US 8,821,376 B2Granted

Devices and methods for performing medical procedures in tree-like luminal structures

OwnerDavid Tolkowskyinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus is described for use with an imaging device (31) that acquires a pre-procedure image of a portion of a subject's body disposed at a pre-procedure position. An input unit receives from a user an indication of two or more lines within the image that correspond to respective branches of a multi-branch luminal structure. A probe (1) moves within the portion along two or more lines in the structure that respectively correspond to the two or more lines within the image. A location sensor (18) coupled to the probe senses location coordinates along the two or more lines, while the portion is at a current position. A control unit (34) registers the image of the portion with the portion's current position by registering (a) the two or more lines within the image, with (b) the location coordinates along the two or more lines. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims29

Dependent claims

Apparatus for suctioning trapped fluid from one or more bullae situated in an emphysematous lung region of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a plug configured to be placed in an airway of the subject, the airway leading to the emphysematous lung region, the plug defining an opening therethrough that is in an open state thereof when something is inserted through the opening and is in a closed state thereof when nothing is inserted through the opening;
a tool having a distal portion and a proximal portion that is proximal to the distal portion, the tool being configured to facilitate suctioning therethrough of the fluid trapped within the one or more bullae of the region, while the proximal portion of the tool is disposed within the opening through the plug;
and
a navigation aid configured to facilitate suctioning through the tool of the fluid trapped within the one or more bullae of the emphysematous region, by, prior to suctioning through the tool being applied, facilitating navigation of the distal portion of the tool to respective individual bullae of the region,
the navigation aid comprising at least one navigation aid selected from the group consisting of:
an intra-operative, endoluminal imaging probe configured to be inserted by means of the tool and to verify the location of the tool with respect to the individual bullae by acquiring endoluminal images from within the emphysematous lung region, and
an image-guided navigation system that comprises a location sensor coupled to the distal portion of the tool, the navigation system being configured (a) using the location sensor, to sense a current location of the distal portion of the tool when the distal portion of the tool is within the emphysematous lung region, and (b) in response thereto, to generate an indication of the current location of the distal portion of the tool on a previously-acquired image of a portion of the subject's body that contains the emphysematous lung region.

4 more elements

A method for suctioning trapped fluid from one or more bullae situated in an emphysematous lung region of a subject, the method comprising:

inserting a plug into an airway of the subject, the airway leading to the emphysematous lung region, the plug defining an opening therethrough that is in an open state thereof when something is inserted through the opening and is in a closed state thereof when nothing is inserted through the opening;
directing toward respective individual bullae of the region, a distal portion of a tool, the tool having a distal portion and a proximal portion that is proximal to the distal portion, the directing of the distal portion of the tool toward the bullae being performed by:
determining a location of the tool with respect to the respective individual bullae of the region;
and
directing the distal portion of the tool to the respective individual bullae of the region, in response to the determined location of the tool;
and
suctioning the fluid through the tool from within the respective individual bullae of the region, while the proximal portion of tool is disposed within the opening through the plug, and subsequent to the directing of the distal portion of the tool to the respective individual bullae of the region.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/527,508Filed 12 Mar 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Mar 2007
Published: US 2010/0041949 A118 Feb 2010
Granted: 2 Sep 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification29 codes

A61B 5/066
Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on…
A61B 1/0052
With controlled bending of insertion part: constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
A61B 1/018
Characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor: for receiving instruments
A61B 1/2676
For the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes or bronchoscopes: bronchoscopes

Family

Application60/906,210Us provisional application · filed 12 Mar 2007
Application60/906,199Us provisional application · filed 12 Mar 2007
Application60/924,431Us provisional application · filed 15 May 2007
US 2010/0041949 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Feb 2010
US 8,821,376 B2This patent

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