Active distal tip drive

1. A method of maintaining orientation of a catheter relative to a target comprising:

navigating a catheter in a luminal network;

collecting data relating to a detected movement of a distal tip of the catheter caused by physiological forces;

receiving images depicting the distal tip of the catheter and a target;

identifying the distal tip of the catheter and the target in the images;

confirming that the distal tip of the catheter is proximate to the target;

determining an orientation of the distal tip of the catheter relative to the target;

confirming that the distal tip is oriented at the target;

articulating the distal tip in response to the detected movement to maintain the orientation of the distal tip at the target during the detected movement of the distal tip caused by physiological forces based on the collected data when the distal tip is proximate to the target.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the orientation of the distal tip of the catheter is determined using image analysis.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected data is received from an inertial measurement unit.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a three-dimensional angle between a current orientation of the distal tip of the catheter and an orientation where a vector extending from the distal tip of the catheter intersect the target.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising articulating the distal tip of the catheter to achieve the orientation where the vector extending from the distal tip of the catheter intersect the target.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the images are fluoroscopic or ultrasound images.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiological forces are caused by respiration and cardiac functions.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is collected during navigation of the catheter towards the target.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting on a user interface a virtual catheter tip and a virtual target.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising presenting an indicator on the user interface when the physiological forces are in approximately the same phase of their cycle as when the distal tip was confirmed oriented at the target.

11. A method of correcting alignment of a catheter relative to a target comprising:

receiving signals from an inertial measurement unit located at a distal end of a catheter;

determining movement of the distal end of the catheter caused by physiological forces;

receiving images depicting the distal end of the catheter and a target;

identifying the distal end of the catheter and the target in the images;

confirming that the distal end of the catheter is proximate to the target;

determining an orientation of the distal end of the catheter relative to the target;

articulating the distal end of the catheter in response to the detected movement to achieve and maintain an orientation of the distal end towards the target during the determined movement of the distal end caused by physiological forces based on the received signals when the distal end is proximate to the target such that a tool extended from an opening at the distal end of the catheter would intersect the target.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a three-dimensional angle between a current orientation of the distal end of the catheter and an orientation where a vector extending from the distal end of the catheter intersect the target.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the images are fluoroscopic images.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the images are ultrasound images.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the physiological forces are caused by respiration and cardiac functions.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data is collected during navigation of the catheter towards the target.

17. A system for maintaining orientation of a catheter towards a target comprising:

a catheter including an inertial measurement unit (IMU), the IMU configured to generate signals relating to movement of a distal portion of the catheter, and a drive mechanism associated with the catheter and configured to articulate the distal portion of the catheter; and

a computing device, the computing device including a processor and memory, the memory storing thereon instructions that when executed by the processor,

receive signals from the IMU;

determine motion of the IMU caused by physiological forces;

receive images depicting the distal portion of the catheter and a target;

confirm that the distal portion of the catheter is proximate to the target;

determine the orientation of the distal portion of the catheter relative to the target based on the images and the IMU signals; and

send signals to the drive mechanism to articulate the distal portion of the catheter to achieve and maintain an orientation of the distal portion towards the target during the determined motion of the IMU caused by physiological forces based on the received signals when the distal portion is proximate to the target such that a tool extended from an opening at the distal portion of the catheter would intersect the target.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the memory stores thereon instructions that when executed by the processor, determine a three-dimensional angle between a current orientation of the distal portion of the catheter and an orientation where a vector extending from the distal portion of the catheter intersect the target.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the movement of the distal portion of the catheter is a result of physiological forces including respiration and cardiac function.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the received images are fluoroscopic images.