Navigation and imaging system sychronized with respiratory and/or cardiac activity
An imaging and navigation system is disclosed herein. The imaging and navigation system includes a computer and an ultrasonic imaging device disposed at least partially within an ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic imaging device is connected to the computer and is adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image. The imaging and navigation system also includes a tracking system connected to the computer. The tracking system is adapted to estimate a position of a medical instrument. The imaging and navigation system also includes a display connected to the computer. The display is adapted to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasonic imaging device and to graphically convey the estimated position of the medical instrument.
1. An imaging and navigation system comprising:
a computer;
an ultrasonic imaging device disposed at least partially within an ultrasound catheter, the ultrasonic imaging device connected to the computer, the ultrasonic imaging device being adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image;
a tracking system connected to the computer, the tracking system adapted to estimate a position of a medical instrument;
a first tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ultrasound catheter;
a second tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to a dynamic reference catheter;
a monitoring system connected to the computer, the monitoring system configured to monitor respiratory and/or cardiac activity;
a display connected to the computer, the display adapted to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasonic imaging device and to graphically convey the estimated position of the medical instrument;
wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the ultrasonic imaging device with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.
2. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound catheter comprises:
a transducer array disposed at least partially within a catheter housing; and
a motor coupled with the transducer array, the motor being configured to rotate the transducer array within the catheter housing in order to image a three-dimensional volume.
3. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the tracking system with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.
4. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1 , wherein one of the tracking elements comprises a field generator, and the other of the tracking elements comprises a field sensor.
5. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1 , further comprising a catheter control system connected to the computer and to the ultrasound catheter.
6. The imaging and navigation system of claim 1 , further comprising an input device operatively associated with the display, the input device being adapted to facilitate surgical planning.
7. An imaging and navigation system comprising:
a computer;
an ultrasound catheter connected to the computer, the ultrasound catheter being configured to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image, the ultrasound catheter system comprising:
(a) a transducer array disposed at least partially within a catheter housing;
(b) a controller coupled with the transducer array, the controller being configured to control the transducer array in order to image a three-dimensional volume;
an ablation control system connected to the computer and to an ablation catheter;
a tracking system connected to the computer, the tracking system configured to estimate a position of the ablation catheter;
a first tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ultrasound catheter;
a second tracking element connected to the tracking system and adapted for attachment to the ablation catheter;
a monitoring system connected to the computer, the monitoring system configured to monitor respiratory and/or cardiac activity; and
a display connected to the computer, the display configured to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ultrasound catheter and to graphically convey the estimated position of the ablation catheter;
wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the tracking system with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.
8. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7 , wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the ultrasound catheter with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.
9. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7 , further comprising a third tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to a dynamic reference catheter.
10. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7 , further comprising a catheter control system connected to the computer, the ultrasound catheter and the ablation catheter.
11. The imaging and navigation system of claim 7 , wherein the ultrasound catheter comprises an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter.
12. An imaging and navigation system comprising:
a computer;
an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter connected to the computer, the ICE catheter comprising:
(a) a transducer array disposed at least partially within a catheter housing;
(b) a motor coupled with the transducer array, the motor being configured to rotate the transducer array within the catheter housing in order to obtain a three-dimensional volume;
an ablation control system connected to the computer and to an ablation catheter;
a tracking system connected to the computer the tracking system configured to estimate a position and orientation of the ablation catheter;
a first tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ICE catheter;
a second tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to the ablation catheter;
a monitoring system connected to the computer, the monitoring system configured to monitor the respiratory and/or cardiac activity;
a display connected to the computer, the display configured to depict the generally real time three-dimensional image from the ICE catheter and to graphically convey the estimated position and orientation of the ablation catheter;
wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the ICE catheter with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.
13. The imaging and navigation system of claim 12 , wherein the computer is configured to synchronize the operation of the tracking system with the respiratory and/or cardiac activity.
14. The imaging and navigation system of claim 13 , further comprising a third tracking element connected to the tracking system and configured for attachment to a dynamic reference catheter.
15. The imaging and navigation system of claim 14 , wherein one of the tracking elements comprises a field generator, and another of the tracking elements comprises a field sensor.
16. The imaging and navigation system of claim 15 , further comprising an input device operatively associated with the display, the input device being adapted to facilitate surgical planning.