washington

InventorsTimothy Soper, Robb Glenny, Eric Seibel

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Abstract

Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A flexible endoscope capable of being visually guided through linked passages within a body, comprising:

(a) a light source;
(b) an optical fiber having a cantilevered portion disposed adjacent to a distal end of the flexible endoscope;
(c) an actuator that is energized to drive the optical fiber to move in a desired pattern to scan a region adjacent to the distal end of the flexible endoscope by emitting light from the cantilevered portion that was conveyed from the light source through the optical fiber;
(d) a light sensor that senses light reflected from the region, producing a signal that is usable to image the region to enable visual guidance of the flexible endoscope through the linked passages;
and
(e) a sensor producing an output signal indicating a disposition of the distal end of the flexible endoscope, the output signal being adapted to couple to a tracking system that responds to the output signal produced by the sensor and produces an indication of the disposition of the distal end of the flexible endoscope within the linked passages, as the flexible endoscope is advanced through the linked passages.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/342,074Filed 27 Jan 2006
Priority: 12 Dec 2003
Published: 6 Jul 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

A61B 1/005
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…
A61B 1/000096
Of image signals during a use of endoscope: using artificial intelligence
A61B 1/00016
Characterised by signal transmission: using wireless means
A61B 1/00045
Provided with output arrangements: display arrangement

Family

Application60/529,077Us provisional application · filed 12 Dec 2003
Application11/009,699Division · filed 10 Dec 2004
Application11/342,074Division · filed 27 Jan 2006
US 2005/0182295 A1Published application
US 7,901,348 B2Related patent
US 8,382,662 B2Related patent
US 2006/0149134 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.