IP Library › Granted Patent US 12685601
Granted Patent B2
US 12685601 · App. 18/905,698 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Nasal patient tracking device and method of using the same

Inventor: Stefan Wolfsberger (Vienna, AT)
Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
A61B34/20A61B1/233A61B90/361A61B1/24A61B5/061A61B2034/2055A61B34/30A61B2090/3983
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685601
App. No.
18/905,698
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A patient tracking device for insertion into a body cavity includes a flexible conformable sensor housing having a sensor cavity therein. The housing conforms to the body cavity when inserted therein. A sensor is disposed within the housing.

Claims (16)

1 . A method comprising:

determining a body cavity for receiving a flexible resilient sensor housing;

determining a sensor housing corresponding the body cavity;

inserting the sensor housing having a sensor within a sensor cavity of the housing into the body cavity;

conforming the sensor housing to a shape of the body cavity;

collecting position data of the body cavity from the sensor;

maintaining registration of an image space to a patient space in response to the position data; and

displaying a navigated location.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein inserting comprises inserting the sensor housing using a speculum.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising removing the sensor from the body cavity using a handle extending out of the body cavity.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising inserting the sensor within the cavity of the sensor housing prior to inserting the sensor into the body cavity.

5 . The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising retaining the sensor in the cavity using the sensor housing.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein conforming comprises expanding the sensor housing within the body cavity.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein inserting comprises inserting the sensor housing into a sinus cavity.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein collecting position data comprises navigating a cranial procedure.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein conforming the sensor comprises conforming the sensor housing from a first form to a second form during insertion and conforming the sensor housing to a third form during maintaining registration.