Apparatus and methods are described for performing percutaneous catheter-based interventional surgery. The apparatus comprises first and second devices that are located in adjacent body cavities, such as adjacent blood vessels, the first device being capable of transmitting a directional signal that can be received by the second device. The direction of the signal is correlated with the facility to direct therapy, such that improved accuracy in therapy placement is thereby achieved. Methods for treating patients utilising the means and apparatus are also provided.

An apparatus for performing a medical procedure is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to convert an ultrasonic signal incident thereon into an electrical signal; and a wireless transceiver configured to receive the electrical signal from the sensor, and to transmit the electrical signal to a wireless receiver remotely located from the apparatus.

The present invention relates to an ultrasound-based system for localizing a medical device within the field of view of an ultrasound imaging probe. A localization system is provided that includes at least three ultrasound emitters that are arranged on a frame; and a position triangulation unit. The frame is adapted for attachment to an ultrasound imaging probe. The position triangulation unit determines a spatial position of the ultrasound detector relative to the at least three ultrasound emitters based on signals received from an ultrasound detector that is attached to the medical device. The frame includes a detachable reference volume comprising a background volume and an inclusion or void. When the detachable reference volume is attached to the frame and the frame is attached to the ultrasound imaging probe the inclusion or void provides a corresponding image feature within the field of view of the ultrasound imaging probe for use in calibrating the field of view of the ultrasound imaging probe with the coordinate system of the localization system.

An ultrasound device is provided for imaging an anatomical region. The ultrasound device includes an ultrasound probe (288). The ultrasound device further includes a medical instrument (202) having an ultrasound transducer (279) mounted thereto. The ultrasound device also includes a hardware processor (214) configured to render a Region Of Interest (ROI) relative to a distal end of the medical instrument on an ultrasound image displayed on a display device, and selectively perform a dynamic ROI refinement as the medical instrument is moved through the anatomical region to increase a location precision of the distal end of the medical instrument in the ultrasound image. The dynamic ROI refinement is generated in accordance with physical characteristics of the medical instrument and a recorded path of movement of the medical instrument through the anatomical region determined based on acoustic pulses transmitted between the ultrasound probe (288) and the ultrasound transducer (279).

A system for tracking an instrument includes two or more sensors (22) disposed along a length of an instrument and being spaced apart from adjacent sensors. An interpretation module (45) is configured to select and update an image slice from a three-dimensional image volume in accordance with positions of the two or more sensors. The three-dimensional image volume includes the positions two or more sensors with respect to a target in the volume. An image processing module (48) is configured to generate an overlay (80) indicating reference positions in the image slice. The reference positions include the positions of the two or more sensors and relative offsets from the image slice in a display to provide feedback for positioning and orienting the instrument.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for tracking a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) of an ultrasound field. The position includes an out-of-plane distance (Dop). A geometry-providing unit (GPU) includes a plurality of transducer-to-distal-end lengths (Ltde.sub.1 . . . n), each length corresponding to a predetermined distance (Ltde) between a distal end (17, 47) of an interventional device (11, 41) and an ultrasound detector (16, 46) attached to the interventional device, for each of a plurality of interventional device types (T.sub.1 . . . N). An image fusion unit (IFU) receives data indicative of the type (T) of the interventional device being tracked; and based on the type (T): selects from the geometry-providing unit (GPU), a corresponding transducer-to-distal-end length (Ltde); and indicates in a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI) both the out-of-plane distance (Dop) and the transducer-to-distal-end length (Ltde) for the interventional device within the ultrasound field.

A system for tracking an instrument includes two or more sensors (22) disposed along a length of an instrument and being spaced apart from adjacent sensors. An interpretation module (45) is configured to select and update an image slice from a three-dimensional image volume in accordance with positions of the two or more sensors. The three-dimensional image volume includes the positions two or more sensors with respect to a target in the volume. An image processing module (48) is configured to generate an overlay (80) indicating reference positions in the image slice. The reference positions include the positions of the two or more sensors and relative offsets from the image slice in a display to provide feedback for positioning and orienting the instrument.

A method, device, and system for obtaining time of flight images is provided. A surgical plan may be received and a first path for a first robotic arm and a second path for a second robotic arm may be determined based on the surgical plan. The first robotic arm may be caused to move on the first path and may be configured to hold a transducer. The second robotic arm may be caused to move on the second path and may be configured to hold a receiver. At least one image may be received from the receiver, the image depicting patient anatomy and generated using time-of-flight measurements.

An interventional device includes a sensor interconnection region (101) for making electrical contact to a sensor (102) disposed on the interventional device. The interventional device includes an electrically conductive elongate shaft, a sensor strip (104), electrical conductors (105, 106), and an electrical shield layer (109). The electrical conductors (105, 106) extend along the sensor strip between a sensor region (111) and a window (112) within which the electrical conductors (105, 106) are exposed. The sensor strip (104) is wrapped around the elongate shaft (103) in a spiral such that the electrical conductors (105, 106) extend along the longitudinal axis (A-A′) within the window (112), and such that an electrical shield contact portion (109′) adjacent the window (112), the window (112), and an exposed portion of the electrically conductive elongate shaft (103′) beyond the wrapped sensor strip provide the sensor interconnection region (101).

A mechanism for tracking the position of an interventional device from a sensing signal, generated by a capacitive pressure sensing arrangement of the interventional device, responsive to a change in pressure applied to a capacitor of the capacitive pressure sensing arrangement. The sensing signal is processed to identify a first response, which is responsive to ultrasound wave(s) incident on the capacitive pressure sensing arrangement. The first response is then further processed using a tracking algorithm to track the position of the interventional device with respect to the ultrasound transducer emitting the ultrasound wave(s).