Systems and methods for positioning a catheter

A system for depicting a position of a catheter, the system comprising:

• a detector configured to obtain first and second measurements of a magnetic field produced by a location marker associated with the catheter, wherein a first detection zone and a second detection zone are defined relative to the detector;
• a processor in communication with the detector, wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive the first measurements from the detector;
• compare the first measurements with a model of the location marker;
• provide a first confidence level regarding a first position of the location marker;
• receive the second measurements from the detector;
• compare the second measurements with the model of the location marker;
• and
• provide a second confidence level regarding a second position of the location marker;
• and
• a display device configured to show an image representative of the location marker, wherein the system is configured to show an initial display of the image only if the first confidence level is above a first threshold value and the first position is within the first detection zone, and wherein the system is configured to show a subsequent display of the image if the second confidence level is above a second threshold value different from the first threshold value and the second position is within one or more of the first and second detection zones.

A method for displaying a position of a medical device during placement of the medical device into a patient using a system including a processor, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a first set of detected position data relating to a location marker associated with the medical device;
• (b) determining a possible first position of the location marker;
• (c) assigning a first confidence level relating to a match between the first set of detected position data and a first set of predicted position data relating to the possible first position;
• (d) determining that the first confidence level meets or exceeds a first threshold;
• (e) determining that the first position of the location marker is within a first detection zone if the first confidence level meets or exceeds the first threshold;
• (f) displaying the first position of the location marker if the first position of the location marker is within the first detection zone;
• (g) obtaining a second set of detected position data relating to the location marker;
• (h) determining a possible second position of the location marker;
• (i) assigning a second confidence level relating to a match between the second set of detected position data and a second set of predicted position data relating to the possible second position;
• (j) determining that the second confidence level meets or exceeds a second threshold different from the first threshold;
• (k) determining that the second position of the location marker is within at least one of the first detection zone and a second detection zone if the second confidence level meets or exceeds the second threshold;
• and
• (l) displaying the second position of the location marker if the second position of the location marker is within at least one of the first detection zone and the second detection zone.

A computer program product for implementing a method for displaying a position of a medical device during placement of the medical device into a patient, the computer program product including one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to perform the following:

• (a) obtain a first set of detected position data relating to a location marker associated with the medical device;
• (b) determine a possible first position of the location marker;
• (c) assign a first confidence level relating to a match between the first set of detected position data and a first set of predicted position data relating to the possible first position;
• (d) determine that the first confidence level meets or exceeds a first threshold;
• (e) determine that the first position of the location marker is within a first detection zone if the first confidence level meets or exceeds the first threshold;
• (f) display the first position of the location marker if the first position of the location marker is within the first detection zone;
• (g) obtain a second set of detected position data relating to the location marker;
• (h) determine a possible second position of the location marker;
• (i) assign a second confidence level relating to a match between the second set of detected position data and a second set of predicted position data relating to the possible second position;
• (j) determine that the second confidence level meets or exceeds a second threshold different from the first threshold;
• (k) determine that the second position of the location marker is within at least one of the first detection zone and a second detection zone if the second confidence level meets or exceeds the second threshold;
• and
• (l) display the second position of the location marker if the second position of the location marker is within at least one of the first detection zone and the second detection zone.