Synchronized tracking of multiple interventional medical devices

Abstract

A controller ( 240 / 340 ) for simultaneously tracking multiple interventional medical devices includes a memory ( 242 / 342 ) that stores instructions and a processor ( 241 / 341 ) that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor ( 241 / 341 ), the instructions cause the controller to execute a process that includes receiving timing information from a first signal emitted from an ultrasound probe ( 252 / 352 ) and reflective of timing when the ultrasound probe ( 252 / 352 ) transmits ultrasound beams to generate ultrasound imagery. The process executed by the controller also includes forwarding the timing information to be available for use by a first acquisition electronic component ( 232 / 332 ). The first acquisition electronic component ( 232 / 332 ) also receives sensor information from a first passive ultrasound sensor (S 1 ) on a first interventional medical device ( 212 / 312 ). The timing information is used to synchronize the sensor information from the first passive ultrasound sensor (S 1 ) on the first interventional medical device ( 212 / 312 ) with sensor information from a second passive ultrasound sensor (S 2 ) on a second interventional medical device ( 216 / 316 ).

1 . A controller for tracking interventional medical devices, the controller comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:   extract timing information from one or more signals emitted from an ultrasound probe and reflective of timing when the ultrasound probe transmits ultrasound beams to generate ultrasound imagery, and   forward the timing information to a first acquisition electronic component, wherein the first acquisition electronic component is configured to synchronize a location of a first passive ultrasound sensor on a first interventional medical device to the ultrasound imagery based on the timing information; and   a second acquisition electronic component configured to synchronize a location of a second passive ultrasound sensor on a second interventional medical device to the ultrasound imagery based on the timing information,   wherein the ultrasound imagery is displayed with the synchronized location of the second passive ultrasound sensor and the synchronized location of the first passive ultrasound sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the timing information corresponds to timing of an individual ultrasound image of the ultrasound imagery generated by the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is implemented in a signal path intermediate the ultrasound probe and the first acquisition electronic component. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first interventional medical device and the second interventional medical device comprises a needle. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the second acquisition electronic component is configured to receive second sensor position data from the second passive ultrasound sensor on the second interventional medical device and (ii) the first acquisition electronic component is configured to receive first sensor position data from the first passive ultrasound sensor on the first interventional medical device. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 forward the ultrasound imagery from the ultrasound probe to an ultrasound system that displays the ultrasound imagery with the synchronized location of the first passive ultrasound sensor and the synchronized location of the second passive ultrasound sensor superimposed thereon.   
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 forward a first interventional medical device identifier to the first acquisition electronic component, wherein the first acquisition electronic component is configured to add the first interventional medical device identifier to the first sensor position data and forward the first sensor position data to the ultrasound system; and   add a second interventional medical device identifier specific to the second sensor position data and forward the second sensor position data to the ultrasound system.   
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 correct for a timing difference between the second acquisition electronic component and the first acquisition electronic component by adding a delay to the timing information at the controller.   
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first acquisition electronic component is further configured to determine the location of the first passive ultrasound sensor in a beam space of the ultrasound probe based on the timing information, wherein the determined location of the first passive ultrasound sensor includes a beam number of a corresponding beam emitted from the ultrasound probe and a first distance along the beam, and   the second acquisition electronic component is further configured to determine the location of the second passive ultrasound sensor in the beam space of the ultrasound probe based on the timing information, wherein the determined location of the second passive ultrasound sensor includes the beam number of a corresponding beam emitted from the ultrasound probe and a second distance along the beam.   
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the timing information comprises trigger signals corresponding to transmission of the ultrasound beams from the ultrasound probe, and wherein the trigger signals include at least one of line trigger signals and frame trigger signals corresponding to transmission of the ultrasound beams from the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
         11 . A method for tracking interventional medical devices, the controller comprising:
 extracting timing information from one or more signals emitted from an ultrasound probe and reflective of timing when the ultrasound probe transmits ultrasound beams to generate ultrasound imagery;   synchronizing, by a first acquisition electronic component, a location of a first passive ultrasound sensor on a first interventional device to the ultrasound imagery based on the timing information;   synchronizing, by a second acquisition electronic component, a location of a second passive ultrasound sensor on a second interventional medical device to the ultrasound imagery based on the timing information; and   displaying the ultrasound imagery with the synchronized location of the first passive ultrasound sensor and the synchronized location of the second passive ultrasound sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the timing information corresponds to timing of an individual ultrasound image of the ultrasound imagery generated by the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first interventional medical device and the second interventional medical device comprises a needle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 displaying the ultrasound imagery with the synchronized location of the first passive ultrasound sensor and the synchronized location of the second passive ultrasound sensor superimposed thereon.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving second sensor position data from the second passive ultrasound sensor on the second interventional medical device, and   receiving first sensor position data from the first passive ultrasound sensor on the first interventional medical device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising
 adding a first interventional medical device identifier to the first sensor position data and displaying the synchronized location of the first passive ultrasound sensor based on the first sensor position data with the added first interventional medical device identifier; and   adding a second interventional medical device identifier specific to the second sensor position data and displaying the synchronized location of the second passive ultrasound sensor based on the second sensor position data with the added second interventional medical device identifier.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining the location of the first passive ultrasound sensor in a beam space of the ultrasound probe based on the timing information, wherein the determined location of the first passive ultrasound sensor includes a beam number of a corresponding beam emitted from the ultrasound probe and a first distance along the beam, and   determining the location of the second passive ultrasound sensor in the beam space of the ultrasound probe based on the timing information, wherein the determined location of the second passive ultrasound sensor includes the beam number of a corresponding beam emitted from the ultrasound probe and a second distance along the beam.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the timing information comprises trigger signals corresponding to transmission of the ultrasound beams from the ultrasound probe, and wherein the trigger signals include at least one of line trigger signals and frame trigger signals corresponding to transmission of the ultrasound beams from the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program product comprising instruction which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 extract timing information from one or more signals emitted from an ultrasound probe and reflective of timing when the ultrasound probe transmits ultrasound beams to generate ultrasound imagery;   synchronize a location of a first passive ultrasound sensor on a first interventional device to the ultrasound imagery based on the timing information; and   synchronize a location of a second passive ultrasound sensor on a second interventional medical device to the ultrasound imagery based on the timing information, wherein   wherein the ultrasound imagery is displayed with the synchronized location of the second passive ultrasound sensor and the synchronized location of the first passive ultrasound sensor.