US 12,440,183 B2
Apparatus, system, and method for detecting the distance between sensors using ultrasound
James F. Tassitano, Marietta, GA (US)
Assigned to Avent, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed by Avent, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/532,550.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038185 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 5/0538 (2021.01); A61B 5/06 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61J 15/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/285 (2021.01)
CPC A61B 8/0841 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0538 (2013.01); A61B 5/061 (2013.01); A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.02); A61J 15/0003 (2013.01); A61B 5/285 (2021.01); A61B 2034/2051 (2016.02)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical device position detection system comprising:
a processor;
a first position detector device having a first sensor configured to detect the position of a medical device within a patient's body, the first position detector device comprising a first sound transceiver, further wherein the first position detector device is operatively coupled to the processor;
a first housing, wherein the first position detector device is disposed in the first housing;
a first electromagnetic shield within the first housing between the first sensor and the first sound transceiver;
a second position detector device having a second sensor configured to detect the position of the medical device within a patient's body, the second position detector device comprising a second sound transceiver, further wherein the second position detector device is operatively coupled to the processor;
a second housing, wherein the second position detector device is disposed in the second housing;
wherein the first housing and the second housing each comprise a lower surface having a fixation mechanism and an upper surface having an opening therethrough and a cover covering the opening through which sound waves may penetrate; and
a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
(i) instruct the first position detector device to transmit a first sound signal through the first sound transceiver;
(ii) receive the first sound signal from the second position detector device relating to a distance between the first position detector device and the second position detector device; and
(iii) calculate the distance between the first position detector device and the second position detector device;
wherein the memory device stores additional instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
(iv) instruct the second position detector device to transmit a second sound signal through the second sound transceiver;
(v) receive the second sound signal from the first position detector device relating to a distance between the second position detector device and the first position detector device; and
(vi) calculate the distance between the second position detector device and the first position detector device;
wherein the first sound signal transmitted through the first sound transceiver is at a frequency in a range from about 5 kilohertz to about 40 kilohertz.