SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERVENTIONAL MEDICINE

摘要

An automated system for navigating a medical device (22) through the lumens and cavities in an operating region in a patient is described. The system includes an elongate medical device (22), having a proximal end (24) and a distal end (26) adapted to be introduced into the operating region. The system (20) also includes an imaging system (30) for displaying an image (32) of the operating region, including a representation of the distal end (26) of the medical device (22) in the operating region. The system (20) also includes a localization system (40) for determining the position of the medical device (22) in a frame of reference translatable to the displayed image of the imaging system. Finally, the system (20) includes a system for orienting the medical device (22) in a selected direction in the operating region, this system may be, for example, a magnetic navigation system (50) which acts through the interaction of magnetic fields associated with the medical device (22) inside the operating region and at least one external source magnet outside the patient's body.