System for detecting the shape of an endoscope using source coils and sense coils
US6773394B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2034/2072
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope shape detection system has a CPU included in a control unit. The CPU performs frequency sampling of digital data to calculate coordinates indicating the spatial positions of source coils incorporated in an insertion unit of an endoscope received in a patient and of marker coils placed on a patient. An inserted state of the insertion unit of the endoscope is estimated based on the calculated coordinate data indicating the positions of the source coils. Display data based on the shape of the endoscope is produced from the calculated coordinate data indicating the positions of the source coils, and output to a video RAM. Display data of the marker coils is produced from the calculated coordinate data indicating the positions of the marker coils, and output to the video RAM. Consequently, the positions of the markers are depicted together with the shape of the endoscope. The positional relationship between the insertion unit of the endoscope and a patient's body can therefore be ascertained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.