Integrated medical imaging apparatus and associated method of use
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for visualizing a target anatomy of a patient in preparation of a medical procedure. The method can include providing a visualization device ( 400 ′) that probes the target anatomy and provides a display to the operator. The method can include positioning the visualization device at a location near the target anatomy. The method can further include directing a medical instrument towards a target trajectory displayed on the visualization device. The visualization device can have a body that defines two surface areas. The visualization device can include transducers along one surface area of the device to capture the target anatomy. A user interface ( 420 ′) can be disposed on another surface area of the device. The display can include parallax for adjusting the visualization.
1 . A method of visualizing a target anatomy of a patient, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a visualization device, the visualization device comprising:
a body; and
a plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and
receiving first data from a first navigational sensor;
determining, based on the first data, an initial position of the target anatomy;
receiving second data from a second navigational sensor different from the first navigational sensor, wherein the first and second navigational sensors are different from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;
updating, based on the second data, the initial position of the target anatomy to an updated position of the target anatomy, and
positioning, based on the updated position of the target anatomy, the visualization device at a location adjacent to the target anatomy, wherein when positioned at the location:
the plurality of ultrasonic transducers face towards the target anatomy, and
the target anatomy is visualizable within a user interface (UI); and
providing for output a representation of the target anatomy.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data from the first navigational sensor or the second data from the second navigation sensor is based on conditions including any of temperature, patient or device orientation, noise, and lighting.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the visualization device is further based on stored information pertaining to a medical procedure.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of obtaining a visualization device and positioning the visualization device are performed by a first person using one hand.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first person is a lay person.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further including a step of directing a medical instrument along a target trajectory towards and into the target anatomy by the first person using a second hand, wherein the medical instrument is visualized in the UI as the medical instrument is directed towards the target anatomy and after the medical instrument is positioned within the target anatomy.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of obtaining a visualization device and positioning the visualization device are performed by a first person, the method further including a step of analyzing the representation of the target anatomy on a second display surface by a second person.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of obtaining a visualization device and positioning the visualization device are performed by a first person, and a step of directing a medical device along a target trajectory towards and into the target anatomy is performed by a second person.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the medical instrument is a cannula and the target anatomy is part of the vasculature of the patient, wherein the method further comprises adjusting the visualization device relative to the vasculature such that a direction of the target trajectory aligns with a direction of the vasculature.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the directing step includes directing a distal tip of the cannula along the target trajectory and into the part of the vasculature.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of directing the cannula is performed semi-autonomously.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the body further comprises a processing and control electronic element, an image processor, and a display management disposed on a substrate, wherein the step of positioning includes the UI providing the representation of the target anatomy, target trajectory and/or medical instrument in real time.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization device includes any of a pressure sensor, temperature sensor, tissue quality sensor and blood velocity sensor.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a visualization device includes selecting a visualization device according to size and visualization parameters for the target anatomy.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization device is sized to be carried within a shirt pocket of a user.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the visualization device is configured to be secured to the shirt pocket of the user.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the visualization device includes a clip to be secured to the shirt pocket.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first navigational sensor is any of infrared sensor, near-infrared sensor, diffuse infrared sensor, acoustic sensor, optoacoustic sensor, photoacoustic sensor, or video camera, and
the second navigational sensor is any of infrared sensor, near-infrared sensor, diffuse infrared sensor, or acoustic sensor, optoacoustic sensor, photoacoustic sensor, or video camera sensor.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization device is a wearable device or a removably couplable device configured to be removably coupled to a portion of a body of the patient.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization device further comprises secondary sensors configured to provide feedback during a medical procedure while the visualization device is in use.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data corresponds to imaging data, and the method further comprises providing for output, via the UI based on the imaging data, an initial representation of the target anatomy.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface defining a probe surface area, the probe surface area defined by a length along a first axis and a width along a second axis, the body being flexible about the first axis and rigid about the second axis,
the plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed about the probe surface area, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers defining a grid having a pattern,
the visualization device further comprises:
a display surface defined by a length and a width, a depth of the visualization device being defined as a distance between the first and second surfaces being substantially less than any of the width and the length, and
the UI disposed on the display surface, and
wherein the method further comprising flexing the visualization device about the first axis.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the display surface is located away from the body.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further including a step of transmitting the representation of the target anatomy to a second display surface, the second display surface located away from the visualization device.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the display surface is mounted within the second surface.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the length of the visualization device is greater than or equal to 2.7″ or 9.4″.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the visualization device includes a sleeve to encapsulate the visualization device, the sleeve including a sleeve opening to receive the visualization device.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the sleeve opening is a flexible opening configured to flex from a first open area to a second open area wherein the second open area is larger than the first open area.
29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the sleeve includes hydrogel.
30 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the visualization device in a flexed state is configured to securely attach and remain on the location adjacent to the target anatomy.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the location adjacent to the target anatomy is on a patient's body.
32 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the grid of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers includes a length and a width and the UI includes a length and a width, the length and width of both the grid and UI being substantially equal, such that during the positioning step, a ratio of the length and width of the target anatomy to the length and width of the representation of the target anatomy output via the UI display is about 1:1.
33 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUT), piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUT), ultrasonic transducers, piezoelectric transducers, or any combination thereof, disposed on a substrate, the substrate disposed within the probe surface area.
34 . A method of visualizing a target anatomy of a patient, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a visualization device, the visualization device comprising:
a body having a first surface having a first footprint and an opposite second surface having a second footprint, the first footprint defining a probe surface area, the probe surface area defined by a length and a width; and
a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed about the probe surface area, the ultrasonic transducers defining a grid having a pattern; and
providing for output, based on first data received from a first navigational sensor, audible signals to position the visualization device adjacent a target anatomy;
positioning the visualization device at a location adjacent to the target anatomy such that the probe surface area faces towards the target anatomy based on the audible signals;
receiving second data from a second navigation sensor different from the first navigational sensor; and
adjusting, based on the second data, the visualization device relative to the target anatomy such that the target anatomy is visualized in a user interface (UI).
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein:
the first navigational sensor is an acoustic sensor,
the audible signals are further based on data received from the acoustic sensor, and
the audible signals are used to identify a location of the target anatomy.
36 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the visualization device further comprises:
a display surface being defined by a length and a width of the second footprint, a depth of the visualization device being defined as a distance between the first and second surfaces being substantially less than any of the width and the length; and
the UI disposed on the display surface.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the probe surface area is substantially the same as a display surface area.