ASSESSMENT OF SUTURE OR STAPLE LINE INTEGRITY AND LOCALIZATION OF POTENTIAL TISSUE DEFECTS ALONG THE SUTURE OR STAPLE LINE

摘要

A method for assessing suture line integrity includes loading a navigationplan into anavigation system, the navigation plan including a planned pathway shown in a3D model,inserting a probe into a patient's airways, the probe including a locationsensor in operativecommunication with the navigation system, registering a sensed location of theprobe withthe planned pathway, and selecting a target in the navigation plan, the targetincluding aproposed suture line. The method further includes presenting a view of the 3Dmodelshowing the planned pathway and indicating the sensed location of the probe,navigating theprobe through the airways of the patient's lungs toward the target, andimaging the proposedsuture line of the target, via the probe, to determine tissue integritysurrounding the proposedsuture line.