US6095150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for locating and guiding operative elements within interior body regions
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-18
•
Granted: 2000-08-01
•
Expires: 2019-05-18
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for locating an operative element within an interior body space use a locating probe, which includes at least one transmitting element to transmit an electric waveform output within at least a portion of the space. The systems and methods also use a sensing element, which is adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense a local electric waveform within the space. A processing element coupled to the sensing element generates a processed output that locates the sensing element relative to the locating probe based, at least in part, upon a differential comparison of the waveform output and the sensed local waveform.
Inventors
- 👤 Dorin Panescu
- 👤 James G Whayne
- 👤 David K Swanson
- 👤 David McGee
- 👤 David F. Dueiri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0062; A61B5/0066; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B5/06; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; A61B5/6858; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4461; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/0075; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B2018/00875; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2051; A61B2034/2072; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3954; A61B2090/3958; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043; A61B2562/046; A61B2562/08; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for locating a movable electrode, comprising: (a) measuring a voltage value distribution pattern between the movable electrode and each of a further plurality of electrodes; (b) generating an estimated voltage value distribution pattern based upon an estimated coordinate position of the movable electrode; (c) generating an iterative voltage matching coefficient based on a comparison between the measured voltage value distribution and the estimated voltage value distribution; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until the value of the iterative voltage matching coefficient is equal to a particular value; and (e) generating a position-indicating output based on the estimated coordinate position, the position-indicating output indicative of the location of the movable electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for locating a movable electrode, comprising: (a) measuring a voltage value distribution pattern between the movable electrode and each of a further plurality of electrodes; (b) generating an estimated voltage value distribution pattern based upon an estimated coordinate position of the movable electrode; (c) generating an iterative voltage matching coefficient based on a comparison between the measured voltage value distribution and the estimated voltage value distribution; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until the value of the iterative voltage matching coefficient is equal to a particular value; and (e) generating a position-indicating output based on the estimated coordinate position, the position-indicating output indicative of the location of the movable electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated coordinate location of the movable electrode is initially established arbitrarily.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated coordinate location of the movable electrode is initially established by at least one of differential waveform analysis, differential voltage analysis, and differential voltage analysis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated coordinate location of the movable electrode is established by applying a pre-selected incremental correction factor to a previously established estimated coordinate location of the movable electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated coordinate location of the movable electrode is in an x-, y-, z- coordinate system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a)-(c) are performed until the estimated coordinate position of the movable electrode is a best estimate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the position-indicating output is generated when the estimated coordinate position of the movable electrode is a best estimate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage matching coefficient increases in relation to a proximity of the actual location coordinate of the movable electrode to the estimated location coordinate of the movable electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage matching coefficient is generated by employing one of pattern matching, matched filtering and cross correlation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a three-dimensional array of electrodes, and the movable electrode is located within the array.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for locating a movable electrode, comprising: a movable electrode: a plurality of further electrodes; and a processing element coupled to the movable electrode and to each of the plurality of electrodes, the processing element configured to generate a position-indicating output by iteratively comparing a voltage value distribution pattern measured between the movable electrode and each of the plurality of further electrodes with an estimated voltage value distribution pattern, wherein the position-indicating output is indicative of the location of the movable electrode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for locating a movable electrode, comprising: a movable electrode: a plurality of further electrodes; and a processing element coupled to the movable electrode and to each of the plurality of electrodes, the processing element configured to generate a position-indicating output by iteratively comparing a voltage value distribution pattern measured between the movable electrode and each of the plurality of further electrodes with an estimated voltage value distribution pattern, wherein the position-indicating output is indicative of the location of the movable electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the estimated voltage value distribution pattern is obtained from an estimated location coordinate of the movable electrode, and wherein the processing element is further configured for generating an iterative voltage matching coefficient based on the voltage value distribution pattern comparison and for applying a preselected incremental correction factor to the estimated location coordinate of the movable electrode, until the iterative voltage matching coefficient reaches a particular value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the position-indicating output is generated from the estimated location coordinate when the iterative voltage matching coefficient reaches the particular value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a three-dimensional array of electrodes.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for locating an operative element, the system comprising: an operative element carrying a transmitting element, a plurality of locating probes, each locating probe carrying one or more sensing elements; and a processing element coupled to the transmitting element and to each of the one or more sensing elements, the processing element configured to generate a position-indicating output by iteratively comparing a voltage value distribution pattern measured between the transmitting element and each of the one or more sensing elements with an estimated voltage value distribution pattern, wherein the position-indicating output is indicative of the location of the transmitting element.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for locating an operative element, the system comprising: an operative element carrying a transmitting element, a plurality of locating probes, each locating probe carrying one or more sensing elements; and a processing element coupled to the transmitting element and to each of the one or more sensing elements, the processing element configured to generate a position-indicating output by iteratively comparing a voltage value distribution pattern measured between the transmitting element and each of the one or more sensing elements with an estimated voltage value distribution pattern, wherein the position-indicating output is indicative of the location of the transmitting element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the estimated voltage value distribution pattern is obtained from an estimated location coordinate of the transmitting element, and wherein the processing element is further configured for generating an iterative voltage matching coefficient based on the voltage value distribution pattern comparison and applying a pre-selected incremental correction factor to the estimated location coordinate of the transmitting element, until the iterative voltage matching coefficient reaches a particular value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the position-indicating output is generated from the estimated location coordinate when the iterative voltage matching coefficient reaches the particular value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the particular value reached by the iterative voltage matching coefficient is a best value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of locating probes are formed into a three-dimensional basket structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising: a voltage source coupled between the transmitting element and the processing element to condition the transmitting element to generate a voltage field; a switch coupled to the one or more sensing elements to condition the one or more sensing elements to sense the voltage field; and a data acquisition unit coupled between the switch and the processing element to sample and hold the sensed voltage field.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4522212A
Cited
US4628937A
Cited
US4649924A
Cited
US4674518A
Cited
US4699147A
Cited
US4852580A
Cited
EP0399536A1
Cited
US5058583A
Cited
US5092339A
Cited
US5156151A
Cited
US5465717A
Cited
US5383917A
Cited
US5323781A
Cited
US5282840A
Cited
US5341807A
Cited
US5411025A
Cited
US5324234A
Cited
US5311873A
Cited
US5297549A
Cited
US5309910A
Cited
US5327889A
Cited
US5450846A
Cited
US5433198A
Cited
US5476495A
Cited
US5391199A
Cited
US5409000A
Cited
EP0659388A1
Cited
US5487391A
Cited
US5722402A
Cited
US5941251A
Cited
US5697377A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |