IP Library Granted Patent US 12708267
Granted Patent B2
US 12708267 · App. 19/018,703 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Navigation and local thermometry

Inventors: Brad Jacobsen (Erie, CO); Andrew Bzostek (San Jose, CA); Daniel Dunford (Broomfield, CO); Benjamin D. Ewing (Arvada, CO); Amir Ghanei (Arvada, CO); Bryan Wilson (Bradenton, FL); Janine Benavente (Louisville, CO)
Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
A61B5/0036A61B5/01A61B5/015A61B5/062A61B5/065A61B5/743A61B5/7435A61B5/748A61B8/00A61B18/22A61N5/0601A61N5/0625A61B2034/2046A61B2090/374A61B2090/376A61N2005/0612A61N2005/0627A61N5/067
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708267
App. No.
19/018,703
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system including a thermal sensor with an instrument placed in a volume. The thermal sensor may be useful in determining a temperature at a surface of the instrument and a distance away from the instrument. A therapy may be performed based on a sensed temperature with the thermal sensors.

Claims (54)

1 . A system to measure temperature in a region of interest, the system comprising:

an instrument assembly including:

an exterior housing having an external wall and extending from a first housing end to a second housing end and configured to be moved to a position within a volume; and

an energy delivery component configured to deliver energy to affect a thermal therapy at a region of interest within the volume outside of the exterior housing, wherein the energy delivery component is moveable within the exterior housing;

a plurality of temperature sensors to sense a temperature within the region of interest,

wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises a first temperature sensor at a first depth of the exterior housing and a second temperature sensor at a second depth of the exterior housing;

an energy source configured to deliver energy through the energy delivery component to affect the thermal therapy in the region of interest;

a tracking device embedded in the external wall;

a processor configured to execute instructions to:

determine a temperature profile within the region of interest based on a signal from the first temperature sensor, and

determine a position of the instrument assembly within the region of interest based upon the tracking device; and

wherein the thermal therapy is configured to increase a temperature in the region of interest.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a display to display an image representing the region of interest and an icon representing the determined position of at least a portion of the instrument assembly.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a display device configured to display a temperature icon to represent the determined temperature profile including a representation of a physical temperature image of a measured temperature profile.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to stop delivery of energy when the temperature profile reaches a selected temperature.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature within the region of interest at a distance spaced away from the external surface of the exterior housing, and

wherein the second temperature sensor, spaced apart from the first temperature sensor, is configured to sense a temperature at the surface of the exterior housing.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first temperature sensor includes an ultrasound temperature sensor.

7 . A system to measure temperature in a region of interest, the system comprising:

an instrument extending a length from a first end to a second end and configured to be moved to a position within a volume and deliver a thermal therapy to a region of interest within the volume;

a plurality of temperature sensors to sense a temperature within the region of interest,

wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises a first temperature sensor at a first depth of a housing of the instrument and a second temperature sensor at a second depth of the housing;

an energy source configured to deliver energy to affect the thermal therapy in the region of interest;

a tracking device having a coil connected near the first end of the instrument; and

a navigation processor configured to determine a position of the tracking device;

wherein the thermal therapy is configured to increase a temperature in the region of interest.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the first temperature sensor is connected to the instrument at a position a distance from a distal terminal end at the first end.

9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a display device configured to display an image representing the region of interest superimposed with an icon representing the determined position of the tracking device.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of temperature sensors includes a plurality of different types of temperature sensors.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are spaced along at least a portion of the length of the instrument.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each temperature sensor of at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of temperature sensors is configured to measure the temperature of the region of interest at a surface of the instrument.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each temperature sensor of at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of temperature sensors is configured to measure the temperature of the region of interest at a distance away from a surface of the instrument.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions to determine a temperature profile around the instrument within the region of interest based at least on the sensed temperature from the plurality of temperature sensors.

15 . A method to measure a temperature in a region of interest, the method comprising:

directing energy through an emitting portion of an energy delivery component to heat the region of interest;

determining the temperature in the region of interest with a signal from a plurality of temperature sensors of a device connected relative to the energy delivery component near the emitting portion;

determining when a selected temperature in the region of interest is achieved by evaluating the signal from the plurality of temperature sensors,

wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises a first temperature sensor at a first depth of a housing of the device and a second temperature sensor at a second depth of the housing;

ceasing heating of the region of interest when the selected temperature is determined to be achieved; and

tracking a position of the energy delivery component during movement of the energy delivery component into the region of interest.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

displaying an icon representing a position of the energy delivery component based on the tracking of the energy delivery component.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

operating a temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors to sense a temperature at a surface of the device.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

operating a temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors to sense a temperature at a distance from the energy delivery component.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

operating a processor to determine a temperature profile relative to the energy delivery component.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

viewing a display of a temperature icon representing the determined temperature profile.