Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically actuating and positioning a first medical device in a subject anatomy with a remote medical navigation system together with a localized second medical device that passes through the first device and is also actuated by the remote navigation system to access a desired target location. After an initial calibration step, an exemplary method comprises: (a) determining configurational variables for the first medical device based on a computational model of device deformation and a set of geometrical constraints, and (b) automatically steering the first medical device with the remote navigation system to the computationally determined configuration.

Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically actuating and positioning a first medical device in a subject anatomy with a remote medical navigation system together with a localized second medical device that passes through the first device and is also actuated by the remote navigation system to access a desired target location. After an initial calibration step, an exemplary method comprises: (a) determining configurational variables for the first medical device based on a computational model of device deformation and a set of geometrical constraints, and (b) automatically steering the first medical device with the remote navigation system to the computationally determined configuration.

Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically actuating and positioning a localized second medical device in multiple spatial dimensions in a subject anatomy with a remote medical navigation system in coordination with a localized first medical device that is also actuated by the remote navigation system. After an initial calibration step, an exemplary method comprises: (a) navigating the first medical device with the remote navigation system, (b) constructing a cost function based on the spatial coordinates of the first and second medical devices, minimizing it and computing and automatically applying updates to the configurational degrees of freedom of the second medical device.

Abstract: A display for operating a plurality of separate computer systems, each having a visual display. The display includes comprising a composite display, a video system for receiving display input from each of the plurality of separate computer systems and displaying it on the composite display, a processor which controls the content of the composite display based upon a planned procedure workflow.

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: The present invention provides a means for guiding a medical device within the body to approach a target destination. The system and method provide a means for determining a predicted length and orientation, navigating the device to an intermediate point less than the predicted length, determining an error between the projected destination and actual target destination, and successively updating a predicted value of a control variable to yield an orientation within a predetermined distance error before advancing the device the remaining distance to the destination. This provides a physician with the capability of verifying the device will be accurately guided to the target destination without trial and error. A method is also provided for intuitive navigation to targets with limited trial and error based on user-applied device orientation adjustments, where the user chooses the magnitude of the adjustments and the system determines the adjustment direction.

Abstract: A system of navigating a magnetic medical device within that part of a patient located within an operating region of the system, the system comprising magnets, and preferably electromagnets, arranged to provide a magnetic field sufficient to navigate the magnetic medical device within the operating region. There are preferably three magnetic coils arranged in mutually perpendicular planes such that their axes intersect in the operating region. The magnetic coils are sized and arranged so that a patient can easily access the operating region to allow virtually any portion of the patient to be positioned within the operating region. The openness of the magnetic system allows access to the operating region by a bi-planer imaging system.

Abstract: A consolidated system for performing, recording, and distributing the performance and/or recordation of medical procedures, including a plurality of computer-controlled medical systems each having one or more input devices; and an aggregation system for aggregating information pertaining to a medical procedure and/or pertaining to the use of one or more of the medical systems to perform a medical procedure, the information having a plurality of sources, forms, and formats. The aggregation system is configured to provide a preview of the information to allow a user to combine and/or edit the information and provide transmission of the combined and/or edited information to one or more recipients via a network.

Abstract: A method of operating a plurality of computer systems includes translating inputs generated by the operation of an input device associated with a first computer into control signals for operating at least one other computer system to operate the at least one other computer system in a corresponding manner.

Abstract: A method of performing a multi-step medical procedure requiring the operation of a plurality of separate computer systems, each accepting inputs and providing a visual display, the method including displaying the displays from the separate computer controlled systems on a composite display; and based in part from information from one of the separate computer systems, automatically selecting the next step from a plurality of possible next steps, and displaying a prompt for the automatically selected next step, and automatically reconfiguring the composite display for the automatically selected next step.

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: The movement of a catheter through a medium, which may be living tissue such as a human brain, is controlled by mechanically pushing a flexible catheter having a magnetic tip through the medium and applying a magnetic field having a magnitude and a direction that guides the mechanically-pushed catheter tip stepwise along a desired path. The magnetic field is controlled in a Magnetic Stereotaxis System by a processor using an adaptation of a PID (proportional, integral, and derivative) feedback method. The magnetic fields are applied by superconducting coils, and the currents applied through the coils are selected to minimize a current metric.

Abstract: A method of determining the quality of contact between a remotely navigated medical device and a cyclically moving anatomical structure includes measuring movement of the device, and processing the measured movement of the device to determine the contact between the device and the moving anatomical structure.

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 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 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 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 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 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: The movement of a catheter through a medium, which may be living tissue such as a human brain, is controlled by mechanically pushing a flexible catheter having a magnetic tip through the medium and applying a magnetic field having a magnitude and a direction that guides the mechanically-pushed catheter tip stepwise along a desired path. The magnetic field is controlled in a Magnetic Stereotaxis System by a processor using an adaptation of a PID (proportional, integral, and derivative) feedback method. The magnetic fields are applied by superconducting coils, and the currents applied through the coils are selected to minimize a current metric.