Localized magnetic field generator

• US 10,722,140 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical International Holdings S.a.r.l.
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical International Holding SARL (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Izmirli, Alon, Eichler, Uzi, Korol, Michael, Kor, Kobi, Vaknin, Yuval
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Joanne M
• Application Number:
  US15/323,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20170135602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0436 Shielding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0481 against EM radiation, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/397 electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/063 using impedance measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a magnetic field for tracking of an object (12) can include a localized magnetic field generator (76) that is configured to generate a magnetic field (62¹) and to control the magnetic field (62¹) in an area of interest (38) and configured to control the magnetic field (62¹) in a separate area. The separate area can be displaced from the area of interest (38) and can include a magnetic field-disrupting component (86). The object (12) can be located in the area of interest (38).

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating a magnetic field for tracking of an object, comprising the following:

a localized magnetic field generator that is configured to generate a magnetic field and to control the magnetic field in an area of interest and configured to control the magnetic field in a separate area that includes a magnetic field disrupting component, wherein;

the separate area is displaced from the area of interest, and

the object is located in the area of interest; and

the localized magnetic field generator includes a magnetic field shield disposed beneath a patient examination table, spaced apart from a bottom surface of the patient examination table, and a plurality of magnetic transmitting elements disposed on a first side of the magnetic field shield, the first side of the magnetic field shield facing the patient examination table, wherein the magnetic field shield is configured to be attached to the patient examination table.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-disrupting component moves with respect to the localized magnetic field generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field-disrupting component includes at least one of an x-ray source associated with an x-ray imaging device and a c-arm associated with the x-ray imaging device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized magnetic field generator is configured to decrease a strength of the magnetic field in the separate area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized magnetic field generator is configured to deflect the magnetic field away from the separate area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnetic transmitting elements are configured to generate the magnetic field.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the magnetic field shield is located between the plurality of magnetic transmitting elements and the magnetic field-disrupting component;

the plurality of magnetic transmitting elements are mounted in different locations; and

the plurality of magnetic transmitting elements are mounted in different orientations.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized magnetic field generator is configured to increase a ratio of a strength of a magnetic field located in the area of interest versus a strength of a magnetic field located in the separate area.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the localized magnetic field generator is configured to be placed beneath a patient examination table; and

the area of interest is located on an opposite side of the patient examination table.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized magnetic field generator is a mobile localized magnetic field generator configured to be placed on a patient.

11. An apparatus for generating a magnetic field for tracking of an object, comprising the following:

a localized magnetic field generator that is configured to generate a magnetic field and to control the magnetic field in an area of interest and configured to control the magnetic field in a separate area that includes a magnetic field disrupting component, wherein;

the separate area is displaced from the area of interest, and

the object is located in the area of interest; and

the localized magnetic field generator includes a magnetic field shield disposed beneath a patient examination table, spaced apart from a bottom surface of the patient examination table, and a plurality of magnetic transmitting elements disposed on a first side of the magnetic field shield, the first side of the magnetic field shield facing the patient examination table, wherein the magnetic field shield includes a layer formed of a magnetically permeable material and a layer formed of a conductive material.