Patent ID: 9226687
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A system for visually guiding a flexible endoscope through linked passages within a body, comprising: a flexible endoscope; a sensor that produces an output signal indicating coordinates that define a three-dimensional disposition of a distal end of the flexible endoscope; a processor configured to generate a three-dimensional model of the linked passages, determine positions of branching points of the three-dimensional model of the linked passages, and provide indicators that indicate the positions of the branching points on the three-dimensional model based on the coordinates indicated by the output signal in response to the flexible endoscope being advanced beyond a limit of the three-dimensional model; and a display for displaying a current view from within the linked passages generated by the flexible endoscope as the flexible endoscope is advanced therethrough, to enable the flexible endoscope to be visually guided and tracked along a path through the linked passages, wherein the output signal indicates coordinates that define a disposition of the distal end of the flexible endoscope relative to the three-dimensional model as the flexible endoscope is advanced and wherein the display shows a current position of the flexible endoscope relative to the three-dimensional model of the linked passages.