US6711429B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for determining the location of a catheter during an intra-body medical procedure
Assignee: Covidien LP
•
Filing: 1999-09-24
•
Granted: 2004-03-23
•
Expires: 2019-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure. The method is effected by (a) establishing a location of the body; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of the imaging instrument; (d) acquiring at least one point-of-interest of the body; and (c) projection said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of the procedure, the locations of the body and the imaging instrument are known, thereby the at least one point-of-interest is projectable on the at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of the body and the imaging instrument are changed.
Inventors
- 👤 Pinhas Gilboa
- 👤 David Tolkowsky
- 👤 David Hollander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/06; A61B5/061; A61B5/062; A61B5/064; A61B90/00; A61B90/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 359
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) inserting at least one catheter into a portion of the body, said at least one catheter including a first location implement; (c) using an imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; (d) establishing a location of said imaging instrument; (e) advancing said at least one catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and via a locating implement recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; and (f) displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest in context of an image of said portion of the body, said image being generated by said imaging instrument; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in context of said image even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) inserting at least one catheter into a portion of the body, said at least one catheter including a first location implement; (c) using an imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; (d) establishing a location of said imaging instrument; (e) advancing said at least one catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and via a locating implement recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; and (f) displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest in context of an image of said portion of the body, said image being generated by said imaging instrument; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in context of said image even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying a curvature of at least a portion of said catheter on said image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said at least a portion of said catheter includes a distal portion of said catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said portion of the body is a heart, the method further comprising the step of displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image is effected by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image is effected by monitoring and displaying said catheter's location throughout a duration of a cardiac cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image is effected by monitoring and displaying said catheter's location throughout a duration of a cardiac cycle and also averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image is effected by monitoring and displaying said catheter's location throughout a respiratory cycle and also averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said portion of the body is a heart, said at least one catheter includes two catheters at least one of which is an ablation catheter, the method serves for ablating an origin of cardiac arrhythmia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein a location of cardiac arrhythmia is determined by an intersection of at least two directions formed between said two catheters when probing said heart.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a tissue plane or structure is displayed in context of said image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a second location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via said locating implement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said second location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by image processing of features in said image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a probing catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter has an ablation ability.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a sensor for sensing local information within the body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a plurality of electrodes for simultaneously collecting local electric information from inner walls of a heart cavity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a mechanism for measuring a leverage of a steering mechanism of the catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a plurality of first location implements along at least a part of its length, each of said plurality of first location implements is locationable via said locating implement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said first location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system and acoustic locating system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said non-real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by attaching a second location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via said locating implement.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said second location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features in said image and by location information regarding said features.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of claim, 35 , wherein said features are imageable markers on said at least one catheter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features in said image and by magnification information regarding said features.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by a positioning implement inherent to said imaging instrument.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is within a heart in said body.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter has treatment ability, whereas said at least one point-of-interest is at least one point treated by said at least one catheter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein said treatment is ablation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is at least one point located at a displacement relative to said at least one point treated by said at least one catheter.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a sensor for sensing local information within the body, whereas said at least one point-of-interest is established in accordance with said local information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, brain, colon and blood vessels.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least three degrees of freedom.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least four degrees of freedom.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least on of said locations is determined in at least five degrees of freedom.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least six degrees of freedom.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is highlighted in a distinctive fashion indicative of its nature or properties.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest includes a plurality of points-of-interest all having a common nature or property and are highlighted by a line connecting there amongst.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
127 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: (f) using at least one additional imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; (g) establishing a location of said at least one additional imaging instrument; (h) displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one additional image of said portion of the body, said at least one additional image being generated by said at least one additional imaging instrument; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in context of said at least one additional image even in cases whereby a relative location of said body is changed.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 53 , wherein said image and said at least one additional image are projected in predetermined relativity.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest is effected in context of at least two images of said portion of the body, said at least two images being generated by said imaging instrument, each is of a different plane of the portion of the body.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 55 , wherein said at least two images are displayed simultaneously.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 55 , wherein said at least two images are of at least two orthogonal planes.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing in memory said image data.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing in memory said image data and said at least one point-of-interest data.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing in memory said at least one point-of-interest data.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said locating implement is connected to said imaging instrument.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
269 words
A system for recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a first mechanism for establishing a location of said body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) at least one catheter insertable into a portion of the body, said at least one catheter being supplemented with a first location implement; (c) an imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; (d) a locating implement for locating said first location implement and for establishing a location of said at least one catheter; and (e) a second mechanism for establishing a location of said imaging instrument by image processing of features in said image together with magnification information regarding said features; such that, by inserting said at least one catheter into said portion of the body; using said imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; establishing a location of said imaging instrument; advancing said at least one catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; so that in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter and said imaging instrument are known, said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in a highlighted fashion in context of an image of said portion of the body generated by said imaging instrument even in cases where a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
269 words
A system for recording and displaying in context of an image a location of at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a first mechanism for establishing a location of said body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) at least one catheter insertable into a portion of the body, said at least one catheter being supplemented with a first location implement; (c) an imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; (d) a locating implement for locating said first location implement and for establishing a location of said at least one catheter; and (e) a second mechanism for establishing a location of said imaging instrument by image processing of features in said image together with magnification information regarding said features; such that, by inserting said at least one catheter into said portion of the body; using said imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; establishing a location of said imaging instrument; advancing said at least one catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; so that in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter and said imaging instrument are known, said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in a highlighted fashion in context of an image of said portion of the body generated by said imaging instrument even in cases where a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a third mechanism for displaying a curvature of at least a portion of said catheter on said image.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 63 , wherein said at least a portion of said catheter includes a distal portion of said catheter.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 63 , wherein said third mechanism is selected from the group consisting of multiple strain gauges positioned in segments of said catheter, a steering mechanism of said catheter and multiple additional location implements positioned in segments of said catheter.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said portion of the body is a heart, the system further comprising a third mechanism for displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a third mechanism for displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image by averaging a location of said at least one catheter over at least one cycle of a cyclic movement.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a third mechanism for displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image by monitoring and displaying said catheter's location throughout a duration of a cyclic movement.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a third mechanism for displaying said at least one catheter in context of said image by monitoring and displaying said catheter's location throughout a duration of a cyclic movement and also averaging its location over at least one cycle.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said first mechanism includes a second location implement attachable onto said body, whereas establishing said location of the body is effected via said locating implement.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 70 , wherein said second location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said first mechanism is configured to establish said location of said body by image processing of features in said image.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 72 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 73 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said first mechanism is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a probing catheter.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter has an ablation ability.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a sensor for sensing local information within the body.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a plurality of electrodes for simultaneously collecting local electric information from inner walls of a heart cavity.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a mechanism for measuring a leverage of a steering mechanism of the catheter.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a plurality of first location implements along at least a part of its length, each of said plurality of first location implements is locationable via said locating implement.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said first location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system and acoustic locating system.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 83 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 89 , wherein said imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said second mechanism is effected by attaching a second location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via said locating implement.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 91 , wherein said second location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is within a heart in said body.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter has treatment ability, whereas said at least one point-of-interest is at least one point treated by said at least one catheter.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 94 , wherein said treatment is ablation.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 94 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is at least one point located at a displacement relative to said at least one point treated by said at least one catheter.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one catheter includes a sensor for sensing local information within the body, whereas said at least one point-of-interest is established in accordance with said local information.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, bladder, liver, brain, colon and blood vessels.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least three degrees of freedom.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least four degrees of freedom.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least five degrees of freedom.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein at least one of said locations is determined in at least six degrees of freedom.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is highlighted in a distinctive fashion indicative of its nature or properties.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest includes a plurality of points-of-interest all having a common nature or property and are highlighted by a line connecting there amongst.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
131 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising: (f) at least one additional imaging instrument for imaging said portion of the body; and (g) a third mechanism for establishing a location of said at least one additional imaging instrument, so as to enable displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one additional image of said portion of the body, said at least one additional image being generated by said at least one additional imaging instrument; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said at least one catheter are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable and displayable in context of said at least one additional image even in cases whereby a relative location of said body is changed.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein displaying and highlighting said at least one point-of-interest is effected in a context of at least two images of said portion of the body, said at least two images being generated by said imaging instrument, each is of a different plane of the portion of the body.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 107 , wherein said at least two images are displayed simultaneously.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 107 , wherein said at least two images are of at least two orthogonal planes.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a memory module for receiving and storing in memory said image data.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a memory module for receiving and storing in memory said image data and said at least one point-of-interest data.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 62 , further comprising a memory module for receiving and storing in memory said at least one point-of-interest data.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 62 , wherein said locating implement is connected to said imaging instrument.
Claim 116
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said body; and (e) projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 117
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said body; and (e) projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 114 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument is a three dimensional imaging instrument producing an image by which every picture element represents a coordinate in a three dimensional space, the method further comprising the steps of: (f) selecting at least one picture element; and (g) calculating a location in said three dimensional space of said picture element.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via a locating implement.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 117 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by image processing of features in an image provided by said imaging instrument.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 119 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 120 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 123 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 125 , wherein said non-real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by attaching a location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via a locating implement.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 131 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by location information regarding said features.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 133 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 133 , wherein said features are imageable markers on said at least one catheter.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by magnification information regarding said features.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by a positioning implement inherent to said imaging instrument.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, brain, colon and a blood vessel.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of a reference point which is useful in context of a medical procedure and a point, a size and shape of which is indicative of treatment range applied.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein a plurality of said at least one point-of-interest are arranged in a line.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 141 , wherein said line is selected from the group consisting of a closed line, a boundary line of an internal organ or a portion thereof, a line taken at a given direction along a body tissue and a boundary line between portions of a tissue having different bio-physiologic characteristic.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 142 , wherein said bio-physiologic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tissue vitality level, tissue blood perfusion level, tissue temperature level, tissue movement characteristic, tissue density level, tissue texture, tissue chemistry, tissue optical transparency level, local pressure level in said body portion and tissue impedance level.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of a portion of a blood vessel, a junction between at least two blood vessels and a displacement relative to another point-of-interest.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 114 , wherein the medical procedure is for treating a medical condition selected from the group consisting of fistulae, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), aneurysm, stenosis, sclerosis, ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, tremor, Parkinson's disease, malignant tumor and a benign tumor.
Claim 149
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of recording and displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) inserting a catheter into said portion of the body and establishing a location of said catheter; (e) advancing said catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; and (f) projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 150
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of recording and displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) inserting a catheter into said portion of the body and establishing a location of said catheter; (e) advancing said catheter to at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body and recording a location of said at least one point-of-interest; and (f) projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 146 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 152
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument is a three dimensional imaging instrument producing an image by which every picture element represents a coordinate in a three dimensional space, the method further comprising the steps of: (g) selecting at least one picture element; and (h) calculating a location in said three dimensional space of said picture element.
Claim 153
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via a locating implement.
Claim 154
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 149 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 155
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by image processing of features in an image provided by said imaging instrument.
Claim 156
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 151 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 157
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 152 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 158
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 159
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter includes a plurality of electrodes for simultaneously collecting local electric information from inner walls of a heart cavity.
Claim 160
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter includes a mechanism for measuring a leverage of a steering mechanism of the catheter.
Claim 161
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter includes a location implement locationable via a locating implement.
Claim 162
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 151 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system and acoustic locating system.
Claim 163
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 164
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 159 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 165
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 166
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 161 , wherein said non-real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 167
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 168
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 169
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 170
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 171
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by attaching a location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via a locating implement.
Claim 172
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 167 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 173
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by location information regarding said features.
Claim 174
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 169 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 175
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 169 , wherein said features are imageable markers on said at least one catheter.
Claim 176
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by magnification information regarding said features.
Claim 177
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by a positioning implement inherent to said imaging instrument.
Claim 178
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 179
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, brain, colon and a blood vessel.
Claim 180
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter is a probing catheter including at least one sensor.
Claim 181
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 176 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a sensor for sensing bio-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing electro-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing at least one biochemical constituent, a sensor for sensing a bio-mechanical effect, a sensor for sensing a physiopathological character of a tissue and an imaging sensor.
Claim 182
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a steerable catheter, a cardiac catheter, an electrophysiology catheter, an ablating catheter and a catheter exerting energy to a tissue.
Claim 183
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 178 , wherein said energy is selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic energy, non-coherent light energy, laser energy, microwave energy, mechanical energy, sound energy, ultrasound energy, heating energy and cooling energy.
Claim 184
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter includes an injection device.
Claim 185
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 180 , wherein said injection device includes an injection mechanism for injecting a substance or an object into said portion of the body, said substance or object is selected from the group consisting of a glue, micro-coils, micro-spheres, a contrast agent, a growth factor and cells.
Claim 186
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter includes an item selected from the group consisting of a stent delivery device, an expandable balloon, a lead, a mechanism of lead placement, an electrode, a mechanism for electrode placement and a guiding wire.
Claim 187
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 146 wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a guiding catheter, an endoscope, a needle, a surgical tool and a drill for drilling in a tissue of the body.
Claim 188
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a catheter for treating fistulae, a catheter for treating arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a catheter for treating aneurism, a catheter for treating stenosis, a a catheter for treating sclerosis, a catheter for treating ischemia, a catheter for treating cardiac arrhytmia, a catheter for treating tremor, a catheter for treating Parkinson's disease, a catheter for treating a tumor (either benign or malignant), a catheter for treating renal calculus and a catheter for treating stomach ulcer.
Claim 189
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is a reference point which is useful in context of a medical procedure and a point, a size and shape of which is indicative of treatment range applied.
Claim 190
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein a plurality of said at least one point-of-interest are arranged in a line.
Claim 191
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 186 , wherein said line is selected from the group consisting of a closed line, a boundary line of an internal organ or a portion thereof, a line taken at a given direction along a body tissue and a boundary line between portions of a tissue having different bio-physiologic characteristic.
Claim 192
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 187 , wherein said bio-physiologic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tissue vitality level, tissue blood perfusion level, tissue temperature level, tissue movement characteristic, tissue density level, tissue texture, tissue chemistry, tissue optical transparency level, local pressure level in said body portion and tissue impedance level.
Claim 193
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of a portion of a blood vessel, a junction between at least two blood vessels and a displacement relative to another point-of-interest.
Claim 194
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 146 , wherein the medical procedure is for treating a medical condition selected from the group consisting of fistulae, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), aneurysm, stenosis, sclerosis, ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, tremor, Parkinson's disease, malignant tumor and a benign tumor.
Claim 195
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) inserting a catheter into said portion of the body and establishing a location of said catheter; (e) projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (g) projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (h) navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest.
Claim 196
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) inserting a catheter into said portion of the body and establishing a location of said catheter; (e) projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (g) projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (h) navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest.
Claim 197
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 191 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 198
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 192 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion said catheter in context of said at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 199
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 191 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion said catheter in context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 200
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle.
Claim 201
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected throughout a duration of a cardiac cycle.
Claim 202
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle and also throughout said cardiac cycle.
Claim 203
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected by averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle.
Claim 204
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected by averaging its location throughout a respiratory cycle.
Claim 205
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected by averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle and also throughout said respiratory cycle.
Claim 206
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 194 , wherein said virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a virtual image of a at least a portion of said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane, a virtual image of a direction of a portion of said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane, a virtual image of a curvature of at least a portion of said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane and a virtual image of an effect exerted on a tissue by said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane.
Claim 207
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via a locating implement.
Claim 208
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 202 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 209
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by image processing of features in an image provided by said imaging instrument.
Claim 210
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 204 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 211
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 205 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 212
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 213
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter includes a plurality of electrodes for simultaneously collecting local electric information from inner walls of a heart cavity.
Claim 214
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter includes a mechanism for measuring a leverage of a steering mechanism of the catheter.
Claim 215
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter includes a location implement locationable via a locating implement.
Claim 216
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 210 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system and acoustic locating system.
Claim 217
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 218
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 212 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 219
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 220
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 214 , wherein said non-real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 221
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 222
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 223
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 224
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 225
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by attaching a location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via a locating implement.
Claim 226
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 220 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 227
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by location information regarding said features.
Claim 228
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 222 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 229
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 222 , wherein said features are imageable markers on said at least one catheter.
Claim 230
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by magnification information regarding said features.
Claim 231
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by a positioning implement inherent to said imaging instrument.
Claim 232
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 233
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, brain, colon and a blood vessel.
Claim 234
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter is a probing catheter including at least one sensor.
Claim 235
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 229 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a sensor for sensing bio-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing electro-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing at least one biochemical constituent, a sensor for sensing a bio-mechanical effect, a sensor for sensing a physiopathological character of a tissue and an imaging sensor.
Claim 236
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a steerable catheter, a cardiac catheter, an electrophysiology catheter, an ablating catheter and a catheter exerting energy to a tissue.
Claim 237
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 231 , wherein said energy is selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic energy, non-coherent light energy, laser energy, microwave energy, mechanical energy, sound energy, ultrasound energy, heating energy and cooling energy.
Claim 238
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter includes an injection device.
Claim 239
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 233 , wherein said injection device includes an injection mechanism for injecting a substance or an object into said portion of the body, said substance or object is selected from the group consisting of a glue, micro-coils, micro-spheres, a contrast agent, a growth factor and cells.
Claim 240
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter includes an item selected from the group consisting of a stent delivery device, an expandable balloon, a lead, a mechanism of lead placement, an electrode, a mechanism for electrode placement and a guiding wire.
Claim 241
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a guiding catheter, an endoscope, a needle, a surgical tool and a drill for drilling in a tissue of the body.
Claim 242
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a catheter for treating fistulae, a catheter for treating arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a catheter for treating aneurism, a catheter for treating stenosis, a a catheter for treating sclerosis, a catheter for treating ischemia, a catheter for treating cardiac arrhytmia, a catheter for treating tremor, a catheter for treating Parkinson's disease, a catheter for treating a tumor (either benign or malignant), a catheter for treating renal calculus and a catheter for treating stomach ulcer.
Claim 243
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is a reference point which is useful in context of a medical procedure and a point, a size and shape of which is indicative of treatment range applied.
Claim 244
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein a plurality of said at least one point-of-interest are arranged in a line.
Claim 245
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 239 , wherein said line is selected from the group consisting of a closed line, a boundary line of an internal organ or a portion thereof, a line taken at a given direction along a body tissue and a boundary line between portions of a tissue having different bio-physiologic characteristic.
Claim 246
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 239 , wherein said bio-physiologic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tissue vitality level, tissue blood perfusion level, tissue temperature level, tissue movement characteristic, tissue density level, tissue texture, tissue chemistry, tissue optical transparency level, local pressure level in said body portion and tissue impedance level.
Claim 247
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of a portion of a blood vessel, a junction between at least two blood vessels and a displacement relative to another point-of-interest.
Claim 248
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 191 , wherein the medical procedure is for treating a medical condition selected from the group consisting of fistulae, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), aneurysm, stenosis, sclerosis, ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, tremor, Parkinson's disease, malignant tumor and a benign tumor.
Claim 249
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of determining an angle between a surface of a body cavity and a catheter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body; (b) defining a plurality of projection planes of the body; (c) inserting said catheter into the body cavity and establishing a location of said catheter; (d) projecting at least a portion of said catheter on each of said plurality of projection planes; and (e) projecting at least one line along said surface on said plurality of projection planes; such that, in course of guiding said catheter, said location of said body, said catheter and said line are known, thereby an angle between said catheter and said line is definable.
Claim 250
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of determining an angle between a surface of a body cavity and a catheter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a location of the body; (b) defining a plurality of projection planes of the body; (c) inserting said catheter into the body cavity and establishing a location of said catheter; (d) projecting at least a portion of said catheter on each of said plurality of projection planes; and (e) projecting at least one line along said surface on said plurality of projection planes; such that, in course of guiding said catheter, said location of said body, said catheter and said line are known, thereby an angle between said catheter and said line is definable.
Claim 251
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 244 , wherein said plurality of projection planes include at least two mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 252
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 244 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said catheter on at least one of said plurality of projection plane.
Claim 253
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 246 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said line on at least one of said plurality of projection plane, thereby displaying an angle between said catheter and said line.
Claim 254
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 244 , further comprising the step of displaying a virtual image of said line on at least one of said plurality of projection plane.
Claim 255
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for recording and displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument for imaging at least a portion of the body, said mechanism for establishing said location of said imaging instrument being configured to establish said location of said imaging instrument by image processing of features of the body together with magnification information regarding said features; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for recording a location of at least one point-of-interest via said location of said catheter by advancing said catheter to said at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body; and (f) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 256
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for recording and displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument for imaging at least a portion of the body, said mechanism for establishing said location of said imaging instrument being configured to establish said location of said imaging instrument by image processing of features of the body together with magnification information regarding said features; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for recording a location of at least one point-of-interest via said location of said catheter by advancing said catheter to said at least one point-of-interest in said portion of the body; and (f) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest is projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed.
Claim 257
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 249 , further comprising a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 258
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument is a three dimensional imaging instrument producing an image by which every picture element represents a coordinate in a three dimensional space, the system further comprising: (g) a mechanism for selecting at least one picture element; and (h) a mechanism for calculating a location in said three dimensional space of said picture element.
Claim 259
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via a locating implement.
Claim 260
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 252 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 261
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said mechanism for establishing said location of the body is configured to establish said location by image processing of features in an image provided by said imaging instrument.
Claim 262
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 254 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 263
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 255 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 264
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 265
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter includes a plurality of electrodes for simultaneously collecting local electric information from inner walls of a heart cavity.
Claim 266
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter includes a mechanism for measuring a leverage of a steering mechanism of the catheter.
Claim 267
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter includes a location implement locationable via a locating implement.
Claim 268
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 260 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system and acoustic locating system.
Claim 269
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 270
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 262 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 271
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 272
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 264 , wherein said non-real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 273
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 274
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 275
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 276
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 277
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by attaching a location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via a locating implement.
Claim 278
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 270 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 279
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 280
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, brain, colon and a blood vessel.
Claim 281
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter is a probing catheter including at least one sensor.
Claim 282
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 274 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a sensor for sensing bio-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing electro-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing at least one bio-chemical constituent, a sensor for sensing a bio-mechanical effect, a sensor for sensing a physiopathological character of a tissue and an imaging sensor.
Claim 283
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a steerable catheter, a cardiac catheter, an electrophysiology catheter, an ablating catheter and a catheter exerting energy to a tissue.
Claim 284
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 276 , wherein said energy is selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic energy, non-coherent light energy, laser energy, microwave energy, mechanical energy, sound energy, ultrasound energy, heating energy and cooling energy.
Claim 285
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter includes an injection device.
Claim 286
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 278 , wherein said injection device includes an injection mechanism for injecting a substance or an object into said portion of the body, said substance or object is selected from the group consisting of a glue, micro-coils, micro-spheres, a contrast agent, a growth factor and cells.
Claim 287
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter includes an item selected from the group consisting of a stent delivery device, an expandable balloon, a lead, a mechanism of lead placement, an electrode, a mechanism for electrode placement and a guiding wire.
Claim 288
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a guiding catheter, an endoscope, a needle, a surgical tool and a drill for drilling in a tissue of the body.
Claim 289
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a catheter for treating fistulae, a catheter for treating arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a catheter for treating aneurism, a catheter for treating stenosis, a a catheter for treating sclerosis, a catheter for treating ischemia, a catheter for treating cardiac arrhytmia, a catheter for treating tremor, a catheter for treating Parkinson's disease, a catheter for treating a tumor (either benign or malignant), a catheter for treating renal calculus and a catheter for treating stomach ulcer.
Claim 290
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is a reference point which is useful in context of a medical procedure and a point, a size and shape of which is indicative of treatment range applied.
Claim 291
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein a plurality of said at least one point-of-interest are arranged in a line.
Claim 292
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 284 , wherein said line is selected from the group consisting of a closed line, a boundary line of an internal organ or a portion thereof, a line taken at a given direction along a body tissue and a boundary line between portions of a tissue having different bio-physiologic characteristic.
Claim 293
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 285 , wherein said bio-physiologic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tissue vitality level, tissue blood perfusion level, tissue temperature level, tissue movement characteristic, tissue density level, tissue texture, tissue chemistry, tissue optical transparency level, local pressure level in said body portion and tissue impedance level.
Claim 294
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of a portion of a blood vessel, a junction between at least two blood vessels and a displacement relative to another point-of-interest.
Claim 295
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 249 , wherein the medical procedure is for treating a medical condition selected from the group consisting of fistulae, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), aneurysm, stenosis, sclerosis, ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, tremor, Parkinson's disease, malignant tumor and a benign tumor.
Claim 296
Independent Claim
296 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected throughout a duration of a cardiac cycle.
Claim 297
Independent Claim
296 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein displaying said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image is effected throughout a duration of a cardiac cycle.
Claim 298
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 289 , further comprising a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least one point-of-interest in context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 299
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 290 , further comprising the a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion said catheter in context of said at least one image representing said at least one projection plane.
Claim 300
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle.
Claim 301
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle and also throughout said cardiac cycle.
Claim 302
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle.
Claim 303
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location throughout a respiratory cycle.
Claim 304
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle and also throughout said respiratory cycle.
Claim 305
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein establishing said location of the body is effected by attaching a location implement onto said body and establishing the location of the body via a locating implement.
Claim 306
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 297 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 307
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said mechanism for establishing said location of the body is configured to establish said location of the body by imaging processing of features in an image provided by said imaging instruments.
Claim 308
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 299 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 309
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 300 , wherein said markers are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 310
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein establishing said location of the body is synchronized with a physiological activity of the body.
Claim 311
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter includes a plurality of electrodes for simultaneously collecting local electric information from inner walls of a heart cavity.
Claim 312
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter includes a mechanism for measuring a leverage of a steering mechanism of the catheter.
Claim 313
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter includes a location implement locationable via a locating implement.
Claim 314
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 305 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system and acoustic locating system.
Claim 315
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said imaging instrument is a real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 316
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 307 , wherein said real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, fluoroscope and interventional magnetic resonance imaging.
Claim 317
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said imaging instrument is a non-real-time imaging instrument.
Claim 318
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 309 , wherein said non-real-time imaging instrument is selected from the group consisting of computer aided tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and three dimensional ultrasound.
Claim 319
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a primary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 320
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said imaging instrument provides a secondary image of said portion of the body.
Claim 321
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said imaging instrument is designed to provide an image which corresponds to a vitality map of a tissue.
Claim 322
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said imaging instrument is adapted for simultaneously generating at least two images each of a different plane.
Claim 323
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by attaching a location implement onto said imaging instrument and establishing the location of said imaging instrument via a locating implement.
Claim 324
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 315 , wherein said location implement and said locating implement form a locating system selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic locating system, magnetic locating system, acoustic locating system, and stereopair optical system.
Claim 325
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected-by image processing of features of the body and by location information regarding said features.
Claim 326
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 317 , wherein said features are imageable markers made in contact with the body.
Claim 327
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 317 , wherein said features are imageable markers on said at least one catheter.
Claim 328
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by image processing of features of the body and by magnification information regarding said features.
Claim 329
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein establishing said location of said imaging instrument is effected by a positioning implement inherent to said imaging instrument.
Claim 330
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said portion of the body is a cavity within the body.
Claim 331
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said portion of the body is selected from the group consisting of heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, brain, colon and a blood vessel.
Claim 332
Dependent Claim
110 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a virtual image of a at least a portion of said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane, a virtual image of a direction of a portion of said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane, a virtual image of a curvature of at least a portion of said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane and a virtual image of an effect exerted on a tissue by said catheter projected on said at least one projection plane.
Claim 333
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter is a probing catheter including at least one sensor.
Claim 334
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 325 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a sensor for sensing bio-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing electro-physiology signals, a sensor for sensing at least one bio-chemical constituent, a sensor for sensing a bio-mechanical effect, a sensor for sensing a physiopathological character of a tissue and an imaging sensor.
Claim 335
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a steerable catheter, a cardiac catheter, an electrophysiology catheter, an ablating catheter and a catheter exerting energy to a tissue.
Claim 336
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 327 , wherein said energy is selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic energy, non-coherent light energy, laser energy, microwave energy, mechanical energy, sound energy, ultrasound energy, heating energy and cooling energy.
Claim 337
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter includes an injection device.
Claim 338
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 329 , wherein said injection device includes an injection mechanism for injecting a substance or an object into said portion of the body, said substance or object is selected from the group consisting of a glue, micro-coils, micro-spheres, a contrast agent, a growth factor and cells.
Claim 339
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter includes an item selected from the group consisting of a stent delivery device, an expandable balloon, a lead, a mechanism of lead placement, an electrode, a mechanism for electrode placement and a guiding wire.
Claim 340
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a guiding catheter, an endoscope, a needle, a surgical tool and a drill for drilling in a tissue of the body.
Claim 341
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said catheter is selected from the group consisting of a catheter for treating fistulae, a catheter for treating arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a catheter for treating aneurism, a catheter for treating stenosis, a a catheter for treating sclerosis, a catheter for treating ischemia, a catheter for treating cardiac arrhytmia, a catheter for treating tremor, a catheter for treating Parkinson's disease, a catheter for treating a tumor (either benign or malignant), a catheter for treating renal calculus and a catheter for treating stomach ulcer.
Claim 342
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is a reference point which is useful in context of a medical procedure and a point, a size and shape of which is indicative of treatment range applied.
Claim 343
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein a plurality of said at least one point-of-interest are arranged in a line.
Claim 344
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 335 , wherein said line is selected from the group consisting of a closed line, a boundary line of an internal organ or a portion thereof, a line taken at a given direction along a body tissue and a boundary line between portions of a tissue having different bio-physiologic characteristic.
Claim 345
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 336 , wherein said bio-physiologic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tissue vitality level, tissue blood perfusion level, tissue temperature level, tissue movement characteristic, tissue density level, tissue texture, tissue chemistry, tissue optical transparency level, local pressure level in said body portion and tissue impedance level.
Claim 346
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein said at least one point-of-interest is selected from the group consisting of a portion of a blood vessel, a junction between at least two blood vessels and a displacement relative to another point-of-interest.
Claim 347
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 289 , wherein the medical procedure is for treating a medical condition selected from the group consisting of fistulae, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), aneurysm, stenosis, sclerosis, ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, tremor, Parkinson's disease, malignant tumor and a benign tumor.
Claim 348
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for determining an angle between a surface of a body cavity and a catheter, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body; (b) a mechanism for defining a plurality of projection planes of the body; (c) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter insertable into the body cavity; (d) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on each of said plurality of projection planes; and (e) a mechanism for projecting at least one line along said surface on said plurality of projection planes; such that, in course of guiding said catheter, said location of said body, said catheter and said line are known, thereby an angle between said catheter and said line is definable.
Claim 349
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for determining an angle between a surface of a body cavity and a catheter, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body; (b) a mechanism for defining a plurality of projection planes of the body; (c) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter insertable into the body cavity; (d) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on each of said plurality of projection planes; and (e) a mechanism for projecting at least one line along said surface on said plurality of projection planes; such that, in course of guiding said catheter, said location of said body, said catheter and said line are known, thereby an angle between said catheter and said line is definable.
Claim 350
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 340 , wherein said plurality of projection planes include at least two mutually perpendicular planes.
Claim 351
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 340 , further comprising a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said catheter on at least one of said plurality of projection plane.
Claim 352
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 340 , further comprising a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said line on at least one of said plurality of projection plane.
Claim 353
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 342 , further comprising a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said line on at least one of said plurality of projection plane, thereby displaying an angle between said catheter and said line.
Claim 354
Independent Claim
310 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle and also throughout said cardiac cycle.
Claim 355
Independent Claim
310 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one cardiac cycle and also throughout said cardiac cycle.
Claim 356
Independent Claim
302 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location throughout a respiratory cycle.
Claim 357
Independent Claim
302 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location throughout a respiratory cycle.
Claim 358
Independent Claim
310 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle and also throughout said respiratory cycle.
Claim 359
Independent Claim
310 words
A system for navigating a catheter's tip to at least one point-of-interest in a body during an intra-body medical procedure, the system comprising: (a) a mechanism for establishing a location of the body in such a manner as to establish the location of the body even when the body moves; (b) a mechanism for establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) a mechanism for defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of said imaging instrument; (d) a mechanism for establishing a location of a catheter being insertable into said portion of the body; (e) a mechanism for projecting at least a portion of said catheter on said at least one projection plane; (f) a mechanism for displaying a virtual image of said at least a portion of said catheter in the context of at least one image representing said at least one projection plane; (g) a mechanism for acquiring at least one point-of-interest of said portion of the body; (h) a mechanism for projecting said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane, such that, in course of said procedure, said locations of said body, said catheter and said imaging instrument are known, thereby said at least one point-of-interest and said at least a portion of said catheter are projectable on said at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of said body and said imaging instrument are changed; and (i) a mechanism for navigating the catheter's tip to at least one of said points-of-interest, wherein said mechanism for displaying is configured to display said at least a portion of said catheter in context of said at least one image by averaging its location over at least one respiratory cycle and also throughout said respiratory cycle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-23 | 2007-09-22 | 2008-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-23 | 2011-09-22 | 2012-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-23 | 2015-09-22 | 2016-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |