Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit
of:
U.S. Patent Application No. 62/866,950, filed June 26, 2019, titled
"APPARATUSES
TO REMOVABLY SECURE INVASIVE INSTRUMENTS TO IMAGING TRANSDUCERS
FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE";
U.S. Patent Application No. 16/810,569, filed March 5, 2020, titled "SYSTEMS,
METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE," which claims priority to U.S.
Patent Application No. 62/866,950, filed June 26, 2019, titled "APPARATUSES TO
REMOVABLY SECURE INVASIVE INSTRUMENTS TO IMAGING TRANSDUCERS FOR
INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE" and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/814,004, filed March
5, 2019,
titled "APPARATUSES TO REMOVABLY SECURE AN INVASIVE DEVICE TO AN
ULTRASOUND PROBE FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE"; and
U.S. Patent Application No. 16/816,363, filed March 12,2020, titled "SYSTEMS,
METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE," which is a continuation of
U.S. Patent Application No. 16/810,569, filed March 5, 2020, titled "SYSTEMS,
METHODS,
AND DEVICES FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE," which claims priority to U.S. Patent
Application No. 62/866,950, filed June 26, 2019, titled "APPARATUSES TO
REMOVABLY
SECURE INVASIVE INSTRUMENTS TO IMAGING TRANSDUCERS FOR INSTRUMENT
GUIDANCE" and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/814,004, filed March 5, 2019,
titled
"APPARATUSES TO REMOVABLY SECURE AN INVASIVE DEVICE TO AN
ULTRASOUND PROBE FOR INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE",
each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to systems,
methods, and devices for
instrument guidance and, more particularly, to systems, methods, and devices
for guiding the
placement of instruments within the body using ultrasound imaging.
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BACKGROUND
[0003] Ultrasound imaging can provide real-time two-
dimensional imaging of a patient's
body, which can be used to assist a healthcare professional to locate a region
to insert an invasive
medical device (e.g., a needle or a cylindrical instrument such a trocar,
etc.). Once the healthcare
professional locates the correct insertion point, the healthcare professional
may then begin the
medical procedure, such as insertion of a catheter, administration of a local
anesthetic, or removal
of tissue as in a biopsy. Determining at what orientation to insert the
invasive medical device to
ensure an unobstructed path to the target is challenging, as the ultrasound
monitor can only display
structures within the patient's body. It can also be difficult to tell what
path the medical device
will follow before the device enters the patient' s body. Furthermore, after
the medical device
enters the patient's body, it can be difficult to accurately track the path
and position of the medical
device on the ultrasound monitor. Using the needle as an example¨unless the
needle is positioned
exactly in-plane with the image, the needle may not be visible or may only be
partially visible,
which means that the needle location or, more importantly, the location of the
needle tip is not
precisely known. As such, the healthcare professional may make numerous
attempts to insert the
device before properly entering a tissue mass or penetrating a blood vessel.
Further, in the case of
a nerve, the healthcare professional can often only estimate the location of
the needle end if it is
not visible on the ultrasound image. As a result, patients may be injured or
made to suffer
unnecessary pain. From the healthcare professional's perspective, these
procedures can be time
consuming, and can expose the healthcare professional to liability. These and
other drawbacks
exist.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems,
methods, and devices that provide
guided instrument placement within the body.
SUMMARY
[0005] Aspects of the disclosed technology include systems,
methods and devices for guided
instrument placement. Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, an exemplary
device can
include an instrument guide device and a transducer system. The instrument
guide device can
comprise an instrument guide, an instrument guide insert, and an instrument
guide bracket The
instrument guide can include a first aperture, a magnet, and one or more
protrusions. The
instrument guide can be configured to secure at least one instrument. Further,
the instrument guide
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can be adaptable to secure instruments of different sizes. Turning to the
instrument guide bracket,
the instrument guide bracket can be removably attachable to the instrument
guide when at least a
first protrusion of the instrument guide engages with at least a first opening
of the instrument guide
bracket.
[0006] The transducer system can comprise an ultrasound
probe bracket and an ultrasound
probe. The ultrasound probe bracket can include a first sensor, a transceiver,
and a processor. The
fir St sensor can be configured to determine a position of the instrument
guide device by wirelessly
tracking the magnet located in the instrument guide. That is, as the
instrument guide is moved
around a body, the first sensor tracks the magnet to determine the position of
the instrument guide
device. The ultrasound probe bracket further includes a transceiver that is
configured to receive
the position of the instrument guide device from the first sensor, and then
output the position to an
external device (e.g., a computing device). The ultrasound probe bracket can
further include a
cutout sized to allow the instrument guide device to fit within and a member
(e.g., snap features,
protrusions, cutouts, and/or spring-loaded inserts) that allows the instrument
guide device to
removably attach to the ultrasound probe bracket. In some examples, rather
than the cutout, the
ultrasound probe bracket can include a single or pair of protruding features
that provide attachment
to the instrument guide bracket. The ultrasound probe bracket can be sized to
fit around the
ultrasound probe and can be removably attachable to the ultrasound probe. The
ultrasound probe
can generate and send image information to the processor. Then, the processor
can generate
position data using the position of the instrument guide device and/or the
image information_
[0007] In some embodiments, the instrument guide can
include a plurality of instrument guide
inserts having different instrument sizes and/or gauges.
[0008] In some embodiments, the instrument guide can
include a single insert that can be
rotated to different positions to create different apertures sized to
accommodate different
instrument sizes and/or gauges.
[0009] According to some embodiments, the instrument guide
insert can be sized to fit within
the first aperture, wherein the at least one instrument is secured to the
instrument guide insert_
[0010] In some embodiments, a first insert can be
positioned into a second opening of the
instrument guide bracket from an exterior surface of the instrument guide
bracket. Also, the first
insert can be further positioned into the instrument guide along a central
axis such that the
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instrument guide is rotatable along the central axis and that the first insert
induces friction that
causes the instrument guide to maintain its orientation.
[0011] According to some embodiments, the ultrasound probe
bracket is adaptable to fit a
plurality of geometries.
[0012] In some embodiments, in response to movement of the
instrument guidance system,
the instrument guide remains positioned in the same orientation as a first
instrument secured by
the instrument guide.
[0013] In some embodiments, a first instrument is removably
attachable to the instrument
guide when the first instrument is inserted within a second aperture
perpendicular to the instrument
guide's axis of rotation.
[0014] In some embodiments, the instrument guide includes a
rotation lock configured to allow
and prevent rotation of the instrument guide.
[0015] According to some embodiments, the processor of the
ultrasound probe bracket can
determine whether the instrument guide is attached to the instrument guidance
system. Also, the
ultrasound probe bracket can include a second sensor configured to provide
power and disengage
power to the instrument guidance device when the instrument guide is attached
or detached,
respectively. It should be noted that the first sensor can perform all or some
of the functions of
the second sensor and vice versa.
[0016] An exemplary method includes a computing device
receiving imaging data from an
ultrasound device, which the computing device can display. The computing
device can also
communicate with an instrument guide device to receive position data that
indicates an angle of
an instrument attached to the instrument guide device. The computing device is
preprogrammed
with: 1) the physical location of the instrument guide device's axis of
rotation relative to the
imaging surface of the ultrasound transducer; and 2) an algorithm to compute
the pixel distance
on the display corresponding to a physical metric in the ultrasound image
(e.g., centimeters) at any
given imaging depth. Then, the computing device can determine where the
trajectory of the
instrument should lie on the ultrasound image in real-time. The generated
image can then be
displayed on a screen of the computing device, for example, as a graphical
user interface (GUI).
[0017] In some embodiments, the ultrasound device can
receive the position data from the
instrument guide device and can generate the image overlay in a manner similar
or identical to that
disclosed above in reference to the computing device.
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[0018] In some embodiments, the first sensor can be
included in the instrument guide device
rather than in the ultrasound probe bracket. In these embodiments, the
ultrasound probe cover can
include sealed, electrical ports, or contacts to enable electrical connection
between the first sensor
in the instrument guide device and the processor and/or transceiver in the
ultrasound probe bracket,
while maintaining a sterile barrier.
[0019] In some embodiments, the instrument guide device can
be permanently coupled to the
ultrasound probe cover, through methods such as adhesive or thermal bonding,
such that
attachment of the ultrasound probe cover and instrument guide device over/onto
the ultrasound
probe bracket can occur simultaneously.
[0020] According to a first aspect, an instrument guidance
device comprising: A) an
instrument guide device comprising: 1) an instrument guide comprising a first
aperture, a magnet,
and one or more protrusions, wherein the instrument guide is configured to
secure at least one
instrument, and 2) an instrument guide bracket comprising a plurality of
openings located at one
or more side surfaces, wherein the instrument guide bracket is removably
attachable to the
instrument guide when at least a first protrusion from the one or more
protrusions engages with at
least a first opening from the plurality of openings; and B) a transducer
system comprising: 1) an
ultrasound probe bracket comprising: i) a first sensor configured to determine
a position of the
instrument guide device by wirelessly tracking the magnet and configured to
transmit the position
of the instrument guide device, and ii) a transceiver configured to receive
the position of the
instrument guide device from the first sensor and output the position to an
external device, 2) a
processor configured to generate position data based on the position of the
instrument guide device,
3) the ultrasound probe bracket sized to fit the ultrasound probe, wherein the
ultrasound probe
bracket is removably attachable to the ultrasound probe.
[0021] According to a second aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method of
the first aspect or any other aspect, wherein: A) the instrument guide further
comprises an
instrument guide insert that is sized to fit within the first aperture, B) the
instrument guide insert
is sized to accommodate a first instrument having a specific instrument size
in a second aperture
created between the instrument guide insert and the instrument guide, and C)
the instrument guide
insert is configured to turn between an open position and closed position such
that the instrument
guidance device is removable from the first instrument while the first
instrument is inserted in a
portion of a body.
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[0022] According to a third aspect, the instrument guidance
device, system, or method of the
first aspect or any other aspect, further comprising a plurality of instrument
guide inserts, wherein
each of the plurality of instrument guide inserts can accommodate a different
instrument size.
[0023] According to a fourth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method of the
first aspect or any other aspect, further comprising an instrument guide
insert, wherein: A) the
instrument guide insert has a plurality effaces, B) when the instrument guide
insert is rotated, each
of the plurality of faces aligns with an open channel in the instrument guide
to create a closed
channel that is sized to accommodate a specific instrument size, and C) each
of the plurality of
faces of the instrument guide insert corresponds to a different instrument
size, such that the
instrument guide insert can be rotated to select from a set of apertures
depending on a desired
instrument size.
[0024] According to a fifth aspect, the instrument guidance
device, system, or method of the
first aspect or any other aspect, wherein a first insert is insertable into a
second opening of the
instrument guide bracket from an exterior surface of the instrument guide
bracket such that the
first insert intersects with a portion of the instrument guide to lock and/or
induce friction on
rotation of the instrument guide.
[0025] According to a sixth aspect, the instrument guidance
device, system, or method of the
first aspect or any other aspect, wherein a first insert is insertable into a
second opening of the
instrument guide bracket from an exterior surface of the instrument guide
bracket such that when
the first insert is tightened it deforms the instrument guide bracket and
reduces the size of a cutout
in the instrument guide bracket within which at least one protrusion of the
one or more protrusions
rotates.
[0026] According to a seventh aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method of
the first aspect or any other aspect, wherein a second insert is insertable
into the instrument guide
along a central axis such that the instrument guide is rotatable along the
central axis.
[0027] According to an eighth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method of
the first aspect or any other aspect, wherein the ultrasound probe bracket is
adaptable to fit a
plurality of geometries.
[0028] According to a ninth aspect, the instrument guidance
device, system, or method of the
first aspect or any other aspect, wherein in response to movement of the
instrument guidance
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device, the instrument guide remains positioned in the same orientation as a
first instrument
secured by the instrument guide.
[0029] According to a tenth aspect, the instrument guidance
device, system, or method of the
first aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide further
comprises a rotation lock
configured to allow and prevent rotation of the instrument guide.
[0030] According to an eleventh aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method of
the first aspect or any other aspect, wherein: A) the processor is further
configured to determine
whether the instrument guide is attached to the instrument guidance device;
and B) the instrument
guidance device further comprises: 1) a second sensor configured to: i)
provide power to the
instrument guidance device when the instrument guide is attached, and ii)
disengage power to the
instrument guidance device when the instrument guide is detached.
[0031] According to a twelfth aspect, a system for
instrument guidance, the system
comprising: A) a computing device comprising a first processor, a first
transceiver, and a screen;
B) an instrument guidance device comprising an instrument guide device and a
transducer system,
the instrument guidance device configured to: 1) determine, by a first sensor
of the transducer
system, a position of the instrument guide device by wirelessly tracking a
magnet located in the
instrument guide device; 2) receive, by a second transceiver of the transducer
system, the position
of the instrument guide device from the first sensor; 3) generate, by a second
processor of the
transducer system, position data based on the position of the instrument guide
device, the position
data indicating a position with respect to a surface of an attached ultrasound
transducer of an
instrument attached to the instrument guidance device; and 4) send, by the
second transceiver, the
position data to a computing device; C) an ultrasound device configured to: 1)
generate imaging
data representative of a portion of a human body; and 2) send the imaging data
to the computing
device; and D) wherein the computing device is configured to: 1) receive, by
the first
transceiver, the imaging data from the ultrasound device; 2) receive, by the
first transceiver, the
position data from the instrument guidance device; 3) determine, by the first
processor, how
physical space in the imaging data is mapped on a virtual display; 4)
generate, by the first
processor, an image overlay that projects the position data onto the imaging
data, wherein an
instrument trajectory is shown in relation to the imaging data; and 5)
display, by the screen, the
image overlay.
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[0032] According to a thirteenth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the twelfth aspect or
any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide device comprises: A) an
instrument guide
comprising an aperture, a magnet, and one or more protrusions, B) wherein the
instrument guide
is configured to secure at least one instrument; and C) an instrument guide
bracket comprising a
plurality of openings located at one or more side surfaces, wherein the
instrument guide bracket is
removably attachable to the instrument guide when at least a first protrusion
from the one or more
protrusions engages with at least a first opening from the plurality of
openings.
[0033] According to a fourteenth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirteenth aspect
or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide further comprises an
instrument guide insert that
is sized to fit within the aperture, and wherein the at least one instrument
is secured to the
instrument guide insert.
[0034] According to a fifteenth aspect, the system, device,
or method of the fourteenth aspect
or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide insert is adaptable to
accommodate instruments
of different sizes.
[0035] According to a sixteenth aspect, the system, device,
or method of the thirteenth aspect
or any other aspect, wherein an insert is insertable into a second opening of
the instrument guide
bracket from an exterior surface of the instrument guide bracket and the
insert is further insertable
into the instrument guide along a central axis such that the instrument guide
is rotatable along the
central axis.
[0036] According to a seventeenth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirteenth
aspect or any other aspect, wherein in response to movement of the instrument
guidance system,
the instrument guide remains positioned in the same orientation as a first
instrument secured by
the instrument guide.
[0037] According to an eighteenth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirteenth
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the transducer system further comprises:
A) an ultrasound
probe bracket, wherein the first sensor, the second transceiver, and the
second processor are
position with the ultrasound probe bracket; B) a cut-out space configured to
allow the instrument
guide device to removably attach to the ultrasound probe bracket; and C) an
ultrasound probe sized
to fit within the ultrasound probe bracket, wherein the ultrasound probe is
removably attachable to
the ultrasound probe bracket.
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[0038] According to the nineteenth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the eighteenth
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the second processor is configured to
determine whether the
instrument guide is attached to the instrument guidance system, and the
ultrasound probe bracket
further comprises: A) a second sensor configured to: 1) provide power to the
instrument guidance
device when the instrument guide is attached, and 2) disengage power to the
instrument guidance
device when the instrument guide is detached.
[0039] According to a twentieth aspect, a method for real-
time instrument guidance placement
comprising: A) receiving, by a transceiver of a computing device, imaging data
from an ultrasound
probe, the imaging data representative of a portion of a human body; B)
receiving, by the
transceiver, position data from an instrument guide device, the position data
indicating a position
with respect to a surface of an attached ultrasound probe of an instrument
attached to the instrument
guide device; C) determining, by a processor of the computing device, pixel
distance of the
imaging data at a predetermined imaging depth; D) mapping, by the processor, a
physical space in
the imaging data onto a virtual display based on the pixel distance; E)
generating, by the processor,
an image overlay that projects the position data onto the imaging data,
wherein an instrument
trajectory is shown in relation to the imaging data; and F) displaying, by a
screen of the computing
device, the image overlay.
[0040] According to a twenty-first aspect, an instrument
guidance device comprising: A) an
instrument guide device; and B) a transducer system; C) wherein the instrument
guide device
comprises an instrument guide comprising a sensing element and configured to
secure at least one
instrument; and D) wherein the transducer system comprises: 1) a first sensor
configured to: i)
sense positional data of the instrument guide device by wirelessly tracking
the sensing element;
and ii) transmit the positional data of the instrument guide device; 2) a
first transceiver configured
to: i) receive the positional data of the instrument guide device from the
first sensor; and ii) output
instrument position data; and 3) a first processor configured to generate the
instrument position
data based on the positional data of the instrument guide device.
[0041] According to a twenty-second aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or
method of the twenty-first aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument
guide further
comprises: A) a first aperture; B) one or more protrusions; C) an instrument
guide bracket
comprising openings located at one or more side surfaces; and D) a first
instrument guide insert
that is sized to fit within the first aperture; E) wherein the instrument
guide bracket is removably
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attachable to the instrument guide when at least a first protrusion of the one
or more protrusions
engages with at least a first opening of the openings; F) wherein the first
instrument guide insert
is further sized to accommodate a first instrument having a first instrument
size in a second aperture
created between the fast instrument guide insert and the instrument guide; and
G) wherein the first
instrument guide insert is configured to turn between an open position and
closed position such
that the instrument guidance device is removable from the first instrument
while the first
instrument is inserted in a portion of a body.
[0042] According to a twenty-third aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method
of the twenty-second aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide
further comprises a
second instrument guide insert that can accommodate a second instrument size
different than the
first instrument size.
[0043] According to a twenty-fourth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or
method of the twenty-first aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument
guide further
comprises: A) a first aperture; B) one or more protrusions; C) an instrument
guide bracket
comprising openings located at one or more side surfaces; and D) a first
instrument guide insert;
E) wherein the instrument guide bracket is removably attachable to the
instrument guide when at
least a first protrusion of the one or more protrusions engages with at least
a first opening of the
openings; F) wherein the first instrument guide insert has a plurality of
faces; (3) wherein when
the first instrument guide insert is rotated, at least a portion of the
plurality of faces align with an
open channel in the instrument guide to create a closed channel that is sized
to accommodate a
specific instrument size; and H) herein at least a portion of the plurality of
faces of the first
instrument guide insert each correspond to a different instrument size, such
that the first instrument
guide insert can be rotated to select from a set of closed channels depending
on a desired instrument
size.
[0044] According to a twenty-fifth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method
of the twenty-second aspect or any other aspect, further comprising a first
insert insertable into a
second opening of the openings of the instrument guide bracket from an
exterior surface of the
instrument guide bracket such that the first insert intersects with a portion
of the instrument guide
to lock and/or induce friction on rotation of the instrument guide.
[0045] According to a twenty-sixth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method
of the twenty-second aspect or any other aspect, further comprising a first
insert insertable into a
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second opening of the openings of the instrument guide bracket from an
exterior surface of the
instrument guide bracket such that when the first insert is tightened, it
deforms the instrument
guide bracket and reduces the size of a cutout in the instrument guide bracket
within which at least
one protrusion of the one or more protrusions rotates.
[0046] According to a twenty-seventh aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or
method of the twenty-second aspect or any other aspect, further comprising a
second insert
insertable into the instrument guide along a central axis such that the
instrument guide is rotatable
along the central axis.
[0047] According to a twenty-eighth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or
method of the twenty-first aspect or any other aspect, wherein the transducer
system further
comprises: A) an ultrasound probe bracket; and B) an ultrasound probe; C)
wherein the ultrasound
probe bracket is adaptable to fit a plurality of geometries of the ultrasound
probe; and D) wherein
the ultrasound probe bracket is removably attachable to the ultrasound probe.
[0048] According to a twenty-ninth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method
of the twenty-second aspect or any other aspect, wherein in response to
movement of the
instrument guidance device, the instrument guide remains positioned in the
same orientation as the
first instrument secured by the instrument guide.
[0049] According to a thirtieth aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method of
the twenty-second aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide
further comprises a
rotation lock configured to allow and prevent rotation of the instrument
guide.
[0050] According to a thirty-first aspect, the instrument
guidance device, system, or method
of the twenty-eighth aspect or any other aspect, wherein the ultrasound probe
bracket comprises a
second sensor; A) wherein the first processor is further configured to
determine whether the
instrument guide is attached to the instrument guidance device; and B) wherein
the second sensor
is configured to: 1) provide power to the instrument guidance device when the
instrument guide is
attached; and 2) disengage power to the instrument guidance device when the
instrument guide is
detached.
[0051] According to a thirty-second aspect, an instrument
guidance system comprising: A) a
computing device; B) the instrument guidance device of the twenty-first aspect
or any other aspect;
and C) an ultrasound device configured to: 1) generate imaging data
representative of a portion of
a human body; and 2) send the imaging data to the computing device; D) wherein
the computing
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device is configured to: 1) receive, by a second transceiver of the computing
device, the imaging
data from the ultrasound device; 2) receive, by the second transceiver, the
instrument position data
from the first transceiver of the transducer system of the instrument guidance
device; 3) determine,
by a second processor of the computing device, how physical space in the
imaging data is mapped
on a virtual display; 4) generate, by the second processor, an image overlay
that projects the
instrument position data onto the imaging data, wherein an instrument
trajectory is shown in
relation to the imaging data; and 5) display, by a screen of the computing
device, the image overlay.
[0052] According to a thirty-third aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-second
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide further comprises: A)
a first aperture; B)
one or more protrusions; C) an instrument guide bracket comprising openings
located at one or
more side surfaces; D) wherein the instrument guide is configured to secure at
least one instrument;
and E) wherein the instrument guide bracket is removably attachable to the
instrument guide when
at least a first protrusion of the one or more protrusions engages with at
least a first opening of the
openings.
[0053] According to a thirty-fourth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-third
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide further comprises an
instrument guide
insert that is sized to fit within the first aperture; and wherein the at
least one instrument is secured
to the instrument guide insert.
[0054] According to a thirty-fifth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-fourth
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide insert is adaptable
to accommodate
instruments of different sizes.
[0055] According to a thirty-sixth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-third
aspect or any other aspect, further comprising an insert insertable into a
second opening of the
openings of the instrument guide bracket from an exterior surface of the
instrument guide bracket;
and wherein the insert is further insertable into the instrument guide along a
central axis such that
the instrument guide is rotatable along the central axis.
[0056] According to a thirty-seventh aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-third
aspect or any other aspect, wherein in response to movement of the instrument
guidance device,
the instrument guide remains positioned in the same orientation as a first
instrument of the at least
one instrument secured by the instrument guide.
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[0057] According to a thirty-eighth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-third
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the transducer system further comprises:
A) an ultrasound
probe bracket; B) a cut-out space configured to allow the instrument guide
device to removably
attach to the ultrasound probe bracket; and C) an ultrasound probe sized to
fit within the ultrasound
probe bracket; D) wherein the ultrasound probe is removably attachable to the
ultrasound probe
bracket.
[0058] According to a thirty-ninth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the thirty-eighth
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the ultrasound probe bracket comprises a
second sensor
configured to: A) provide power to the instrument guidance device when the
instrument guide is
attached; and B) disengage power to the instrument guidance device when the
instrument guide is
detached; C) wherein the first sensor, the second transceiver, and the second
processor are
positioned within the ultrasound probe bracket; and D) wherein the second
processor is further
configured to determine whether the instrument guide is attached to the
instrument guidance
device.
[0059] According to a fortieth aspect, a method for
instrument guidance using the instrument
guidance system of the thirty-second aspect or any other aspect: A) receiving,
by the second
transceiver of the computing device, the imaging data representative of the
portion of the human
body; B) receiving, by the second transceiver, the instrument position data
from the first
transceiver of the transducer system of the instrument guidance device; C)
determining, by the
second processor of the computing device, pixel distance of the imaging data
at a predetermined
imaging depth; D) mapping, by the second processor, a physical space in the
imaging data onto
the virtual display based on the pixel distance; E) generating, by the second
processor, the image
overlay that projects the instrument position data onto the imaging data,
wherein the instrument
trajectory is shown in relation to the imaging data; and F) displaying, by the
screen of the
computing device, the image overlay.
[0060] According to a forty-first aspect, an instrument
guidance device comprising: A) an
instrument guide device comprising: 1) an instrument guide comprising a first
aperture, a magnet,
and one or more protrusions, wherein an insert is insertable into the first
aperture and creates a
second aperture between the instrument guide and the insert to secure at least
one instrument; and
2) an instrument guide bracket comprising a plurality of openings located at
one or more side
surfaces, wherein the instrument guide bracket is removably attachable to the
instrument guide
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when at least a first protrusion from the one or more protrusions engages with
at least a first
opening from the plurality of openings; and B) a transducer system comprising:
1) an ultrasound
probe bracket comprising: i) a first sensor configured to determine a position
of the instrument
guide device by wirelessly tracking the magnet, wherein the first sensor is
configured to transmit
the position of the instrument guide device; and ii) a second sensor that
monitors a proximity of
the magnet, wherein the second sensor is configured to: a) provide power to
the instrument
guidance device when the instrument guide is attached; and b) disengage power
to the instrument
guidance device when the instrument guide is detached; 2) a transceiver
configured to receive the
position of the instrument guide device from the first sensor and output the
position to an external
device; and 3) a processor configured to generate position data of the
instrument guide device by
using the position from the first sensor.
[0061] According to a forty-second aspect, a system for
instrument guidance, the system
comprising: A) an instrument guidance device, comprising: 1) an instrument
guide comprising a
first aperture, a magnet, and one or more protrusions, wherein an insert is
insertable into the first
aperture and creates a second aperture between the instrument guide and the
insert to secure at
least one instrument; and 2) an instrument guide bracket comprising a
plurality of openings located
at one or more side surfaces, wherein the instrument guide bracket is
removably attachable to the
instrument guide when at least a first protrusion from the one or more
protrusions engages with at
least a first opening from the plurality of openings; and 3) a transducer
system, wherein the
instrument guidance device is configured to: i) determine, by a first sensor
of the transducer
system, a position of the instrument guide device by wirelessly tracking a
magnet located in the
instrument guide device; ii) receive, by a transceiver of the transducer
system, the position of the
instrument guide device from the first sensor; iii) generate, by a processor
of the transducer system,
position data based on the position of the instrument guide device, the
position data indicating a
position with respect to a surface of an ultrasound transducer of an
ultrasound instrument attached
to the instrument guidance device; and iv) send, by the transceiver, the
position data to a computing
device; and 4) the computing device comprising a second processor, a second
transceiver, and a
screen, wherein the computing device is configured to: i) receive, by the
second transceiver,
imaging data from the ultrasound instrument; ii) receive, by the second
transceiver, the position
data from the instrument guidance device; iii) map, by the second processor,
physical space
included in the imaging data to a virtual display; iv) generate, by the second
processor, an image
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overlay that projects the position data onto the imaging data, wherein an
instrument trajectory is
shown in relation to the imaging data; and v) display, by the screen, the
image overlay.
[0062] According to a forty-third aspect, the system,
device, or method of the forty-second
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the processor calculates an instrument
guide orientation.
[0063] According to a forty-fourth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the forty-second
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the position data comprises an instrument
guide orientation.
[0064] According to a forty-fifth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the forty-fourth
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the instrument guide orientation includes
an angle of an
instrument attached to the instrument guide.
[0065] According to a forty-sixth aspect, the system,
device, or method of the forty-second
aspect or any other aspect, wherein the transducer system generates, by the
processor of the
transducer system, position data based on the position of the instrument guide
device and based on
calculating an instrument guide orientation.
[0066] Further features of the disclosed design, and the
advantages offered thereby, are
explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments
illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are indicated by like reference
designators.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0067] Reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings, which are not necessarily
drawn to scale, are incorporated into and constitute a portion of this
disclosure, illustrate various
implementations and aspects of the disclosed technology, and, together with
the description, serve
to explain the principles of the disclosed technology. In the drawings:
[0068] FIG. 1 is an example system for instrument guidance,
in accordance with some
examples of the present disclosure;
[0069] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of an instrument
guidance device, in accordance with
some examples of the present disclosure;
[0070] FIG. 2B is a top view of an instrument guidance
device, in accordance with some
examples of the present disclosure;
[0071] FIG. 2C is a top view of an instrument guide device,
in accordance with some examples
of the present disclosure;
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[0072] FIG. 3A is an isometric view of an ultrasound probe
bracket and an attached instrument
guide device, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure;
[0073] FIG. 313 is an exploded view of an ultrasound probe
bracket, in accordance with some
examples of the present disclosure;
[0074] FIG. 4 is an example timing diagram for instrument
guidance, in accordance with some
examples of the present disclosure; and
[0075] FIG. 5 is an example flow chart of a method for
instrument guidance, in accordance
with some examples of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0076] Some implementations of the disclosed technology
will be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosed technology can be
embodied in many
different forms, however, and should not be construed as limited to the
implementations set forth
herein. The components described hereinafter as making up various elements of
the disclosed
technology are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable
components that would
perform the same or similar functions as components described herein are
intended to be embraced
within the scope of the disclosed electronic devices and methods. Such other
components not
described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, components
developed after
development of the disclosed technology.
[0077] It is also to be understood that the mention of one
or more method steps does not imply
that the methods steps must be performed in a particular order or preclude the
presence of
additional method steps or intervening method steps between the steps
expressly identified.
[0078] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary
embodiments of the disclosed
technology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
disclosed herein.
Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the
drawings to refer
to the same or like parts.
[0079] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary system 100
used for instrument guidance. As
shown, the system 100 includes a computing device 110, an instrument guidance
device 120, and
an ultrasound device 130. The instrument guide device 125 can include a first
aperture, a magnet,
and one or more protrusions. In some examples, rather than the magnet the
instrument guide device
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125 can include a sensing element (e.g., a potentiometer, a feature to engage
with a potentiometer,
an optical sensing element that can be used by an optical sensor, and/or a
capacitive sensing
element that can be used by a capacitive sensor). Further, the sensing element
can be contained in
an instrument guide insert that is attached to the instrument guide device
125. The computing
device 110 can include one or more processors 112, transceiver 114, and
display 116, among other
things. The computing device 110 can communicate with the instrument guidance
device 120
and/or the ultrasound device 130.
[0080] As one skilled in the art would understand, the
ultrasound device 130 can emit high-
frequency sound waves that, when a transducer of the ultrasound device 130 is
placed against a
body, reflect off body structures. The ultrasound device 130 can then receive
the waves and can
use the waves to create imaging data. Here, the ultrasound device 130 can send
the imaging data
in real-time to the computing device 110.
[0081] As shown in FIGs. 2A¨B, the instrument guidance
device 120 can include ultrasound
probe 121, ultrasound probe bracket 122, instrument guide device 125, first
sensor 123A, second
sensor 123B, ultrasound transceiver 124A, and ultrasound processor 124B. The
ultrasound
transceiver 124A can be located in ultrasound probe bracket 122 and can
transmit various data
including position data and a unique identifier for the ultrasound probe 121.
The first sensor 123A
and/or second sensor 1238 can be a magnetoresistive sensor, Hall effect
sensor, magnetic
potentiometer, and/or the like that can be configured to detect a magnetic
field and changes as the
magnetic field is rotated and/or translated.
[0082] Turning to use of the instrument guidance device
120, a user (e.g., a physician) can
place the instrument guidance device 120 near a portion of the body (e.g., the
neck) to approximate
an area to insert an instrument. The instrument guide device 125 of the
instrument guidance device
120 can hold one or more instruments of differing sizes, which can be
attributed to a multi-faceted
block which can rotate beside an open channel to create a closed channel of
variable size (shown
in FIG. 2C). Additionally or alternatively, the instrument guide device 125
can include a plurality
of disposable instrument inserts that are each designed to fit a specific
instrument guide, but each
has a consistent outer geometry to attach. Also, the instrument guide device
125 can include a
single instrument insert that includes a plurality of faces or a single
continuous face that when the
instrument insert is twisted, changes the size of a second aperture created
between the instrument
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insert and the instrument guide device 125, which can allow for different
instrument sizes and/or
gauges to be used. In some examples, the instrument guide device 125 can be a
single disposable
instrument guide that accepts a plurality of instrument sizes. An instrument
inserted into the
instrument guide device 125 can be indirectly and/or removably attached or
attachable to the
ultrasound probe 121.
[0083] As the user moves the instrument guidance device
120, the magnet can change
orientation accordingly; however, the magnet can be in a fixed position in
rotating element of the
instrument guidance device 120, such that the magnet does not change the angle
and/or position
relative to the rotating element. The first sensor 123A can wirelessly track
the magnet, using for
example magnetoresistive properties that rely on the magnetic field, to
determine an orientation
(e.g., angle) and/or position of the instrument guide device 125. Then, the
ultrasound processor
124B can generate position data (e.g., angle and positioning values), which
can be in relation to
the surface of the ultrasound probe 121. More specifically, the first sensor
123A can send a voltage
within a range (e.g., 0-3.3 volts) corresponding to the angle of the magnet to
the ultrasound
processor 124B. The ultrasound processor 124B can convert this voltage to an
integer within a
range (e.g., 0-1023 for a 10-bit analog-to-digital conversion). Using the
transceiver 124A, the
instrument guidance device 120 can send the position data, using for example
Bluetooth
technology, to the computing device 110.
[0084] Furthermore, the second sensor 123B can provide
power to the instrument guidance
device 120 when the instrument guide device 125 is attached. Conversely, the
second sensor 123B
can disengage power to the instrument guidance device 120 when the instrument
guide device 125
is detached.
[0085] Referring to the computing device 110, the computing
device 110 can receive the
imaging data and the position data from the ultrasound device 130 and the
instrument guidance
device 120, respectively_ The computing device 110 can then generate an image
overlay using the
imaging data and the position data. The image overlay can project the position
data onto the
imaging data. Further, the computing device 110 can display the image overlay
on the display 116
of the computing device 110 or in some examples, the computing device 110 can
send the image
overlay to an external device and/or the ultrasound device 130 that displays
the image overlay.
Additionally or alternatively, the computing device 110 can project the image
overlay over a screen
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of the ultrasound device 130, using for example lasers, or by placing a see-
through screen over the
screen of the ultrasound sound device 130. In other words, the position of an
instrument can be
mapped onto the imaging data that shows an image of the body. Thus, in real-
time, for example,
a healthcare professional can see the position of an instrument and a blood
vessel, which can
eliminate errors.
[0086] In some examples, the instrument guidance device 120
may need to be assembled prior
to use. The following embodiment refers to an instrument guide insert that is
used with the
instrument guide device 125 in place of the multi-faceted block (discussed
above). The instrument
guide insert can be positioned over the instrument guide device 125 and
pressed into the first
aperture, which may make a snapping noise when inserted. Next, the instrument
guide device 125
can be attached to an instrument guide bracket that contains holes that the
one or more protrusions
are sized to fit in. Then, ultrasound probe bracket 122 can be attached to the
ultrasound probe 121,
for example, by aligning the ultrasound probe bracket 122 with the ultrasound
probe 121 and
pushing upwards until a clicking/snapping noise is audible and/or a tactile
cue is felt. Additionally
or alternatively, the ultrasound probe 121 can be used to assemble the
ultrasound probe bracket
122 in a pivoting motion. After attachment, an ultrasound probe cover can be
placed over the
ultrasound probe bracket 122 and the ultrasound probe 121. Then, the assembled
instrument guide
device 125 can be attached to the ultrasound probe bracket 122 over the
ultrasound probe cover to
form a sterile barrier. hi some examples, the instalment guide device 125 can
attach to the
ultrasound probe bracket 122 via a magnetic attachment, an adhesive
attachment, a hook-and-loop
strips attachment, and/or the like.
[0087] Referring to the instrument guide insert, the
instrument guide insert can include the one
or more protrusions and/or one or more features that align with the one or
more protrusions and/or
the one or more features on the instrument guide device 125 such that the
instrument guide insert
snaps into pre-defined rotational positions as it is rotated to select
apertures (e.g., a set of apertures)
for different instrument sizes. Also, the instrument guide insert can be
rotated one way to close
the second aperture between the instrument guide insert and the instrument
guide device 125, and
rotated another way to open the second aperture between the instrument guide
insert and the
instrument guide device 125, such that the first instrument (e.g., the needle)
can be removed from
the instrument guidance device 120 in a direction perpendicular to the first
instrument's central
axis. The instrument guide insert and/or the instrument guide device 125 can
include a button
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and/or a lever that can be actuated to open and close the second aperture
created between the
instrument guide insert and instrument guide device 125.
[0088] The ultrasound probe bracket 122 can include top
portion 122A and bottom portion
122B (shown in FIG. 3B) that can be joined together (e.g., snapped into place)
to form the
ultrasound probe bracket 122. In some examples, the ultrasound probe bracket
122 can be opened
about a hinge, fit around the ultrasound probe 121, and then closed together
while maintaining
alignment. In other examples, the ultrasound probe bracket 122 can include a
pin snap fit or a
latch to join members of the ultrasound probe bracket 122. Thus, the
ultrasound probe bracket 122
may fit the geometry of various sized ultrasound probes. Further, the
ultrasound probe bracket
122 can be split into a plurality of pieces (e.g., halves) and/or can be
opened and/or closed around
the ultrasound probe 121.
[0089] FIG. 4 shows a timing diagram of a method 400 for
instrument guidance (e.g., using
system 100). Thus, the method 400 can be performed by the computing device
110, the instrument
guidance device 120, and the ultrasound device 130. Further, each of the
aforementioned devices
may be in communication with one another to perform the method 400.
[0090] At 402, the ultrasound device 130 generates imaging
data, i.e., an ultrasound image of
a portion of a person's body. Then, at 404, the ultrasound device 130 sends
the imaging data to
the computing device 110. Next, at 406, the instrument guidance device 120,
using the first sensor
123A, can determine an angle of the instrument guide device 125 by tracking a
magnet that is
included within the instrument guide device 125. The instrument guidance
device 120 then
generates, at 408, position data based on the angle of the instrument guide
device 125. At 410, the
instrument guidance device 120 sends the position data to the computing device
110. The
computing device can, at 412, compute the pixel distance, for example on the
display 116 or the
ultrasound device 130, corresponding to a physical metric in the ultrasound
image (e.g.,
centimeters) at the present imaging depth.
[0091] Next, at 414, the computing device 110 can compute
how the position data should be
displayed at the present imaging depth given the pixel distance determined at
412. At 416, the
computing device 110 can generate an image overlay that projects the position
data onto the
imaging data, which can be displayed by the computing device 110, at 418. At
420, the computing
device 110 can send the image overlay to the ultrasound device 130 (as shown)
and/or an external
device.
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[0092] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method 500 for
instrument guidance. The method
500 is written from the perspective of the computing device 110 that can
communicate with the
instrument guidance device 120, the ultrasound device 130, and/or an external
device. Using the
method 500 can allow the computing device 110 to provide real-time imaging of
both a patient's
body and an instrument in relation to the patient's body.
[0093] At 505, the computing device 110 can receive imaging
data from the ultrasound device
130. The computing device 110 can also receive position data from the
instrument guidance device
120, at 510. At 515, the computing device 110 can determine pixel distance on
the display
corresponding to a physical metric (e.g., centimeters) in the ultrasound image
at the present
imaging depth. At 520, the computing device 110 can map a physical space in
the imaging data
onto a virtual display based on the pixel distance. Then, at 525, the
computing device 110 can
generate an image overlay that maps the position data (e.g., position of the
needle and a trajectory
of the needle) over the imaging data, such that the position of the instrument
is shown in relation
to the portion of the body being viewed by the ultrasound device 130. At 530,
the computing
device 110 can display the image overlay.
[0094] Throughout the specification and the claims, the
following terms take at least the
meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. The term "or"
is intended to mean an inclusive "or." Further, the terms "a," "an," and "the"
are intended to mean
one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be
directed to a singular form.
[0095] In this description, numerous specific details have
been set forth. It is to be understood,
however, that implementations of the disclosed technology can be practiced
without these specific
details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques
have not been shown
in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.
References to "one
embodiment," "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example embodiment,"
"various
embodiments," "one implementation," "an implementation," "example
implementation," "various
implementations," "some implementations," etc., indicate that the
implementation(s) of the
disclosed technology so described can include a particular feature, structure,
or characteristic, but
not every implementation necessarily includes the particular feature,
structure, or characteristic.
Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one implementation" does not
necessarily refer to the same
implementation, although it can.
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[0096] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use
of the ordinal adjectives "first,"
"second," "third," etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that
different instances of
like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the
objects so described must
be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any
other manner.
[0097] While certain implementations of the disclosed
technology have been described in
connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and
various implementations,
it is to be understood that the disclosed technology is not to be limited to
the disclosed
implementations, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various
modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims. Although
specific terms are
employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not
for purposes of
limitation.
[0098] This written description uses examples to disclose
certain implementations of the
disclosed technology, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to
practice certain implementations of the disclosed technology, including making
and using any
devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable
scope of certain
implementations of the disclosed technology is defined in the claims, and can
include other
examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are
intended to be within the
scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from
the literal language of
the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with
insubstantial differences from the
literal language of the claims.
[0099] From the foregoing, it will be understood that
various aspects of the processes
described herein are software processes that execute on computer systems that
form parts of the
system. Accordingly, it will be understood that various embodiments of the
system described
herein are generally implemented as specially-configured computers including
various computer
hardware components and, in many cases, significant additional features as
compared to
conventional or known computers, processes, or the like, as discussed in
greater detail herein.
Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure also include computer-
readable media for
carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored
thereon. Such
computer-readable media can be any available media which can be accessed by a
computer, or
downloadable through communication networks. By way of example, and not
limitation, such
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computer-readable media can comprise various forms of data storage devices or
media such as
RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical disk storage,
magnetic
disk storage, solid state drives (SSDs) or other data storage devices, any
type of removable non-
volatile memories such as secure digital (SD), flash memory, memory stick,
etc., or any other
medium which can be used to carry or store computer program code in the form
of computer-
executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a
computer.
[00100] When information is transferred or provided over a network or another
communications
connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or
wireless) to a computer,
the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium.
Thus, any such a
connection is properly termed and considered a computer-readable medium.
Combinations of the
above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
Computer-executable
instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a
computer to perform one
specific function or a group of functions.
[00101] Those skilled in the art will understand the features and aspects of a
suitable computing
environment in which aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. Although
not required, some
of the embodiments of the claimed devices, systems, and methods may be
described in the context
of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules or engines, as
described earlier,
being executed by computers in networked environments. Such program modules
are often
reflected and illustrated by flow charts, sequence diagrams, exemplary screen
displays, and other
techniques used by those skilled in the art to communicate how to make and use
such computer
program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,
functions, objects,
components, data structures, application programming interface (API) calls to
other computers
whether local or remote, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement
particular defined data
types, within the computer. Computer-executable instructions, associated data
structures and/or
schemas, and program modules represent examples of the program code for
executing steps of the
processes disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable
instructions or associated
data structures represent examples of corresponding acts for implementing the
functions described
in such steps.
[00102] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the claimed and/or
described systems
and processes may be practiced in network computing environments with many
types of computer
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system configurations, including personal computers, smartphones, tablets,
hand-held devices,
multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer
electronics,
networked PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments
of the claimed
devices, systems, and methods are practiced in distributed computing
environments where tasks
are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either
by hardwired links,
wireless links, or by a combination of hardwired or wireless links) through a
communications
network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be
located in both local
and remote memory storage devices.
[00103] An exemplary system for implementing various aspects of the described
operations,
which is not illustrated, includes a computing device including a processing
unit, a system
memory, and a system bus that couples various system components including the
system memory
to the processing unit. The computer will typically include one or more data
storage devices for
reading data from and writing data to. The data storage devices provide
nonvolatile storage of
computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other
data for the
computer.
[00104] Computer program code that implements the functionality described
herein typically
comprises one or more program modules that may be stored on a data storage
device. This program
code, as is known to those skilled in the art, usually includes an operating
system, one or more
application programs, other program modules, and program data. A user may
enter commands
and information into the computer through keyboard, touch screen, pointing
device, a script
containing computer program code written in a scripting language or other
input devices (not
shown), such as a microphone, etc. These and other input devices are often
connected to the
processing unit through known electrical, optical, or wireless connections.
[00105] The computer that effects many aspects of the described processes will
typically
operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more
remote computers
or data sources, which are described further below. Remote computers may be
another personal
computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common
network node, and
typically include many or all of the elements described above relative to the
main computer system
in which the devices, systems, and methods are embodied. The logical
connections between
computers include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN),
virtual networks
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(WAN or LAN), and wireless LANs (WLAN) that are presented here by way of
example and not
limitation. Such networking environments are conunonplace in office-wide or
enterprise-wide
computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.
[00106] When used in a LAN or WLAN networking environment, a computer system
implementing aspects of the devices, systems, and methods is connected to the
local network
through a network interface or adapter. When used in a WAN or WLAN networking
environment,
the computer may include a modem, a wireless link, or other mechanisms for
establishing
communications over the wide area network, such as the Internet. In a
networked environment,
program modules depicted relative to the computer, or portions thereof, may be
stored in a remote
data storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections
described or shown are
exemplary and other mechanisms of establishing communications over wide area
networks or the
Internet may be used.
[00107] While various aspects have been described in the context of a
preferred embodiment,
additional aspects, features, and processes of the claimed devices, systems,
and methods will be
readily discernible from the description herein, by those of ordinary skill in
the art. Many
embodiments and adaptations of the disclosure and claimed devices, systems,
and methods other
than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications, and
equivalent
arrangements and processes, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by
the disclosure and
the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or
scope of the claims.
Furthermore, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various
processes described and
claimed herein are those considered to be the best mode contemplated for
carrying out the claimed
devices, systems, and methods. It should also be understood that, although
steps of various
processes may be shown and described as being in a preferred sequence or
temporal order, the
steps of any such processes are not limited to being carried out in any
particular sequence or order,
absent a specific indication of such to achieve a particular intended result.
In most cases, the steps
of such processes may be carried out in a variety of different sequences and
orders, while still
falling within the scope of the claimed devices, systems, and methods. In
addition, some steps
may be carried out simultaneously, contemporaneously, or in synchronization
with other steps.
[00108] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the
principles of the
claimed devices, systems, and methods and their practical application so as to
enable others skilled
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in the art to utilize the devices, systems, and methods and various
embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative
embodiments will
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the claimed devices,
systems, and methods
pertain without departing from their spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope
of the claimed
devices, systems, and methods is defined by the appended claims rather than
the foregoing
description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.
CA 03139694 2021-11-26
