Apparatus for determining a spatial path of a flexible or semi-rigid elongated body

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This invention describes an apparatus using a flexible or semi-rigid elongated body (such as an endoscope or catheter) equipped with multiple sensor devices distributed along its length. These sensors provide real-time information on the local orientation, position, and curvature of the body, allowing for accurate determination and visualization of its spatial path. This eliminates the need for bulky external equipment like large antennas or dedicated electromagnetic fields, improving real-time navigation, visualization, and control during procedures such as endoscopy.

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• Real-time guidance and navigation during medical procedures involving endoscopes or catheters (e.g., colonoscopy, gastroscopy).
• Reduced patient discomfort and improved safety by visualizing and minimizing loop formation during endoscopic procedures.
• Industrial applications such as monitoring and visualizing the position of cables or tubes inserted into conduits for maintenance or inspection.
• Enhanced training for medical professionals by providing visual feedback on scope positioning.
• Potential integration with robotic-assisted surgical systems to improve the accuracy of flexible tool navigation.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides real-time three-dimensional visualization of the spatial path of flexible or semi-rigid bodies, helping clinicians or technicians with accurate positioning.
• Reduces or eliminates the need for radiation-based imaging (like fluoroscopy) for tracking endoscopes, decreasing radiation exposure for patients and staff.
• Improves procedure speed and safety by helping to prevent the formation of loops and misrouting of flexible instruments.
• Modular sensor network design allows adaptation to various instrument lengths and types.
• Supports visual overlays and switchable perspectives for easier interpretation during procedures, enhancing user confidence and procedure outcomes.
• Flexible implementation with different types of sensors (inertial, magnetic, optical, strain) for robust performance depending on the environment and application.

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Patent Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus with a flexible or semi-rigid elongated body and a plurality of sensor devices. The plurality of sensor devices are arranged at or in the flexible or semi-rigid elongated body in a manner distributed along a longitudinal direction of the flexible or semi-rigid elongated body. Each sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices is configured to provide information on a local orientation, position and/or curvature of the flexible or semi-rigid elongated body.