Systems and methods employing a small guage steerable catheter (30)
including a locatable guide (32) with a sheath (40), particularly as an
enhancement to a bronchoscope (14). A typical procedure is as follows.
The location of a target in a reference coordinate system is detected or
imported. The catheter (30) is navigated to the target which tracking the
distal tip (34) of the guide (32) in the reference coordinate system.
Insertion of the catheter is typically via a working channel of a
convention bronchoscope. Once the tip of the catheter is positioned at
the target, the guide (32) is withdrawn, leaving the sheath (40) secured
in place. The sheath (40) is then used as a guide channel to direct a
medical tool to target.