Magnetically navigable device with associated magnet element

• US 20050062562A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Ries, Gunter
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/732 arranged around the patient, e.g. in a gantry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field

Abstract

A magnetically navigable device has a magnet element with a greater extent in one direction than at right angles thereto. The magnet element is arranged asymmetrically with respect to a central axis of the device which points in the direction in which the magnet element extends. The device may be, for example, a video capsule from medical technology, such as for endoscopy.

Claims

1. A magnetically navigable device having an axis, comprising:

at least one magnet element having a greater extent in a first direction than in a second direction at substantially 90 degrees to the first direction and having a central axis aligned in the first direction, where said at least one magnet element is arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of said magnetically navigable device.

2. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a support structure with an exterior on which said at least one magnet element is arranged.

3. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support structure has a shape at least substantially rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the magnetically navigable device.

4. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one magnet element has a shape of one of a half-shell, a saddle, and a bar.

5. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one magnet element has a transverse dimension no greater than half a longitudinal extent of said at least one magnet element.

6. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one magnet element has a mass between 0.2 times and 4 times that of said magnetically navigable device without said at least one magnet element.

7. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for eddy current damping using shorted conductor loops made of material having good electrical conductivity.

8. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

9. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetically navigable device is an endoscopy video capsule.

10. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

11. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

12. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for eddy current damping using shorted conductor loops made of material having good electrical conductivity.

13. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

14. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for eddy current damping using shorted conductor loops made of material having good electrical conductivity.

15. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one magnet element has a mass between 0.2 times and 4 times that of said magnetically navigable device without said at least one magnet element.

16. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

17. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising means for eddy current damping using shorted conductor loops made of material having good electrical conductivity.

18. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one magnet element has a mass between 0.2 times and 4 times that of said magnetically navigable device without said at least one magnet element.

19. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one magnet element has a transverse dimension no greater than half a longitudinal extent of said at least one magnet element.

20. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

21. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for eddy current damping using shorted conductor loops made of material having good electrical conductivity.

22. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one magnet element has a mass between 0.2 times and 4 times that of said magnetically navigable device without said at least one magnet element.

23. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one magnet element has a transverse dimension no greater than half a longitudinal extent of said at least one magnet element.

24. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one magnet element has a shape of one of a half-shell, a saddle, and a bar.

25. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetically navigable device is a video capsule.

26. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for eddy current damping using shorted conductor loops made of material having good electrical conductivity.

27. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one magnet element has a mass between 0.2 times and 4 times that of said magnetically navigable device without said at least one magnet element.

28. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet element has a transverse dimension no greater than half a longitudinal extent of said at least one magnet element.

29. The magnetically navigable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet element has a shape of one of a half-shell, a saddle, and a bar.