Location tracking of a metallic object in a living body using a radar detector and guiding an ultrasound probe to direct ultrasound waves at the location

An apparatus for in-vivo determination of extent of restenosis within a stent deployed in a body of a person or animal, comprising:

• a radar detector comprising an antenna configured as a conforming patch for removable attachment to a living body, wherein the radar detector determines and tracks the location of the deployed stent within the body;
• an ultrasound probe for measuring fluid flow;
• and
• guiding means for establishing a common geometric frame of reference for the radar detector and the ultrasonic probe, and for guiding the probe to measure fluid flow at the location determined by the radar detector, whereby extent of in-stent restenosis can be determined from measured fluid flow.

A method for locating a metallic object in a living body, comprising:

• adapting a radar detector to interface with a living body, the radar detector comprising an antenna configured as a conforming patch for removable attachment to the living body;
• directing a radar beam from the radar detector at the body to produce a returned radar signal;
• receiving the returned radar signal;
• and
• determining and tracking location of the metallic object in the living body from the returned radar signal.

A method for determining fluid flow within a metallic object in a living body, comprising:

• adapting a radar detector to interface with a living body, the radar detector comprises an antenna configured as a conforming patch for removable attachment to the living body;
• metallic object localization by determining and tracking the location of the metallic object in the body with the radar detector;
• guiding an ultrasound probe to the location determined by the radar detector;
• and
• measuring fluid flow at the location with the ultrasound probe.

A method for determining extent of restenosis within a stent deployed in a living body, comprising:

• adapting a radar detector to interface with a living body, the radar detector comprises an antenna configured as a conforming patch for removable attachment to a living body;
• determining and tracking the location of the deployed stent in the body with the radar detector;
• measuring fluid flow with an ultrasound probe at the location determined by the radar detector;
• and
• determining extent of restenosis within the deployed stent from measured fluid flow.