FLEXIBLE TETHER WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS FOR DYNAMIC INSTRUMENT TRACKING Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC A61B34/20 

FIELD: medical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to medical equipment, specifically to systems for tracking functional part of an instrument. System comprises an instrument, a system for acquiring anatomical images relevant to guiding instrument, a tether connected to imaging system at a known location relative imaging device and connected to instrument, wherein tether comprises optical shape sensors. System also comprises an optical console and a processor that calculates local curvature, determines three-dimensional shape of tether and determines location and orientation of images. Method includes steps of receiving imaging data from a corresponding imaging device; constructing an image volume; determining a three-dimensional shape of a flexible tether connected to imaging device, fixed relative to corresponding imaging device and having an instrument connector. Determining a location of functional part of instrument using known location of fixed end of tether, three-dimensional shape of tether, shape and size of instrument, and displaying a dynamic image corresponding to instrument and showing functional part of selected instrument in image volume.

EFFECT: use of inventions enables more accurate determination of location of instruments relative to anatomical structures to reduce risks when performing operations.

24 cl, 11 dwg