Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Next-Generation Catheter Navigation System

Publication ID: 24-11857276_0010_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Future Evolutions & Paradigm Shifts

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Next-Generation Catheter Navigation System,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857276_0010_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857276_0010_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,276.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

A revolutionary catheter navigation system that leverages augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and hybrid reality to enable real-time, personalized, and collaborative navigation of catheters within a patient's airways.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent's system and method for displaying an alignment CT, while innovative, had limitations in terms of providing real-time visualization and navigation guidance. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing cutting-edge technologies to enhance the navigation experience, improve accuracy, and reduce procedure time.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The next-generation catheter navigation system comprises a wearable device that tracks a clinician's gaze, a computing device that generates a 3D rendering of the patient's airways, and a neural network trained on a dataset of CT scans and catheter navigation paths. The system provides real-time navigation recommendations, personalized to the patient's unique anatomy and target location, and enables collaborative navigation guidance between clinicians and remote experts through a cloud-based platform.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept's use of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and hybrid reality to enable real-time, personalized, and collaborative navigation of catheters within a patient's airways is a significant departure from the original patent's approach. The inventive step lies in the integration of these technologies to provide a more accurate, efficient, and effective navigation experience.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include the use of different types of wearable devices, such as smart glasses or head-mounted displays, or the integration of additional sensors, such as electromagnetic or ultrasound sensors, to enhance navigation accuracy. Variations of the system could also include the use of different machine learning algorithms or neural network architectures to improve navigation recommendations.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The next-generation catheter navigation system has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the areas of interventional pulmonology, cardiology, and neurology. The system's ability to improve navigation accuracy, reduce procedure time, and enhance the overall navigation experience makes it an attractive solution for hospitals, clinics, and medical research institutions.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B34/20
A A61 A61B34/25
A A61 A61B90/37
G G06 G06T15/00
A A61 A61B1/018
A A61 A61B1/2676
A A61 A61B10/02
A A61 A61B2017/00809
A A61 A61B2034/107
A A61 A61B2034/2051
A A61 A61B2034/2055
A A61 A61B2034/2061
A A61 A61B2034/2065
A A61 A61B2034/2068
A A61 A61B2034/2072
A A61 A61B2090/367
A A61 A61B2090/3925
A A61 A61M2025/0166

Field of Art

Medical imaging and interventional navigation systems, specifically focusing on advanced visualization techniques for catheter-based procedures in pulmonary and diagnostic interventions. Requires expertise in medical imaging, computer graphics, 3D rendering, and medical device navigation technologies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or medical imaging specialist with advanced knowledge of CT scanning, 3D visualization techniques, computer-assisted medical navigation systems, and expertise in integrating computational technologies with medical procedural workflows

Obviousness Rationale

A person of ordinary skill would recognize that the PTD represents a predictable technological evolution of the source patent's core navigation system by incorporating emerging technologies like augmented reality, machine learning, and collaborative platforms. The fundamental concept of 3D airway visualization and catheter navigation remains consistent, with the PTD merely applying known computational techniques to enhance the original system's capabilities. The variations represent incremental improvements using standard technological approaches available in medical imaging and navigation domains.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
3D rendering of patient's airways using voxel-based visualization
PTD Variation
Augmented reality overlay of 3D airway rendering onto clinician's real-time view
Obviousness Reasoning
Combining real-time visualization with augmented display is a predictable enhancement using known computer graphics and medical imaging techniques
Source Patent Element
Catheter navigation within patient's airways
PTD Variation
Machine learning-based navigation path prediction using neural networks
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying machine learning to optimize navigation is a standard approach in medical technology for improving procedural accuracy and efficiency
Source Patent Element
Computing device for generating medical imaging views
PTD Variation
Cloud-based collaborative platform enabling remote expert consultation
Obviousness Reasoning
Extending medical imaging systems to support remote collaboration is an obvious technological progression using standard cloud computing and telemedicine infrastructure
Source Patent Element
3D CT scan-based visualization system
PTD Variation
Wearable gaze-tracking device integrated with navigation system
Obviousness Reasoning
Incorporating eye-tracking technology into medical navigation is a predictable design optimization using established human-computer interaction techniques
Source Patent Element
Patient-specific medical imaging visualization
PTD Variation
Hybrid reality system with haptic feedback for enhanced navigation
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding tactile feedback to medical navigation systems represents a straightforward technological enhancement using known sensory augmentation methods
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857276 and the technological context of medical imaging navigation systems, the present publication demonstrates that the claimed variations would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention. The incremental technological enhancements represent predictable applications of known computational techniques to the foundational navigation methodology, thereby rendering potential derivative claims obvious and non-patentable.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,276
TitleSystem and method for displaying an alignment CT
Assignee(s)Covidien LP