# US 2024/0197404 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Imaging a Subject > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0197404 A1 - Document ID: US20240197404A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/066,640 - Filed: 2022-12-15 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-15 - Assignees: Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Inventors: Saba PASHA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240197404A1 ## CPC - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm} - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61B 8/4209: {by using holders, e.g. positioning frames} - A61B 8/4245: {involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient} - A61B 8/4254: {using sensors mounted on the probe} - A61B 8/4263: {using sensors not mounted on the probe, e.g. mounted on an external reference frame} - A61B 8/4416: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions} - A61B 8/4477: {using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes} - A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - A61B 8/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply} - A61B 34/30: Surgical robots - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61B 2034/2055: {Optical tracking systems} - A61B 2034/2063: {Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound} - A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length} - A61B 2090/364: {Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body} - A61B 2090/376: {using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy} - A61B 2090/3762: {using computed tomography systems [CT]} - A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Disclosed is a system to plan and position an implant in a subject. The planned position may be based upon various features and structures identified in a group of subjects for a current subject. The implant may then be positioned in a selected position including a relative position and orientation of one or more electrodes on the implant which may be identified as an optimal position for the selected current subject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of imaging a subject, comprising: providing a plurality of ultrasound transducers relative to a subject; determining a pose of a device relative to at least one of the subject or the plurality of ultrasound transducers; determining at least one ultrasound transducer of the plurality of ultrasound transducers for acquiring image data of the subject based at least on the determined pose of the device relative to at least one of the subject or the plurality of ultrasound transducers; and acquiring image data with the determined at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing the plurality of ultrasound transduces relative to the subject. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing the plurality of ultrasound transducers fixed relative to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring image data with the determined at least one ultrasound transducer includes the acquiring real time image data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: multiplexing the plurality of ultrasound transducers to acquire the image data with the determined at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the multiplexing includes at least manually operating the determined at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: operating a switch to operate the determined at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the multiplexing comprises: tracking the device to determine the pose of the device; determining that a selected portion of the device is within a selected proximity of the at least one of the ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; and operating the at least one ultrasound transducer to acquire the image data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the multiplexing comprises: generating an initial scan of the subject with the plurality of ultrasound transducers; determining a field of view of each ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; tracking the device to determine the pose of the device; determining the determined field of view that a selected portion of the device is within or within a selected proximity of; and operating the ultrasound transducer having the determined field of view to acquire the image data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the multiplexing comprises: sensing a proximity of the device relative to at least one of the ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; and operating the at least one ultrasound transducer to acquire the image data. ### Claim 11 A system to image a subject, comprising: a plurality of ultrasound transducers configured to be positioned relative to a subject; a device configured to be positioned relative to at least one of the subject or the plurality of ultrasound transducers; a multiplexer configured to operate at least one ultrasound transducer of the plurality of ultrasound transducers for acquiring image data of the subject based at least on a pose of the device relative to at least one of the subject or the plurality of ultrasound transducers; and acquiring image data with the determined at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising: a tracking system comprising a device tracker and at least one ultrasound transducer tracker; wherein the tracking system is configured to determine the pose of the device relative to the at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the multiplexer includes a manual switch configured to allow manually operating the determined at least one ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the manual switch includes an electronic switch that is manually selected by a user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising: a processor module configured to execute instructions to: determine the pose of the device based at least on tracking the device tracker; and wherein the multiplexer is configured to execute instructions to: determine that a selected portion of the device is within a selected proximity of the at least one of the ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; and operate the at least one ultrasound transducer to acquire the image data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising: a processor module configured to execute instructions to: evaluate an initial scan of the subject with the plurality of ultrasound transducers to determine a field of view of each ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; determine the determined field of view that a selected portion of the device is within or within a selected proximity of based at least on the determined pose of the device; and wherein the multiplexer is configured to execute instructions to operate the ultrasound transducer having the determined field of view to acquire the image data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising: a proximity sensor included with at least one of the ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; a sense portion included with the device; wherein the proximity sensor is configured to sense the sense portion to determine a proximity of the device relative to at least one of the ultrasound transducers of the plurality of ultrasound transducers; and wherein the multiplexer is configured to execute instructions to operate the at least one ultrasound transducer to acquire the image data. ### Claim 18 A system to image a subject, comprising: an imaging system comprising: a placement member; a plurality of ultrasound transducers configured to be positioned relative to a subject; and a multiplexer configured to selectively operate one ultrasound transducer of the plurality of ultrasound transducers for acquiring image data of the subject based at least on a pose of the device relative to at least one of the subject or the plurality of ultrasound transducers; wherein the operated one ultrasound transducer is configured to acquire image data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising: a display device to display an image based on the acquired image data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising: a device configured to be positioned relative to at least one of the subject or the plurality of ultrasound transducers; wherein the multiplexer selectively operates the one ultrasound transducer based on the position of the device.