US6556695B1 — Method for producing high resolution real-time im…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for producing cardiac images during a medical procedure on a subject, the steps comprising: a) acquiring image data of the subject's heart during successive cardiac phases; b) reconstructing a high resolution model image of the subject's heart from the acquired image data depicting the heart during successive cardiac phases of its functional cycle; c) acquiring low resolution images of the subject anatomy as the medical procedure is being performed; d) detecting the cardiac phase as the medical procedure is being performed; e) registering the high resolution model image with acquired low resolution images as the medical procedure is being performed using the detected cardiac phase; and f) displaying high resolution images during the medical procedure which employ the registered high resolution model image.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for producing cardiac images during a medical procedure on a subject, the steps comprising: a) acquiring image data of the subject's heart during successive cardiac phases; b) reconstructing a high resolution model image of the subject's heart from the acquired image data depicting the heart during successive cardiac phases of its functional cycle; c) acquiring low resolution images of the subject anatomy as the medical procedure is being performed; d) detecting the cardiac phase as the medical procedure is being performed; e) registering the high resolution model image with acquired low resolution images as the medical procedure is being performed using the detected cardiac phase; and f) displaying high resolution images during the medical procedure which employ the registered high resolution model image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method as recited in claim 1 in which the low resolution images include a medical device in their field of view and the medical device is displayed during the medical procedure by overlaying a depiction of the medical device on the higher resolution images.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method as recited in claim 2 in which the medical device is an ablation device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as recited in claim 2 in which the low resolution images are acquired with an ultrasonic transducer inserted into a chamber of the heart.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method as recited in claim 4 in which the medical device is an ablation device inserted into the heart chamber.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 4 in which the medical device is an electrode assembly inserted into the heart chamber that produces electrical signals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as recited in claim 6 in which the electrical signals produced by the electrode assembly are depicted on the high resolution images as activation wave fronts which indicate the timing of signals sensed on a heart chamber wall by the electrode assembly.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as recited in claim 7 in which the spatial distribution of the activation wave fronts are indicated by different colors.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method as recited in claim 1 in which the high resolution images are depictions of three-dimensional anatomic surfaces.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method as recited in claim 9 in which step e) is performed using a two-dimensional display device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method as recited in claim 9 in which step e) is performed using a three-dimensional display device.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method as recited in claim 9 in which step e) is performed using a head mounted display.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as recited in claim 12 in which the anatomic surfaces that are depicted by the head mounted display is determined in part by the spatial orientation of the head mounted display.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as recited in claim 1 in which the low resolution images are acquired using a transducer having a limited field of view of the subject's heart and the displayed high resolution images depict a larger field of view of the subject's heart.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as recited in claim 14 in which the particular part of the subject's heart depicted in the displayed high resolution images is determined by the images acquired by the transducer.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 1 in which the high resolution model image depicts the subject's heart at discrete phases of the functional cycle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as recited in claim 1 which includes selecting from the high resolution model image a depiction of the subject's heart at the detected cardiac phase.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as recited in claim 16 which includes detecting the cardiac phase as each low resolution image is acquired and the registration in step e) includes producing a depiction of the patient's heart by interpolating between two of the discrete phases depicted in the high resolution model image.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method as recited in claim 1 in which an electrode assembly inserted into the heart produces electrical signals which indicate the timing of signals sensed on a heart chamber wall and the method includes: locating the electrode assembly in the acquired low resolution images; and depicting the signal timing measured by the electrode assembly on the displayed high resolution images.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as recited in claim 19 in which the signal timing is depicted by color coding the displayed high resolution images.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 19 in which the signal timing is depicted by texture coding of the displayed high resolution images.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 19 in which the signal timing is depicted by the gray scale of the displayed high resolution images.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 154 words

A method for performing a medical intervention procedure on a subject using a medical device, the steps comprising: a) producing an anatomical image of the subject with a medical imaging system and updating the anatomical image in real-time as the medical intervention procedure is performed by periodically acquiring a low resolution image of the subject which depicts the medical device; b) acquiring physiological data from the subject with the medical device; c) spatially registering the physiological data with the anatomical image by spatially registering a low resolution image acquired at substantially the same time as the physiological data is acquired with the anatomical image to thereby locate the medical device therein; d) producing an output image which merges the spatially registered physiological data with the updated anatomical image; and e) repeating steps b), c) and d) during the medical intervention procedure to display physiological changes in the subject as the intervention procedure is performed.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 154 words

A method for performing a medical intervention procedure on a subject using a medical device, the steps comprising: a) producing an anatomical image of the subject with a medical imaging system and updating the anatomical image in real-time as the medical intervention procedure is performed by periodically acquiring a low resolution image of the subject which depicts the medical device; b) acquiring physiological data from the subject with the medical device; c) spatially registering the physiological data with the anatomical image by spatially registering a low resolution image acquired at substantially the same time as the physiological data is acquired with the anatomical image to thereby locate the medical device therein; d) producing an output image which merges the spatially registered physiological data with the updated anatomical image; and e) repeating steps b), c) and d) during the medical intervention procedure to display physiological changes in the subject as the intervention procedure is performed.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 23 in which the medical device is an endocardial mapping device and the physiological data is electrophysiological data.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 24 in which the spatially registered physiological data is an electrical activation map that overlays the updated anatomical image.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as recited in claim 23 in which the anatomic image is produced by acquiring a series of high resolution images that depict the subject as it changes as a function of time during a functional cycle.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as recited in claim 26 in which the anatomic image is updated by selecting a high resolution image based on information indicative of the functional cycle at the time it is updated.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for performing a medical procedure on a subject which moves in a repetitive functional cycle, the steps comprising; a) acquiring image data of the subject during successive phases of the functional cycle prior to performing the medical procedure; b) reconstructing a model image of the subject which depicts the subject at successive phases of the functional cycle; c) storing the model image; d) acquiring images of the subject as the medical procedure is being performed; e) detecting the phase in the functional cycle of the subject as the medical procedure is being performed; and f) producing images as the medical procedure is being performed by: i) selecting from the stored model image an image which depicts the subject at the currently detected functional cycle phase; ii) registering the image selected in step i) with the image currently acquired in step d); iii) displaying the registered image; and iv) repeating steps i), ii), and iii).

Claim 31

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for performing a medical procedure on a subject which moves in a repetitive functional cycle, the steps comprising; a) acquiring image data of the subject during successive phases of the functional cycle prior to performing the medical procedure; b) reconstructing a model image of the subject which depicts the subject at successive phases of the functional cycle; c) storing the model image; d) acquiring images of the subject as the medical procedure is being performed; e) detecting the phase in the functional cycle of the subject as the medical procedure is being performed; and f) producing images as the medical procedure is being performed by: i) selecting from the stored model image an image which depicts the subject at the currently detected functional cycle phase; ii) registering the image selected in step i) with the image currently acquired in step d); iii) displaying the registered image; and iv) repeating steps i), ii), and iii).

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as recited in claim 28 which includes acquiring physiological data from the subject with a medical device during the medical procedure and the location of the medical device with respect to the subject is depicted in the images acquired in step d).

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 29 in which the medical device is an endocardial mapping device and the physiological data is electrophysiological data.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as recited in claim 30 in which the electrophysiological data produced by the endocardial mapping device is displayed as an electrical activation map that overlays the registered image displayed in step iii).

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method as recited in claim 28 in which the medical procedure includes the use of an ablation device and the location of the ablation device with respect to the subject is depicted in the images acquired in step d).

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 32 in which a depiction of the ablation device overlays the registered image displayed in step iii).

Claim 37

Independent Claim 180 words

A method for performing a medical procedure using a medical device on a subject which moves in a repetitive functional cycle, the steps comprising: a) acquiring image data of the subject during successive phases of the functional cycle prior to performing the medical procedure; b) reconstructing a model image of the subject which depicts the subject at successive phases of the functional cycle; c) storing the model image; d) acquiring information as the medical procedure is being performed which indicates the location of the medical device relative to the subject; e) detecting the phase in the functional cycle of the subject as the medical procedure is being performed; and f) producing images as the medical procedure is being performed by: i) selecting from the stored model image an image which depicts the subject at the currently detected functional cycle phase; ii) registering the medical device with the image selected in step i) using the information currently acquired in step d); iii) displaying an image depicting information related to the registered medical device; and iv) repeating steps i), ii), and iii).

Claim 38

Independent Claim 180 words

A method for performing a medical procedure using a medical device on a subject which moves in a repetitive functional cycle, the steps comprising: a) acquiring image data of the subject during successive phases of the functional cycle prior to performing the medical procedure; b) reconstructing a model image of the subject which depicts the subject at successive phases of the functional cycle; c) storing the model image; d) acquiring information as the medical procedure is being performed which indicates the location of the medical device relative to the subject; e) detecting the phase in the functional cycle of the subject as the medical procedure is being performed; and f) producing images as the medical procedure is being performed by: i) selecting from the stored model image an image which depicts the subject at the currently detected functional cycle phase; ii) registering the medical device with the image selected in step i) using the information currently acquired in step d); iii) displaying an image depicting information related to the registered medical device; and iv) repeating steps i), ii), and iii).

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as recited in claim 34 which includes acquiring physiological data from the subject with the medical device during the medical procedure and the depicted information is derived from the acquired physiological data.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 35 in which the medical device is an endocardial mapping device and the physiological data is electrophysiological data.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as recited in claim 36 in which the electrophysiological data produced by the endocardial mapping device is displayed as an electrical activation map that overlays the image displayed in step iii).

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method as recited in claim 37 in which the medical procedure includes the use of an ablation device and the location of the ablation device is also acquired in step d) with respect to the subject and the ablation device is also depicted in the image produced in step iii).

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as recited in claim 34 in which the medical procedure includes the use of an ablation device and the location of the ablation device is acquired in step d) with respect to the subject and the ablation device is depicted in the image produced in step iii).

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-04-28	2006-10-28	2007-04-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-04-28	2010-10-28	2011-04-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-04-28	2014-10-28	2015-04-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for producing high resolution real-time images, of structure and function during medical procedures

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag