Medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter and method for position determination

摘要

A catheter and method for determining a position of the catheter within the cardiovascular system is provided. Local bending and twisting is measured at multiple locations along the catheter. By integrating the measurements, the position and orientation of the catheter is determined. Based on the catheter position information, the location and orientation of an ultrasound transducer array connected with the catheter is known. The imaging array position and orientation information may be used to assist a physician in determining the tissue structure or fluid being scanned and/or assist in the accurate generation of three-dimensional representations.