Shape sensing assisted medical procedure

1. A method, comprising:

determining a planned pathway in a biological body to a target through a three-dimensional image of a distributed pathway system in the biological body;

introducing a shape sensing enabled elongated device into the distributed pathway system;

measuring a shape of the elongated device in the distributed pathway system;

comparing the shape of the elongated device with a shape of the planned pathway in the three-dimensional image to determine a location of the elongated device on the planned pathway;

determining movements of the elongated device at branching pathways within the distributed pathway system to maintain the elongated device on the planned pathway, wherein the determining movements comprises computing constraints on the movements which result in a deviation from the planned pathway; and

restraining the elongated device when the movements cause the elongated device to enter constrained areas automatically orienting a distal tip of the elongated device at at least one position in a branching of the distributed pathway system so that the distal tip points in a direction along the planned pathway.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring changes in the shape of the elongated device; and

warning a user when the movements cause the elongated device to enter the constrained areas.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein restraining includes at least one of restricting advancement and restricting steering other than for the movements outside the constrained areas.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one position in the branching of the distributed pathway system comprises every position.

5. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores a three-dimensional image of a distributed pathway system in a biological body and computer program code configured to compute a planned path to a target in the three-dimensional image;

a shape sensing enabled elongated device for insertion into the distributed pathway system to measure a shape of the elongated device in the distributed pathway system;

a hardware processor configured to execute the computer program code to compute a planned path in the biological body to a target in the three-dimensional image and to compute movements of the elongated device at diverging pathways in the distributed pathway system to provide feedback for deciding which of the diverging paths to take in accordance with the planned path; and

a constraining mechanism comprising a steering assembly, a light, and a haptic actuator, wherein the constraining mechanism is coupled to the elongated device and configured to prevent the elongated device from selecting paths other than the planned path, and to orient automatically a distal tip of the elongated device at at least one position in a branching of the distributed pathway system so that the distal tip points in a direction along the planned path.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the memory further stores computer program code configured to register the elongated device with the three-dimensional image, executed by the hardware processor.

7. The system as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a feedback mechanism comprising an indicator lights or a display, and configured to indicate that a path other than the planned path has been selected.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises one of a haptic or audible indicator that a path other than the planned path has been selected.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises an indicator to provide a direction for guiding movement of the elongated device.

10. The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the elongated device includes a medical device and the distributed pathway system includes a lung.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional image includes a preoperative image volume including the lung.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one position in the branching of the distributed pathway system comprises every position.

13. A system, comprising:

a memory device configured to store:

a three-dimensional image of a distributed pathway system in a biological body; and

computer program code configured to compute a planned path in the biological body to a target in the three-dimensional image;

a hardware processor configured to execute the computer program code;

a shape sensing enabled elongated device for insertion into the distributed pathway system to measure a shape of the elongated device in the distributed pathway system, the computer program code being configured to compute of the elongated device at diverging pathways in the distributed pathway system;

a constraining mechanism comprising a steering assembly, a light, and a haptic actuator, wherein the constraining mechanism is coupled to the elongated device and configured to prevent the elongated device from selecting paths other than the planned path, and to orient automatically a distal tip of the elongated device at at least one position in a branching of the distributed pathway system so that the distal tip points in a direction along the planned path; and

a feedback mechanism comprising indicator lights of a display, and configured to provide sensory feedback for deciding which of the diverging paths to take in accordance with the planned path.

14. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one position in the branching of the distributed pathway system comprises every position.