Imaging system and method

A method for determining a path of at least part of a medical device, the medical device comprising at least one optical fibre or other waveguide having a plurality of light-emitting regions arranged along at least part of the length of the at least one optical fibre, and the method comprising:

• positioning the medical device at least partially within a scattering medium;
• transmitting pulsed light into the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide, such that the pulsed light is guided along the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide to the light-emitting regions and emitted by the light-emitting regions into the scattering medium;
• receiving by at least one detector photons of the pulsed light that have passed through the scattering medium;
• selecting signals corresponding to at least some of the received photons;
• determining a respective location of each of the light-emitting regions based on the selected signals;
• and
• determining a path of at least part of the medical device based on the determined locations.

A system comprising:

• a medical device configured to be positioned at least partially within a scattering medium, the medical device comprising at least one optical fibre or other waveguide having a plurality of light-receiving regions arranged along at least part of the length of the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide;
• a pulsed light source configured to be positioned external to the scattering medium and to transmit pulsed light into the scattering medium;
• at least one detector coupled to a proximal end of the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide, wherein the at least one detector is configured to receive photons of the pulsed light that have passed through the scattering medium and been received through the light-receiving regions and guided along the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide to the at least one detector;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• select signals corresponding to at least some of the received photons;
• determine a respective location of each of the light-receiving regions based on the selected signals;
• and determine a path of at least part of the medical device based on the determined locations.

A method comprising:

• positioning a medical device at least partially within a scattering medium, the medical device comprising at least one optical fibre or other waveguide having a plurality of light-receiving regions arranged along at least part of the length of the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide;
• positioning a pulsed light source external to the scattering medium;
• transmitting pulsed light from the pulsed light source into the scattering medium;
• receiving, by at least one detector coupled to a proximal end of the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide, photons of the pulsed light that have passed through the scattering medium and been received through the light-receiving regions and guided along the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide to the at least one detector;
• selecting signals corresponding to at least some of the received photons;
• determining a respective location of each of the light-receiving regions based on the selected signals;
• and
• determining a path of at least part of the medical device based on the determined locations.

A system comprising:

• an enteral tube configured to be positioned at least partially inside the body of a human or animal subject, wherein enteral tube comprises or at least partially contains at least one optical fibre or other waveguide, the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide comprising at least one light-emitting region;
• a pulsed light source configured to transmit pulsed light into a proximal end of the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide, such that the pulsed light is guided along the at least one optical fibre or other waveguide to the light-emitting region or regions and emitted by the light-emitting region or regions into the body of the subject;
• at least one detector configured to receive photons of the pulsed light that have passed through the body of the subject;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• select signals corresponding to at least some of the received photons;
• determine a location of the or each light-emitting region based on the selected signals;
• and
• determine a location of the enteral tube based on the determined location or locations.