METHODS FOR POSITIONING AN ULTRASONIC CATHETER
An emitter may be disposed in a patient. Output from the emitter may be detected by a detector connected with the guide rod and by a detector connected with the tracheal tube. Alternatively, a detector may detect the output from an emitter connected with the guide rod and by an emitter connected with the tracheal tube. Emitter units may be ultrasonic transducers and emit ultrasonic energy. The detector may respond to ultrasonic energy.
1 . A method for positioning a catheter having an emitter in a body of a patient, the method comprising:
passing the emitter into at least a portion of the body, the emitter being at a leading end of the catheter and including an ultrasonic transducer;
transmitting energy from the ultrasonic transducer through at least a portion of the body; and
detecting the energy with at least one sensor.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy is ultrasonic energy.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the catheter is flexible.
4 . The method of claim 1 , which further comprises applying suction to the catheter.
5 . The method of claim 1 , which further comprises applying pressure to the catheter.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy is transmitted from the emitter at a location within the patient's body.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is outside the body.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein passing the emitter into at least a portion of the body includes controlling the position of at least the emitter.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the emitter is passed into the body of the patient through a tubular structure.
10 . The method of claim 1 , which further comprises positioning the catheter with a guide rod.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy is selectively controlled.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy is transmitted from a plurality of emitters.
13 . A method for positioning a catheter having an emitter in a body of a patient, the method comprising:
passing the emitter into at least a portion of the body, the emitter being at a leading end of the catheter and including an ultrasonic transducer; and
transmitting energy from the ultrasonic transducer through at least a portion of the body; and
determining the position of the emitter with an imaging device.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the energy is ultrasonic energy.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the catheter is flexible.
16 . The method of claim 13 , which further comprises applying suction to the catheter.
17 . The method of claim 13 , which further comprises applying pressure to the catheter.
18 . The method of claim 13 wherein the energy is transmitted from the emitter at a location within the patient's body.
19 . The method of claim 13 wherein the sensor is outside the body.
20 . A method for positioning a catheter having an emitter in a body of a patient, the method comprising:
positioning a cannula in at least a portion of the body;
passing the emitter through at least a portion of the cannula, the emitter being at a leading end of the catheter and including an ultrasonic transducer;
transmitting energy from the ultrasonic transducer through at least a portion of the body; and
detecting the energy with a sensor.