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Method for carrying out a medical procedure using a three-dimensional tracking and imaging system

  • US 6,246,898 B1
  • Filed: 05/08/1998
  • Issued: 06/12/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of performing an in vivo medical procedure on an associated body using a 3-D tracking and imaging system, said method comprising:

  • mounting at least one mobile transducer to a medical instrument;

    mounting a plurality of reference transducers to locations on the body, the plurality of reference transducers being distributed at positions substantially surrounding the body;

    energizing the at least one mobile transducer and the plurality of reference transducers such that at least one respective transducer generates a positional signal and at least another respective transducer detects the positional signal, to measure time-of-flight of the positional signal;

    sequentially varying the energizing of each of the at least one mobile transducer and the plurality of reference transducers according to a duty cycle such that each transducer alternates between transmit and receive modes over the course of the duty cycle;

    generating three-dimensional coordinates of the mobile transducer relative to a reference frame established by the reference transducers; and

    generating a display indicative of a positional path followed by said medical instrument.

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