US 11,986,341 B1
Methods for accessing spinal column using B-mode imaging to determine a trajectory without penetrating the the patient's anatomy
Kern Singh, Chicago, IL (US); and Sachin Gupta, Hinsdale, IL (US)
Assigned to Tissue Differentiation Intelligence, LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Tissue Differentiation Intelligence, LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on May 26, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/606,814.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/341,966, filed on May 26, 2016.
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/085 (2013.01) [A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 8/4494 (2013.01); A61B 8/5223 (2013.01); A61B 17/00234 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A method comprising:
advancing a device capable of detecting anatomical structures and comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an elongated body extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and at least one ultrasound transducer positioned at the distal end into a patient such that the distal end is positioned on a surface of a patient's anatomy without penetrating the patient's anatomy, wherein the patient's anatomy is located between the device and a surgical site;
scanning the patient's anatomy to generate a b-mode image of the patient's anatomy, wherein the scanning is performed with the device positioned on the patient's anatomy and without penetrating the patient's anatomy;
identifying image texture and echogenicity information from a digital representation of anatomical structures in the b-mode image;
identifying at least one voltage trace associated with an anatomical tissue from at least one scan line from the digital representation of anatomical structures in the b-mode image;
comparing the at least one voltage trace to a predetermined voltage trace of a muscle;
determining a presence or an absence of a spectral signature of the muscle in the at least one voltage trace based on the comparison;
determining, based on the presence of the spectral signature, the anatomical tissue to be the muscle;
based on a determination that a path between the distal end of the device and the surgical site does not pass through anatomy other than muscle, determining, without penetrating the patient's anatomy, that the path comprises a trajectory between the distal end and the surgical site; and
outputting an indication of the trajectory.