System and method for wirelessly powering, sending and receiving information from an instrument in the body
Inventors
Gupta, Subhanshu • Seslar, Stephen
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12369992-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
The embodiments of the present invention are directed to a novel wireless powered method, apparatus and tracking system without a wired interface to a moving catheter. The implant in the patient's body on the moving catheter is energized by an external ultrasound transmitter using acoustic pressure waves. As a general mode of operation, ultrasonic waves from outside of a patient's body are received by an array of transducer elements configured about the catheter disposed in a patient's body, wherein the array of transducer elements transforms a frequency into a resultant stored energy. The resultant stored energy powers one or more transceivers via a power management arrangement and enables RF frequencies in a desired band to be output and received by external sensors. Coupled with ultrasound backscattering capabilities, the catheter provides a dual mode for accurate triangulated locations of the distal end of a moving catheter.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wirelessly, ultrasonically powered system for tracking a catheter tip in a patient’s body. An external ultrasonic transceiver is positioned outside the patient’s body and configured to generate and direct ultrasonic pressure waves into the patient’s body, while a catheter disposed within the patient’s body includes an array of ultrasonic transducer elements that receives the ultrasonic pressure waves and transforms them into ultrasonic transducer electrical signals.
The catheter array generates and directs ultrasonic backscatter waves to the patient’s body, and an ultrasonic-to-direct current (DC) energy harvesting integrated circuit affixed to the catheter converts the ultrasonic transducer electrical signals into DC energy and stores the DC energy as stored DC energy. In response to receiving the stored DC energy, a distal RF transceiver affixed to the catheter transmits first RF signals and a proximal RF transceiver affixed at a second position transmits second RF signals, with the distal and proximal RF transceivers spaced apart by a spacing distance.
External receivers outside the patient’s body receive ultrasonic backscatter signals from one or more of the ultrasonic transducer elements and receive the first RF signals and the second RF signals at three or more receiving terminals. A processor connected to the receiving terminals determines a location of the distal end of the catheter based at least in part on triangulation of the received ultrasonic backscatter signals and triangulation of the received first RF signals and triangulation of the received second RF signals and further based, at least in part, on the spacing distance.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are 1, 13, and 15. They collectively define 6 inventive features covering a catheter-mounted ultrasonic transducer array, ultrasonic-to-DC energy harvesting, distal and proximal RF transceivers, and external triangulation using ultrasonic backscatter, RF signals, and spacing distance.
Ultrasonically powered catheter tracking with ultrasonic backscatter and stored DC energy
An external ultrasonic transceiver directs ultrasonic pressure waves into a patient's body, and a catheter-mounted array of ultrasonic transducer elements receives the ultrasonic pressure waves, transforms them into ultrasonic transducer electrical signals, and generates and directs ultrasonic backscatter waves. An ultrasonic-to-DC energy harvesting integrated circuit converts the ultrasonic transducer electrical signals into DC energy and stores the DC energy as stored DC energy to power catheter-mounted distal and proximal RF transceivers.
Distal/proximal catheter RF transceivers powered by harvested energy
A distal RF transceiver affixed at a first position transmits first RF signals in response to receiving the stored DC energy, and a proximal RF transceiver affixed at a second position spaced from the first position transmits second RF signals in response to receiving the stored DC energy.
Triangulation using ultrasonic backscatter and RF signals with spacing distance
Three or more ultrasound receivers and three or more RF receivers outside the patient’s body receive, respectively, ultrasonic backscatter signals and received first and second RF signals, and a processor determines the location of the distal end of the catheter based at least in part on triangulation of the received ultrasonic backscatter signals and triangulation of the received first RF signals and triangulation of the received second RF signals and further based, at least in part, on the spacing distance.
Ultrasonically powered catheter system with distal and proximal RF transceivers
A catheter disposed within an ultrasound pressure wave conductive medium and including an array of ultrasonic transducer elements generates ultrasonic transducer electrical signals in response to receiving an ultrasonic pressure wave from an external ultrasound pressure wave transmitter. An ultrasonic-to-DC energy harvesting circuit converts and stores DC energy, and a distal RF transceiver transmits first RF signals and a proximal RF transceiver transmits second RF signals in response to receiving the stored DC energy.
Individual clocking of distal and proximal RF transmissions
A clock circuit individually clocks a distal RF transceiver and a proximal RF transceiver so the distal RF transceiver transmits first RF signals and the proximal RF transceiver transmits second RF signals.
Method for ultrasonically powering and tracking a catheter using backscatter and RF triangulation
A method transmits ultrasonic pressure waves into a patient's body, receives backscatter ultrasonic waves at a catheter array, transforms the ultrasonic pressure waves into ultrasonic transducer electrical signals, generates and transmits backscatter ultrasonic waves, converts the ultrasonic transducer electrical signals to DC energy to power distal and proximal RF transceivers, emits first and second RF signals from the distal and proximal RF transceivers, receives the backscatter ultrasonic waves at three or more ultrasonic receivers outside the patient’s body, receives first and second RF signals at three or more RF receivers outside the patient’s body, and determines a location of the distal end based on triangulation of ultrasonic backscatter signals and triangulation of the received first and second RF signals and further based on the spacing distance between the proximal and distal RF transceivers.
Across the independent claims, the shared inventive concept is a wirelessly, ultrasonically powered catheter tracking architecture in which stored DC energy harvested from ultrasonic transducer electrical signals powers distal and proximal RF transceivers, while external ultrasound and RF receivers feed a processor that determines the catheter distal-end location using triangulation based on ultrasonic backscatter and on distal/proximal RF signals and further using the transceiver spacing distance.
Stated Advantages
Non-ionizing localization versus fluoroscopy is reported.
Deep-tissue tracking with reported depth greater than 5 cm up to 10 cm.
Enables physiology sensing and electrical stimulation (e.g., electrophysiology) as optional functionality.
Documented Applications
Wireless ultrasonically powered catheter tip tracking in a patient's body using external ultrasound and RF receivers, including deep-tissue tracking.
Tracking with optional physiology sensing and optional electrical stimulation/electrophysiology as described.
Use of external receivers in receiving terminals located on a garment worn on the patient's body and/or affixed to the patient's body.
Use of RF triangulation together with ultrasonic backscatter-based triangulation to determine catheter distal-end position.
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