Abstract: A method of finding the location of an occluded portion of a blood vessel relative to a three-dimensional angiographic image of a subject's vasculature includes identifying the location of the occluded portion of the blood vessel on each of a series of displayed two dimensional images derived from the three dimensional image data in planes substantially transverse to direction of the occluded portion of the vessel. The identified locations in the occluded portion of the vessel can then be used to determine the path of the occluded portion of the vessel.

Abstract: A method of turning a medical device, having a magnetically responsive element associated with its distal end, at an operating point within an operating region inside a patient's body from an initial direction to a desired final direction, through the movement of at least one external source magnet. The at least one external source magnet is moved in such a way as to change the direction of the distal end of the magnetic medical device from the initial direction to the desired final direction without substantial deviation from the plane containing the initial direction and the desired final direction.

Abstract: A method of navigating a magnet-tipped distal end of an elongate medical device through the body includes providing an image display of the part of the body through which the medical device is being navigated and using the display to input the desired path of the medical device by identifying points on the desired path on the display. The magnetic field needed to orient the end of the medical device in the direction of the desired path as indicated on the display is then determined. In one embodiment where only points on the desired path are identified, the field direction is the direction indicated by the points on the desired path.

Abstract: A method of turning a medical device, having a magnetically responsive element associated with its distal end, at an operating point within an operating region inside a patient's body from an initial direction to a desired final direction, through the movement of at least one external source magnet. The at least one external source magnet is moved in such a way as to change the direction of the distal end of the magnetic medical device from the initial direction to the desired final direction without substantial deviation from the plane containing the initial direction and the desired final direction.

Abstract: A magnetically navigable catheter includes a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, and an extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, slidably mounted in the sheath so that the distal end portion of the extension member telescopes from the distal end of the sheath. The distal end portion of the extension member being relatively more flexible than the distal end of the sheath. There may be one or more electrodes on the distal end of the extension member. There is also at least one magnet, and preferably more than one magnet, on the distal end portion of the extension member to allow the distal end of extension member to be oriented by the application of an externally applied magnetic field.

Abstract: A method of defining automated movement sequences of a remotely controlled medical device actuated by a remote navigation system includes the steps of: defining a reference length for a medical device inserted into an anatomical chamber where subsequent device length measurements are made and automated device length changes are applied with respect to the reference length, and defining a movement sequence as a concatenation of automated movement building block primitives for subsequent automated execution by the remote navigation system.

Abstract: A guide wire combined with a catheter or medical device for moving through a body lumen to a desired position in the body with the aid of an applied magnetic field. The guide wire is provided with a magnet on its distal end that can be oriented or oriented and moved by the application of a magnetic field to the magnet. A catheter or other medical device can be advanced over the guide wire. Once the medical device is in its desired position, the magnet can be withdrawn through the lumen of the catheter. Alternatively, a guide wire with a magnet on its distal end can be docked at the distal end of a catheter or medical device and can be oriented, or oriented and moved by the application of a magnetic field.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device includes determining the location of a medical device at a point in an operating region in a subject's body, the medical device being responsive to at least one control variable to assume a desired configuration includes storing information representative of the at least one control variable being applied to the medical device at the point, and more preferably storing information representative of the at least one control variable and the device length.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device includes determining the location of a medical device at a point in an operating region in a subject's body, the medical device being responsive to at least one control variable to assume a desired configuration includes storing information representative of the at least one control variable being applied to the medical device at the point, and more preferably storing information representative of the at least one control variable and the device length.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device includes determining the location of a medical device at a point in an operating region in a subject's body, the medical device being responsive to at least one control variable to assume a desired configuration includes storing information representative of the at least one control variable being applied to the medical device at the point, and more preferably storing information representative of the at least one control variable and the device length.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device includes determining the location of a medical device at a point in an operating region in a subject's body, the medical device being responsive to at least one control variable to assume a desired configuration includes storing information representative of the at least one control variable being applied to the medical device at the point, and more preferably storing information representative of the at least one control variable and the device length.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device includes determining the location of a medical device at a point in an operating region in a subject's body, the medical device being responsive to at least one control variable to assume a desired configuration includes storing information representative of the at least one control variable being applied to the medical device at the point, and more preferably storing information representative of the at least one control variable and the device length.

Abstract: An automated system for navigating a medical device through the lumens and cavities in an operating region in a patient. The system includes an elongate medical device, having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be introduced into the operating region. The system also includes an imaging system for displaying an image of the operating region, including a representation of the distal end of the medical device in the operating region. The system also includes a localization system for determining the position of the medical device in a frame of reference translatable to the displayed image of the imaging system. Finally, the system includes a system for orienting the medical device in a selected direction in the operating region, this system may be, for example, a magnetic navigation system which acts through the interaction of magnetic fields associated with the medical device inside the operating region and at least one external source magnet outside the patient's body.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling medical device in a patients body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional image of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation of distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to assume the selected orientation.