Patent ID: 11931139
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 18:
19. A method for lung visualization using ultrasound (US) imaging, the method comprising:
importing a first three-dimensional (3D) model of a luminal network of a lung;
generating an electromagnetic (EM) field about the luminal network;
sensing the EM field via an EM sensor;
transmitting US waves via an US transducer;
generating US images based on a reflection of the US waves from the luminal network, the EM sensor positioned at a distal portion of one of a first catheter or a second catheter and the US transducer positioned at a distal portion of the other one of the first or second catheters;
processing the sensed EM field and the reflected US waves to determine whether a new target is detected;
registering the new target to the first 3D model when it is determined that the new target is detected;
replacing lower resolution portions of Computed Tomography (CT) image data from which the the first 3D model was generated with the generated US images at a location of the US transducer based on a detection of the new target, yielding a modified CT image data;
generating a second 3D model from the the modified CT image data, wherein the second 3D model has a higher resolution than the first 3D model; and
displaying the second 3D model.