Pulsed-light emitting marker device

Abstract

The invention relates to an active marker device (100) for being introduced into a human tissue and for tracking a region of interest of a human body. The active marker device comprises a light source (101) for emitting light such that the emitted light can be detected by an optical sensor. In this way, the active marker device and/or the region of interest can be tracked by a tracking system comprising the optical sensor. The active marker device (100) further comprises a switch (102) for turning the light source on and off and for operating the light source in a pulsed mode.

1 . An active marker device configured to be implanted into a tissue prior to a procedure for tracking a region of interest of a subject during the procedure, the active marker device comprising:
 a light source configured to emit light that is detectable by an optical sensor; and   a switch configured to operate the light source in a pulsed mode, the switch configured to be operated in a contactless manner for remotely activating the light source during the procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch is further configured to operate the light source in one of a plurality of different pulsed modes. 
     
     
         3 . The active marker device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive an activation signal for the light source, and wherein the switch is configured to operate the light source in one of the plurality of different pulsed modes corresponding to the activation signal. 
     
     
         4 . The active marker device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal comprising information about a property of one pulsed mode of the plurality of different pulsed modes, and wherein the switch is configured to operate the light source in the one pulsed mode having the property. 
     
     
         5 . The active marker device according to  claim 4 , wherein the property is a frequency and/or a pulse pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The active marker device according to  claim 5 , wherein the frequency and/or pulse pattern are selected to distinguish emitted light flashes from the light source from surrounding light. 
     
     
         7 . The active marker device according to  claim 3 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a triggering signal triggering generation of pulses by the light source and the switch is configured to turn the light source on, only when the triggering signal is received by the receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an energy source configured to supply the light source with electrical energy. 
     
     
         9 . The active marker device according to  claim 8 , wherein the energy source comprises an LC circuit configured as a wireless power supply of the energy source. 
     
     
         10 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a capsule into which the light source and the switch are encapsulated. 
     
     
         11 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein the active marker device is configured to be introduced into a cannula of an insertion needle. 
     
     
         12 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein a light pulse emitted by the light source is configured to be detectable by a time-of-flight camera of an optical sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source has a pulse duration that is a percentage of a duty cycle of the pulsed mode of the light source. 
     
     
         14 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light emitted by the light source has a unique frequency and/or pulse pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch further comprises a timer. 
     
     
         16 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein, from the light emitted by the light source, the active marker device implanted interior to the subject is detectable by an optical sensor disposed exterior to the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The active marker device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light is emitted by the light source with a unique frequency and/or pulse pattern.