RESTRICTED NAVIGATION CONTROLLER FOR, AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING, A REMOTE NAVIGATION SYSTEM

摘要

A control and control method for a remote navigation system including an orientation controller that orients the distal end of a medical device in an operating region in a subject, and a length controller that extends and retracts the distal end of the medical device, to navigate the distal end of the medical device to a selected destination in response to user inputs. In accordance with the control method, the control interrupts operation of at least one of the orientation controller and the length controller when the user inputs would cause the orientation controller and the length controller to navigate the distal end of the medical device to one of a plurality of predetermined restricted locations (or alternatively when the user inputs would cause the orientation controller and length controller to navigate the distal end of the medical device other than to one of a plurality of predetermined target locations). In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the method, the control can determine inputs to cause the navigation system to navigate the medical device to an unrestricted location that is closest the user's original selection (or to a target location that is closes to the user's original selection).