Guidance systems and associated methods

Abstract

Guidance systems and associated methods are disclosed. One method comprises: receiving macroscan data prior to an operation; defining a body information model from the macroscan data; positioning a navigation component in the body during the operation; generating microscan data with the navigation component; correlating a location in the macroscan data with a location in the microscan data in the body information model; and/or modifying the body information model by combining an image in the microscan data with an image in the macroscan data.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving macroscan data including first location data;   defining a body information model from the macroscan data;   positioning a navigation component in a body;   generating microscan data with the navigation component, the microscan data including second location data;   correlating the first location data with the second location data in the body information model;   modifying the body information model by combining the microscan data with the macroscan data;   outputting at least a portion of the body information model as a navigation image; and   guiding the navigation component through the body via the navigation image.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the navigation component includes a shaft and an internal scanner located on a distal portion of the shaft, and the method further comprises positioning the internal scanner in the body and generating the microscan data with the internal scanner. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the internal scanner includes a probe configured to generate wave energy images of the body and the second images include the wave energy images, the method further comprising generating the wave energy images with the probe. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the probe includes one or more ultrasound transducers configured to generate ultrasound images of the body, and generating the wave energy images includes generating ultrasound images with the one or more ultrasound transducers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the probe includes one or more laser sources configured to generate laser images of the body, and generating the wave energy images includes generating laser images with the one or more laser sources. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the internal scanner includes a plurality of imaging elements configured to generate the graphical images, and the method comprises generating the graphical images at one or more frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum with the plurality of imaging elements, and the second images include the graphical images. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving the macroscan data includes receiving first images of the body and the first location data is associated with each first image. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein generating the microscan data includes generating second images of the body and location data according to a predetermined sequence, wherein the second location data is associated with each second image. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second images are generated at a rate of 60 Hz or greater in the predetermined sequence. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the navigation component includes a shaft, and positioning a navigation component in the body comprises moving a distal portion of the shaft through the body. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 receiving macroscan data prior to an operation;   generating a body information model from the macroscan data;   positioning a navigation component a body during the operation;   receiving microscan data with the navigation component;   updating the body information model by combining a portion of the microscan data with a correlated portion of the macroscan data;   outputting at least at least a portion of the body information model as a navigation image;   defining a path through the body in the navigation image; and   guiding the navigation component along the path in the navigation image.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising locating objects in the body relative to the path. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising guiding the navigation component to the located objects. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising determining characteristics of the located objects. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 selecting one of the located objects based on its characteristics;   performing a treatment on the selected object; and   modifying the body information model to indicate that the selected object has been treated.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the characteristics of the located objects include composition, density, fragility, and/or size. 
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 receiving macroscan data, the macroscan data including first images of a body and first location data associated with each first image;   combining the first images according to the first location data to generate a body information model;   positioning a navigation component in the body;   generating the microscan data with the navigation component, the microscan data including second images of the body and second location data associated with each second image;   updating the body information model by combining a portion of the microscan data with a correlated portion of the macroscan data;   outputting a portion of the body information model as a navigation image; and   identifying a path through the body in the navigation image and a location of the navigation component.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the first images include two-dimensional or three-dimensional images, and the second images include two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising generating one or more indicators configured to guide the navigation component along the path in the navigation image. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein generating one or more indicators includes generating audio or tactile feedback signals.