Abstract: A system, device and method include a sensing enabled device having an optical fiber configured to perform distributed sensing of temperature-induced strain. An interpretation module is configured to receive optical signals from the optical fiber within a body and interpret the optical signals to determine one or more temperature transition points sensed by the sensing enabled device for image registration.

Abstract: An optical guidewire system employs an optical guidewire (10), an optical guidewire controller (12), a guide interface (13) and an optical connector (15). The optical guidewire (10) is for advancing a catheter (20) to a target region relative to a distal end of the optical guidewire (10), wherein the optical guidewire (10) includes one or more guidewire fiber cores (11) for generating an encoded optical signal (16) indicative of a shape of the optical guidewire (10). The optical guidewire controller (12) is responsive to the encoded optical signal (16) for reconstructing the shape of the optical guidewire (10). The guidewire interface (13) includes one or more interface fiber core(s) (14) optically coupled to the optical guidewire controller (12). The optical connector (15) facilitates a connection, disconnection and reconnection of the optical guidewire (10) to the guidewire interface (13) that enables a backloading the catheter (20) on the optical guidewire (10).

Abstract: A method for end-reflection reduction of an optical shape-sensing fiber is described. The includes: providing a tip portion having a length dimension (d); connecting the tip portion to an end portion of an optical fiber configured for optical shape-sensing, the tip portion being indexed matched to the optical fiber; and adjusting the absorption properties of the tip portion using back reflections as feedback to provide an absorption length for light traveling in the optical fiber to reduce the back reflections.

Abstract: A reflection reduction device includes an optical fiber (104) configured for optical sensing and having an end portion. A tip portion (102) is coupled to the end portion. The tip portion includes a length dimension (d) and is index matched to the optical fiber. The tip portion is further configured to include an absorption length to absorb and scatter light within the length dimension, and a surface (S) opposite the end portion is configured to reduce back reflections.

Abstract: A guidance system and method include a real-time imaging device (121) configured to intra-operatively collect image data of a target region to provide a real-time image. A target determination module (108) is configured to generate an overlay map (111) registered to the real-time image to project morphological feature information on corresponding features in the real-time image of the target region. A medical instrument (122) is provided to perform a procedure on the target region such that the at least one medical instrument is guided to a region suitable for performing an operative task based upon the overlay map.

Abstract: An analyzer (124) includes a quantifier (204) configured to quantify an amount of contrast material representing scar tissue created by ablation for tissue of interest in contrast enhanced imaging data and a recommender (210) configured to generate a signal indicative of a recommendation to further ablate the tissue of interest in response to the quantified amount of the contrast material not satisfying a pre-determined threshold. A method includes obtaining contrast enhanced image data indicative of scar tissue created by ablation of tissue of interest, quantifying an amount of contrast material for the scar tissue in the tissue of interest, and generating a signal indicative of a recommendation to further ablate the tissue of interest in response to the quantified amount of the contrast material not satisfying a pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for shape sensing assistance in a medical procedure includes a three-dimensional image (111) of a distributed pathway system (148). A shape sensing enabled elongated device (102) is included for insertion into the pathway system to measure a shape of the elongated device in the pathway system. A pathway determination module (144) is configured to compute a planned path to a target in the three-dimensional image and compute permissible movements of the elongated device at diverging pathways in the pathway system to provide feedback for deciding which of the diverging paths to take in accordance with the planned path.

Abstract: A system, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for monitoring motion during medical imaging. The monitoring of the motion includes initiating an acquisition of image data, measuring physiological signals of a patient, generating a prediction signal by integrating the physiological signals, determining whether patient motion is likely to occur based on the prediction signal and modifying the acquisition of image data, if it is predicted that patient motion is likely to occur.

Abstract: A system and method for shape sensing assistance in a medical procedure includes providing (402) a three-dimensional image of a distributed pathway system. A shape sensing enabled elongated device is introduced (406) into the pathway system. A shape of the elongated device in the pathway system is measured (410). The shape is compared (414) with the three-dimensional image to determine whether a given path has been selected relative to a target.

Abstract: A method and system for generating imaging data during a medical intervention are provided. An external optical sensor is attached on the patient's body, and includes at least one external orientation fiber core configured to measure an orientation of the external optical sensor relative to a point of reference. The external optical sensor is interrogated to generate external sensor orientation information during the medical intervention. That information is used to estimate an orientation of the external optical sensor, which is then displayed during the medical intervention.

Abstract: An optical shape sensing system employing an optical fiber (20) and one or more reference markers (41). Each reference marker (41) has an identifiable reference tracking position within a reference coordinate system (42). The optical fiber (20) has a reconstruction launch point (21) within the reference coordinate system (42) serving as a basis for an execution of a shape reconstruction of the optical fiber (20) within the reference coordinate system (42). The reconstruction launch point (21) of the optical fiber (20) has a known spatial relationship with each reference marker (41) to facilitate an identification of the reconstruction launch point (21) within the reference coordinate system (42).

Abstract: A training or rating system includes a shape sensing enabled device (104) and a database (140) of possible shapes and sequences of shapes for the shape sensing enabled device. The possible shapes and sequences of shapes include a collection of poses derived by appropriately performing a procedure with the shape sensing enabled device. A comparison module (154) is configured to compare real-time poses of the shape sensing enabled device with the collection of poses in the database to output comparison feedback for a user of the shape sensing enabled device.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are provided for placing a port for a surgical tool relative to real-time anatomical data. The method comprises: placing an endoscope in a standard port; determining real-time anatomical data from an image from the endoscope; using a port localization apparatus to identify an optimal location for an instrument port relative to the image from the endoscope; and creating an instrument port at the identified location.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes a first portion (123) having a first opening (125) for alignment with a port entry point. A second portion (127) is positionable for alignment with the first opening from a plurality of different positions. An actuation mechanism (142) is coupled to at least one of the first portion and the second portion to set relative positions of the first and second portions to permit a tool axis formed between the first and second portions to be aligned through the first opening such that a tool (104) provided on the tool axis would include a known position and orientation.

Abstract: A volume mapping instrument (20), deployable within a partially or a completely enclosed anatomical volume, employs one or more medical tools (40) with each medical tool (40) being transitional between a deployable structural configuration to orderly position each medical tool (40) within the anatomical volume and a mapping structural configuration to anchor the medical tool (40) against the boundary of the anatomical volume. The volume mapping instrument (20) further employs an optical shape sensor (30) to generate one or more encoded optical signals indicative of a shape of the boundary of the anatomical volume in response to each medical tool (40) being transitioned from the deployable structural configuration to the mapping structural configuration within the anatomical volume. Based on the encoded optical signal(s), a volume mapping module (51) is utilized to map a portion or an entirety of the boundary of the anatomical volume.

Abstract: An optical guidewire system employs an optical guidewire (10), an optical guidewire controller (12), a guide interface (13) and an optical connector (15). The optical guidewire (10) is for advancing a catheter (20) to a target region relative to a distal end of the optical guidewire (10), wherein the optical guidewire (10) includes one or more guidewire fiber cores (11) for generating an encoded optical signal (16) indicative of a shape of the optical guidewire (10). The optical guidewire controller (12) is responsive to the encoded optical signal (16) for reconstructing the shape of the optical guidewire (10). The guidewire interface (13) includes one or more interface fiber core(s) (14) optically coupled to the optical guidewire controller (12). The optical connector (15) facilitates a connection, disconnection and reconnection of the optical guidewire (10) to the guidewire interface (13) that enables a backloading the catheter (20) on the optical guidewire (10).

Abstract: A system and method include a shape sensing enabled device too (102) having an optical fiber (126). An interpretation module (115) is configured to receive optical signals from the optical fiber within a structure and interpret the optical signals to determine a shape of the device. An image generation module (140) is configured to receive the shape of the device, register the shape with an image volume of the structure and generate a curved Memory multi-planar reconstruction (CMPR) rendering based on the shape.

Abstract: An optical shape sensing system employing an elongated device, an optical fiber embedded within the elongated device with the optical fiber, an optical interrogation console and a 3D shape reconstructor. In operation, the optical interrogation console generates reflection spectrum data indicative of a measurement of both an amplitude and a phase of a reflection for each core of the optical fiber as a function of wavelength. The 3D shape reconstructor executes a generation of local strain data for a plurality of positions along the optical fiber responsive to the reflection spectrum data, a generation of local curvature and torsion angle data as a function of each local strain along the fiber, and a reconstruction of the 3D shape of the optical fiber as a function of each local curvature and torsion angle along the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical guidewire system employs an optical guidewire (10), an optical guidewire controller (12), a guide interface (13) and an optical connector (15). The optical guidewire (10) is for advancing a catheter (20) to a target region relative to a distal end of the optical guidewire (10), wherein the optical guidewire (10) includes one or more guidewire fiber cores (11) for generating an encoded optical signal (16) indicative of a shape of the optical guidewire (10). The optical guidewire controller (12) is responsive to the encoded optical signal (16) for reconstructing the shape of the optical guidewire (10). The guidewire interface (13) includes one or more interface fiber core(s) (14) optically coupled to the optical guidewire controller (12). The optical connector (15) facilitates a connection, disconnection and reconnection of the optical guidewire (10) to the guidewire interface (13) that enables a backloading the catheter (20) on the optical guidewire (10).

Abstract: A system and method for mapping interluminal structures includes an elongated flexible instrument (102). An optical shape sensing device (152, 154) is disposed within the flexible instrument and is configured to determine a shape of the flexible instrument relative to a reference. The shape sensing device is configured to collect information based on its configuration to map an interluminal structure during a procedure. An imaging enabled ablation device (117) is mounted at or near a distal end portion of the flexible instrument.