Systems and methods for reducing measurement error using optical fiber shape sensors

1. An apparatus comprising:

an instrument comprising:

an elongated, flexible body including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is shaped to define a lumen extending through at least a portion of the elongated, flexible body; and

a plurality of portions extending along a length of the elongated, flexible body;

a shape sensor extending at least partially along the elongated, flexible body; and

one or more radiopaque materials incorporated into a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions such that the first portion has a first radiopacity and the second portion has a second radiopacity, wherein the first radiopacity is different from the second radiopacity, wherein the first portion includes a first band and the second portion includes a second band, and wherein the first and second bands are spaced at different longitudinal positions along a length of the shape sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is distal to the first portion, and wherein the second radiopacity is greater than the first radiopacity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more radiopaque materials transition from the first radiopacity to the second radiopacity as a gradient.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a demarcation area separates the first portion from the second portion, and wherein the one or more radiopaque materials transition from the first radiopacity to the second radiopacity at the demarcation area.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more radiopaque materials are incorporated into a third portion of the plurality of portions such that the third portion has a third radiopacity, wherein the third radiopacity is lower than the second radiopacity of the second portion and greater than the first radiopacity of the first portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is distal to the first portion, and wherein the first radiopacity is greater than the second radiopacity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first radiopaque material of the one or more radiopaque materials is incorporated into the first band, and wherein a second radiopaque material of the one or more radiopaque materials is incorporated into the second band.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an instrument comprising:

an elongated, flexible body including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is shaped to define a lumen extending through at least a portion of the elongated, flexible body; and

a plurality of portions extending along a length of the elongated, flexible body;

a shape sensor comprising an optical fiber extending at least partially along the elongated, flexible body; and

one or more radiopaque materials incorporated into a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions such that the first portion has a first radiopacity and the second portion has a second radiopacity, wherein the first radiopacity is different from the second radiopacity.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber comprises the first and second portions of the plurality of portions and wherein the first and second portions are impregnated with the one or more radiopaque materials.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber comprises at least one core embedded within a cladding, wherein the cladding comprises the first and second portions of the plurality of portions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second portions is doped with the one or more radiopaque materials.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber comprises a buffer surrounding a cladding, wherein the buffer comprises the first and second portions of the plurality of portions.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber comprises a radiopaque jacket, and wherein the radiopaque jacket comprises the first and second portions of the plurality of portions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the radiopaque jacket comprises at least one of stainless steel tubing, braided tubing, or coiled tubing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a radiopaque element comprises the one or more radiopaque materials, wherein the radiopaque element is within the elongated, flexible body and is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated, flexible body.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the shape sensor comprises an optical fiber extending at least partially along the elongated, flexible body, and wherein the radiopaque element is aligned with an angular orientation of the shape sensor.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving a pre-operative image of a target anatomy within a patient;

extracting a data set from the pre-operative image;

receiving an intra-operative image of at least a portion of an elongated, flexible body of an instrument as the instrument is inserted into the patient, wherein one or more radiopaque materials are incorporated into a first portion and a second portion of the elongated, flexible body such that the first portion has a first radiopacity and the second portion has a second radiopacity, wherein the first radiopacity is different from the second radiopacity;

correlating the intra-operative image of the at least the portion of the elongated, flexible body with the pre-operative image of the target anatomy;

based on the correlating, determining a position and orientation of the instrument with respect to the target anatomy; and

determining a navigation path for the instrument to advance to the target anatomy.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the instrument includes a shape sensor comprising an elongated optical fiber, and wherein receiving the intra-operative image of at least the portion of the elongated, flexible body comprises receiving an intra-operative image of at least a portion of the elongated optical fiber.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more radiopaque materials are incorporated with the elongated optical fiber along at least a portion of the elongated optical fiber.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

receiving shape data from the shape sensor;

generating an instrument bend measurement based on the received shape data; and

comparing the received shape data from the shape sensor with shape data associated with the intra-operative image of at least the portion of the elongated optical fiber.