Method and apparatus for sensing field strength signals to estimate location of a wireless implantable marker
First Claim
1. In a medical system for sensing an excitable leadless marker capable of being implanted in and/or affixed to a body, an apparatus comprising:
- a rigid support member;
multiple electromagnetic field sensors arranged in a locally planar array on the support member; and
multiple sense signal output paths carried by the support member, wherein each sense signal output path is coupled to a single one of the electromagnetic field sensors such that each sense signal output path provides an output signal that represents at least a substantially perpendicular field component from a single one of the field sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an apparatus for use in a system that senses an excitable wireless target capable of being implanted in a body or tissue. The apparatus includes multiple electromagnetic field sensors arranged approximately in a common plane, and multiple sense signal output paths coupled to the sensors. Each one of the sensors and corresponding output paths is configured to provide an output signal representing at least a portion of an electromagnetic field provided by the marker, where the output signal is proportional to a component of the field at the sensor, where that component is substantially perpendicular to the plane. Various other configurations regarding this apparatus, as well as the overall system and methods of exciting and receiving signals from wireless markers, are also disclosed.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. In a medical system for sensing an excitable leadless marker capable of being implanted in and/or affixed to a body, an apparatus comprising:
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a rigid support member;
multiple electromagnetic field sensors arranged in a locally planar array on the support member; and
multiple sense signal output paths carried by the support member, wherein each sense signal output path is coupled to a single one of the electromagnetic field sensors such that each sense signal output path provides an output signal that represents at least a substantially perpendicular field component from a single one of the field sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a medical system for sensing a leadless marker capable of being implanted in and/or affixed to a body, an apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving magnetic flux provided by the leadless marker, wherein the means for receiving includes;
at least four means for sensing magnetic flux, wherein the means for sensing are positioned exterior to the body and generate a set of electrical signals, wherein the means for sensing are arranged in a locally planar array and responsive to magnetic flux normal to the locally planar array, and wherein each electrical signal is substantially proportional to the magnetic flux integrated over an effective area of a single one of the means for sensing magnetic flux; and
at least four means for outputting separate sense signals, wherein each sense signal is substantially proportional to one of the electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. In a system for sensing a wireless marker capable of being implanted in and/or attached to a body, a method comprising:
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exciting the marker to cause it to emit a magnetic field signal;
receiving the emitted magnetic field signal at a locally planar array of magnetic field sensors; and
outputting sense signals to corresponding output channels, wherein each sense signal represents the magnetic field signal received by a single one of the field sensors. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. In a system for energizing a wireless marker to cause the wireless marker to emit a magnetic field signal, and for determining a position of the wireless marker based on the emitted magnetic field signal, wherein the wireless marker is capable of being implanted in and/or affixed to a body, an apparatus for use in the system to receive the emitted magnetic field signal, comprising:
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a support panel;
an array of at least three locally planar magnetic field sensors at least partially carried by the support panel and configured to sense at least substantially normal components of the magnetic field signal at different locations on the support panel; and
three or more active output ports, wherein the active output ports are individually coupled to corresponding magnetic field sensors such that each active output port receives a signal from a single magnetic field sensor and provides an output signal corresponding to one component of the magnetic field signal at the single field sensor. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. In a system for sensing and localizing an excitable wireless marker in or on a human, a sensing system for wirelessly sensing a field emitted by the marker comprising:
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a locally planar support panel; and
a sensor array including at least four field sensors carried by the support panel, the field sensors being at least substantially similar and locally planar relative to each other, and wherein each field sensor is responsive only to at least substantially normal field components relative to the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. In an application for localizing an implantable marker configured to emit a wirelessly transmitted field for measurement from a predetermined sensing distance, a sensing system comprising:
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a support member; and
a plurality of field sensors carried by the support member, the field sensors being at least substantially locally planar relative to one another and responsive to field components normal to individual field sensors, and the field sensors occupy an area having maximum dimension of approximately 100% to 300% of the predetermined sensing distance. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for determining a target location in a patient, comprising:
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a marker having a resonating magnetic circuit configured to wirelessly transmit a field in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal; and
a sensing system comprising (a) a substantially rigid support member and (b) a sensor array including at least four field sensors carried by the support member, and the field sensors being at least a substantially similar and locally planar relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of manufacturing a system for sensing and localizing a wireless marker configured to wirelessly transmit a marker signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal, comprising:
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selecting a sensing distance at which a sensor array is to be positioned from the marker in operation based upon the marker signal; and
providing a sensing system having a support member and a plurality of field sensors carried by the support member, the field sensors being arranged in a locally planar array relative to one another and responsive to magnetic field components at least substantially normal to the field sensors, and the field sensors being arranged in an array having maximum dimension of approximately 100% to 300% of the sensing distance. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A method of manufacturing a system for sensing and localizing a wireless marker configured to wirelessly transmit a marker signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal, comprising:
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selecting a sensing distance at which a sensor array is to be positioned from the marker in operation based upon the marker signal;
providing a sensing system having a support member and a plurality of field sensors carried by the support member, the field sensors being arranged in a locally planar array relative to one another and responsive to field components at least substantially normal to the field sensors, and the field sensors being arranged in an array having maximum dimension of approximately 100% to 300% of the sensing distance; and
providing instructions to position the sensing system apart from the marker in operation by a distance at least approximately equal to the sensing distance.
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Specification