The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2004
Stephen R. Barnes, Bellevue, WA (US);
Mirsaid Bolorforosh, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Vaughn R. Marian, Saratoga, CA (US);
David I. Bruce, Lafayette, CA (US);
Tim Thigpen, Portland, OR (US);
Stephen R. Barnes, Bellevue, WA (US);
Mirsaid Bolorforosh, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Vaughn R. Marian, Saratoga, CA (US);
David I. Bruce, Lafayette, CA (US);
Tim Thigpen, Portland, OR (US);
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Malvern, PA (US);
Abstract
A position of an imaging plane relative to a catheter or other probe is aligned with tissue of interest. Ultrasound tissue images may be registered to the catheter position with minimal rotational ambiguity. The spatial position of an ablation catheter or other device with respect to the imaging plane is more accurately determined, allowing a physician to identify specific anatomy in the relative location of a catheter or catheters. Another alternative or additional approach to determining the position of an imaging plane is to determine the relative position of two or more catheters. A catheter associated with imaging is then moved or bent in a direction having a known spatial relationship with the imaging plane. The position of the catheter is relative to each is then determined again to determine the angle or position of the imaging plane. In addition or as an alternative to determining an angular position of an imaging plane relative to a catheter, an ultrasound image of tissue is generated with acoustic elements for position identification. The acoustic elements are used as an imaging transducer array as well as devices for determining relative positions of the catheters.