Abstract: A work flow driven method of performing multi-step medical procedures includes displaying the visual displays from separate computer controlled systems on a composite display, and displaying prompts for a plurality of steps of the multi-step medical procedure, and in response to user selection from the prompts, automatically reconfiguring the composite display based in part on the selection. Alternatively the display can be changed in response to user actions other than selection. In other embodiments, the composite display can change automatically to match a planned work flow.

Abstract: A control for, and method of, operating at least two medical systems, each of which generates its own visual display output and accepts commands from an input device. The control includes a display, having an active display area, and at least one inactive display area, at least one input device which provides inputs to the medical system whose visual display output is being displayed on the active display area, and a controller that automatically selects the medical system whose visual display output is displayed on the active display area.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the three-dimensional location and orientation of a medical device distal end using a single-plane imaging system, using a computational model of the medical device and a transfer function for the medical device describing local device shape and orientation in response to user or computer determined inputs. The method allows guidance of an interventional medical system to a set of target points within the patient using a single-projection imaging system.

Abstract: A method is provided for adjusting a medical device given an image of the device position relative to an anatomical surface shown on a two-dimensional display, that includes using a user-input device to indicate a direction of adjustment of the device relative to the display.

Abstract: A method of identifying an elongate medical device in a two-dimensional image of an operating region includes filtering pixels meeting a predetermined intensity requirement for linear scaling, dividing the filtered pixels into groups of contiguous pixels, and selecting from the groups a group corresponding to the medical device.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween. The tube is preferably comprised of multiple sections of different flexibility, arranged so that the flexibility of the catheter increases from the proximal end to the distal end. There is a first generally hollow electrode member at the distal end. At least one magnetically responsive element is disposed at least partially in the hollow electrode, for orienting the distal end of the catheter with an externally applied magnetic field. Multiple magnets can be distributed over the distal portion of the device. The end electrode can have openings for delivering irrigating fluid, and/or a sleeve can be provided around the tube to create an annular space for the delivering of irrigating fluid. A temperature sensor can be provided to control the operation of the catheter. A localization coil can also be included to sense the position and orientation of the catheter.

Abstract: A method of localizing a device, medical or otherwise, within a three dimensional environment, the method comprising: (a) transmitting time varying magnetic fields from at least three transmitters, (b) receiving the transmitted electromagnetic radiation as induced voltage signals from at least one receiver mounted on or within said device, and (c) a processing scheme for processing said received voltage signals in order to extract position and orientation localization information for said device, said processing scheme including correction for conducting materials in the vicinity by the use of information gathered from at least three distinct transmission frequencies for each of said transmitters.

Abstract: A method of turning a medical device with the assistance of an externally applied magnetic field, in a direction with a component in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the externally applied magnetic field. The method includes applying first torque to the distal end of the medical device by creating magnetic moment at the distal end of the medical device, and applying a second torque to the distal end of the medical device. The second torque may be created by creating a second magnetic moment at the distal end of the device spaced from the first, by using an electrostrictive device, by using a stylette inserted into the device, by using a fluid-driven shaped tube, or otherwise.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween. The tube is preferably comprised of multiple sections of different flexibility, arranged so that the flexibility of the catheter increases from the proximal end to the distal end. There is a first generally hollow electrode member at the distal end. At least one magnetically responsive element is disposed at least partially in the hollow electrode, for orienting the distal end of the catheter with an externally applied magnetic field. Multiple magnets can be distributed over the distal portion of the device. The end electrode can have openings for delivering irrigating fluid, and/or a sleeve can be provided around the tube to create an annular space for the delivering of irrigating fluid. A temperature sensor can be provided to control the operation of the catheter. A localization coil can also be included to sense the position and orientation of the catheter.

Abstract: A navigation system for minimally invasive surgery incorporating means of automatic electronic identification of automatically actuated flexible medical device characteristics, communication of such information to a navigation control system and its use in an automatic actuation system that is used to accurately control navigation of the flexible medical device within a patient's anatomy by the use of a physics-based model of flexible device response to automatically applied actuations in order to efficiently access specified regions targeted for therapy delivery.

Abstract: An interface system and method for controlling a magnetic surgery system by displaying a virtual image of the device, adjusting the configuration of the device or the actuation controls to be applied to the device until the configuration of the displayed device assumes the configuration desired by the user, or selecting a desired target location for the tip, and causing a set of actuation controls to be applied to the actual device to cause the actual device to assume the configuration of the virtual device or to steer the device tip to the desired location.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for calibrating a movable receiver coil with spatially varying signal reception profile in a magnetic resonance imaging environment is described. The method of the invention calibrates the movable receiver coil with spatially varying signal reception profile by dividing the receiver coil into parts and determining electromagnetic interactions of the parts in the environment. The method further includes (1) estimating orientation and position information corresponding to the receiver coil and (2) associating electromagnetic interaction data with records such as (a) responses of the receiver coil in various tissue environments to emissions caused by stimuli from external magnetic resonance coils, (b) high-resolution external receiver coil records of emissions from same environments, and (c) measurements of self-interactions and mutual interactions among the parts of the receiver coil.

Abstract: A method of localizing a device, medical or otherwise, within a three dimensional environment, the method comprising: (a) transmitting time varying magnetic fields from at least three transmitters, (b) receiving the transmitted electromagnetic radiation as induced voltage signals from at least one receiver mounted on or within said device, and (c) a processing scheme for processing said received voltage signals in order to extract position and orientation localization information for said device, said processing scheme including correction for conducting materials in the vicinity by the use of information gathered from at least three distinct transmission frequencies for each of said transmitters.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for calibrating a movable receiver coil in a magnetic resonance imaging environment is described. The method of the invention calibrates the movable receiver coil by dividing the receiver coil into parts and determining electromagnetic interactions of the parts in the environment. The method further includes (1) estimating orientation and position information corresponding to the receiver coil and (2) associating electromagnetic interaction data with records such as (a) responses of the receiver coil in various tissue environments to emissions caused by stimuli from external magnetic resonance coils, (b) high-resolution external receiver coil records of emissions from same environments, and (c) measures of self-interactions and mutual interactions among the parts of the receiver coil. The parts of the receiver coil may be connected in series or parallel.

Abstract: Microcoils can be used in medical devices to enhance RF response signals and to create fields to enhance imaging capability in MRI imaging systems. An improved microcoil design includes a device to be inserted into a patient comprising a solid body having at least one pair of radially opposed microcoils physically associated with the solid body, each microcoil having an outside microcoil diameter of 6 mm or less, individual windings of each microcoil together defining a geometric plane for each microcoil, and the plane of each microcoil being parallel to the plane of another microcoil in the pair of radially opposed microcoils.

Abstract: A class of customizable injection devices or delivery instruments whose basic form is a stiff tube with holes of user-selectable size at several user-selectable places is described. The use of this device includes a method of selection and construction of a particular device from such a class of devices for a particular treatment procedure using computer-assisted means. Thus, the user may make selections among available or creatable choices (such as selection of hole size, selection of hole location, number of holes, etc.), and a method can be practiced for making such user-selection serve the goals of delivery of materials such as drugs, cells, or of devices sufficiently small and numerous to be delivered in fluid suspension.

Abstract: Microcoil designs are provided that enable unique RF response Field profiles that are particularly useful in MRI imaging procedures, particularly where fields of view outside of the medical device are desirable. These devices are particulatly for use within an organism, the device comprising an element having at least one RF receiver, the coils of said microcoils defining a cross-section that lies in a plane oriented at 0 to 90 (or 0 to 80) degrees to the longest axis of the device. Another way of describing the device is as a device for use in an organism, the device comprising an element having at least one wound microcoil with at least three windings on the microcoil. Each winding has an aspect ratio of greater than one. The aspect ratio of each winding is measured as the ratio of longest to shortest dimension in a cross section situated approximately transverse to the winding axis of the coil windings, the winding axis also being transverse to the longest axis of said device.

Abstract: Movement of material in an organism, such as a drug injected into a brain, is modeled by a uniformly structured field of static constants governing transport by moving fluid and diffusion within the fluid. This supports planning of material introduction, (e.g., infusion, perfusion, retroperfusion, injections, etc.) to achieve a desired distribution of the material, continuing real-time feedback as to whether imaged material is moving as planned and will be distributed as desired, and real-time plan modification to improve results.

Abstract: A microcoil configuration, preferably on a medical device to be inserted into a patient, has an opposed pair of microcoils. At least one or each microcoil of the opposed pair of microcoils has at least a region where a diameter circumscribed by a first winding is greater than the diameter circumscribed by at least one complete second winding, especially an adjacent winding displaced from the first winding along an axis or core of the medical device or an axis of the microcoil. The second winding is nearer to or farther from an intermediate region between the microcoils that define the pair of microcoils. For example, it is common to have a connecting (usually straight or non-wound) lead between the two microcoils, and this lead may be used to define an intermediate region.

Abstract: A class of customizable injection devices or delivery instruments whose basic form is a stiff tube with holes of user-selectable size at several user-selectable places is described. The use of this device includes a method of selection and construction of a particular device from such a class of devices for a particular treatment procedure using computer-assisted means. Thus, the user may make selections among available or creatable choices (such as selection of hole size, selection of hole location, number of holes, etc.), and a method can be practiced for making such user-selection serve the goals of delivery of materials such as drugs, cells, or of devices sufficiently small and numerous to be delivered in fluid suspension.