Patent EP1374792A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP1374792A1
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EP
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Guidance of invasive medical procedures using implantable tags
Assignee: Biosense Webster Inc
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Filing: 2003-06-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-06-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for locating a tissue within a body of a subject includes an acoustic tag configured to be fixed to the tissue and adapted, responsive to acoustic waves incident thereon, to return acoustic echoes. Acoustic transducers are placed at respective positions so as to direct the acoustic waves into the body toward the tissue and to receive the acoustic echoes returned from the tag responsive to the acoustic waves, generating first signals responsive to the received echoes. Transducer position sensors are coupled respectively to the acoustic transducers so as to generate second signals indicative of the respective positions of the acoustic transducers in an external frame of reference. A processing unit processes the first signals and the second signals so as to determine coordinates of the acoustic tag in the external frame of reference.
Inventors
- 👤 Assaf Govari
- 👤 Yitzhack Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/06; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/04; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/11; A61B17/1114; A61B17/34; A61B17/3403; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B5/061; A61B5/062; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B90/39; A61B10/0041; A61B10/0233; A61B2010/045; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00796; A61B2017/008; A61B2017/3413; A61B34/10; A61B2034/107; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2051; A61B2034/2063; A61B2034/2072; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2090/3904; A61B2090/3908; A61B2090/3925; A61B2090/3929; A61B2090/3954; A61B2090/3958; A61B2090/397; A61B2090/3987; A61B34/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for locating a tissue within a body of a subject, comprising: an acoustic tag configured to be fixed to the tissue and adapted, responsive to
acoustic waves incident thereon, to return acoustic echoes; a plurality of acoustic transducers, which are adapted to be placed at respective
positions so as to direct the acoustic waves into the body toward the tissue and to receive
the acoustic echoes returned from the tag responsive to the acoustic waves, the transducers
being further adapted to generate first signals responsive to the received echoes; a plurality of transducer position sensors, coupled respectively to the acoustic
transducers so as to generate second signals indicative of the respective positions of the
acoustic transducers in an external frame of reference; and a processing unit, coupled to process the first signals and the second signals so as to
determine coordinates of the acoustic tag in the external frame of reference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is substantially no wired connection
to the tag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the acoustic waves incident on
the tag have a first frequency, and wherein the acoustic echoes returned by the tag have a
second frequency, different from the first frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tag comprises a shell defining a cavity
therein and a medium contained within the shell, and wherein the shell and the medium are
selected and constructed to resonate at the second frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first signals are
indicative of respective distances between the acoustic transducers and the tag, and
wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a location of the tag relative to the
acoustic transducers by triangulating the distances.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and comprising one or more field
generators, which are fixed in the external frame of reference and which are adapted to
generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the acoustic transducers, and wherein the
transducer position sensors comprise field sensors, in which electrical currents flow
responsive to the electromagnetic fields, and wherein the second signals correspond to the
electrical currents flowing in the field sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, and comprising a tool position sensor, which is
configured to be fixed to a medical device that is to be applied to the body and which is
adapted to generate a third signal responsive to the electromagnetic fields, wherein the
processing unit is further coupled to process the third signal so as to determine the
coordinates of the medical device relative to the acoustic tag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, and comprising a display, which is adapted to
present a visual indication of the coordinates of the medical device relative to the acoustic
tag for use by an operator of the medical device, wherein the display and field generator
coils are contained together with the processing unit in an integral package.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the transducer position
sensors comprise field generators, which are adapted to generate electromagnetic fields,
and comprising one or more field receivers, which are fixed in the external frame of
reference, such that electrical currents flow in the field receiver coils corresponding to the
second signals responsive to the electromagnetic fields.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and comprising a tool position
sensor, which is configured to be fixed to a medical device that is to be applied to the body
and which is adapted to generate a third signal indicative of the coordinates of the medical
device in the external frame of reference, wherein the processing unit is further coupled to
process the third signal so as to determine the coordinates of the medical device relative to
the acoustic tag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the medical device comprises an invasive
tool, which is adapted to penetrate into the body so as to reach the tissue, and comprising a
display, which is adapted to present a visual indication for use by an operator of the
invasive tool of an orientation of the tool relative to an axis passing through the acoustic
tag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the invasive tool comprises a handle, and
wherein the display is mounted on the handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the invasive tool is adapted to perform a
surgical procedure on the tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the invasive tool comprises an
endoscope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for use in locating a tissue within
a body of a subject.
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