Surgical Navigation System with Magnetoresistance Sensors

• US 20100137705A1
• Filed: 11/28/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Jensen, Vernon Thomas, Huber, William H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• 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: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/093 using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors thin magnetic films H01F10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/095 extraordinary magnetoresistance sensors

Abstract

A surgical navigation system having one or more magnetoresistance sensors, where the sensors have the noise and dynamic range appropriate for electromagnetic position and orientation tracking. The surgical navigation system comprising at least one magnetoresistance reference sensor rigidly attached to an anatomical reference of a patient, at least one magnetoresistance sensor attached to at least one device, and at least one processor for determining the position and orientation of the at least one device.

Claims

1. A surgical navigation system comprising:

at least one magnetoresistance reference sensor rigidly attached to an anatomical reference of a patient;

at least one magnetoresistance sensor attached to at least one device; and

at least one processor for determining the position and orientation of the at least one device.

2. The surgical navigation system of claim 1, wherein the magnetoresistance reference sensor comprises an insulating substrate, an alternating pattern of a metal material and a semiconductor material deposited on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a bias magnet material deposited over the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material.

3. The surgical navigation system of claim 1, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor comprises an insulating substrate, an alternating pattern of a metal material and a semiconductor material deposited on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a bias magnet material deposited over the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material.

4. The surgical navigation system of claim 3, wherein the bias magnet material subjects the semiconductor material to a magnetic field.

5. The surgical navigation system of claim 4, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor provides a signal in response to a strength and a direction of the magnetic field.

6. The surgical navigation system of claim 1, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor has an active area of approximately 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm in size.

7. A surgical navigation system comprising:

at least one magnetoresistance reference sensor rigidly attached to an anatomical reference of a patient;

at least one electromagnetic coil sensor attached to at least one device; and

at least one processor for determining the position and orientation of the at least one device.

8. The surgical navigation system of claim 7, wherein the magnetoresistance reference sensor comprises an insulating substrate, an alternating pattern of a metal material and a semiconductor material deposited on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a bias magnet material deposited over the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material.

9. The surgical navigation system of claim 8, wherein the bias magnet material subjects the semiconductor material to a magnetic field.

10. The surgical navigation system of claim 9, wherein the magnetoresistance reference sensor provides a signal in response to a strength and a direction of the magnetic field.

11. The surgical navigation system of claim 8, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor has an active area of approximately 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm in size.

12. A surgical navigation system comprising:

at least one electromagnetic coil sensor rigidly attached to an anatomical reference of a patient;

at least one magnetoresistance sensor attached to at least one device; and

at least one processor for determining the position and orientation of the at least one device.

13. The surgical navigation system of claim 12, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor comprises an insulating substrate, an alternating pattern of a metal material and a semiconductor material deposited on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a bias magnet material deposited over the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material.

14. The surgical navigation system of claim 13, wherein the bias magnet material subjects the semiconductor material to a magnetic field.

15. The surgical navigation system of claim 14, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor provides a signal in response to a strength and a direction of the magnetic field.

16. The surgical navigation system of claim 12, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor has an active area of approximately 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm in size.

17. A surgical navigation system comprising:

at least one magnetoresistance reference sensor attached to an anatomical reference of a patient;

at least one magnetoresistance sensor attached to a first device;

at least one optical sensor attached to a second device; and

at least one processor for determining the position and orientation of the first device and a second device.

18. The surgical navigation system of claim 17, wherein the magnetoresistance reference sensor comprises an insulating substrate, an alternating pattern of a metal material and a semiconductor material deposited on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a bias magnet material deposited over the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material.

19. The surgical navigation system of claim 17, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor comprises an insulating substrate, an alternating pattern of a metal material and a semiconductor material deposited on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a bias magnet material deposited over the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material.