Magnetic medical devices with changeable magnetic moments and method of navigating magnetic medical devices with changeable magnetic moments
First Claim
1. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the method comprising;
- applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region; and
varying the direction of the navigating field applied to the operating region to change the orientation of the medical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the method includes applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet, and changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region. The magnet moment of the medical device can be created by one or more electromagnet coils, in which case the magnetic moment can be changed by changing the current to the coil. Alternatively, the magnetic moment of the medical device can be created by one or more permanent magnets, in which case the magnetic moment can be changed by mechanically or magnetically manipulating the permanent magnet.
286 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the method comprising;
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applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region; and
varying the direction of the navigating field applied to the operating region to change the orientation of the medical device.
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2. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the medical device including a moveable permanent magnet, the method comprising;
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applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region, the step of changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device comprising moving the permanent magnet relative to the medical device.
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3. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the medical device comprising a moveable permanent magnet, moveable relative to the medical device, and a lock for locking the permanent magnet against movement relative to the medical device;
- the method comprising;
applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region, the step of changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device comprising disengaging the lock to release the magnet;
moving the permanent magnet, and engaging the lock to secure the permanent magnet against movement relative to the medical device.- View Dependent Claims (4)
- the method comprising;
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5. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the medical device comprising a moveable permanent magnet, and a mechanism for moving the permanent magnet relative to the medical device, the method comprising:
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applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region, the step of changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device comprising operating the mechanism to move the permanent magnet relative to the medical device.
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6. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, wherein the medical device comprises a moveable permanent magnet, a mechanism for moving the permanent magnet relative to the medical device, and a lock for locking the permanent magnet against movement relative to the medical device, the method comprising;
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applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region, the step of changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device comprising disengaging the lock to release the magnet, operating the mechanism to move the permanent magnet relative to the medical device; and
engaging the lock to secure the permanent magnet.
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7. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the medical device comprising a moveable permanent magnet and a lock for locking the permanent magnet against movement relative to the medical device, the method comprising;
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applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region, the step of changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device comprising applying an aligning magnetic field to the operating region in a first direction to align the permanent magnet to provide the desired magnetic moment direction, and engaging the lock to secure the permanent magnet. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of navigating a medical device having a changeable magnetic moment within an operating region within a patient, the medical device comprising a moveable permanent magnet, and at least one electromagnetic coil for applying a magnetic field to move the permanent magnet, the method comprising;
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applying a navigating magnetic field to the operating region with an external source magnet;
changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device in a selected direction within the operating region the step of changing the direction of the magnetic moment in the medical device comprising applying an electric current to at least one electromagnetic coil to move the permanent magnet in a desired direction relative to the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of navigating a medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having at least one coil therein, the method comprising:
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establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil in the medical device to create a magnetic moment in the medical device and creating a torque tending to align the magnetic moment of the magnetic medical device with the applied magnetic field; and
varying the direction and/or intensity of the applied magnetic field to orient the medical device.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of navigating a medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having at least one coil therein, the method comprising:
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establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil in the medical device to create a magnetic moment in the medical device and creating a torque tending to align the magnetic moment of the magnetic medical device with the applied magnetic field, the step of selectively energizing the at least one coil comprises applying electrical energy in pulses to the at least one coil in the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of navigating an elongate medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one coil adjacent the distal end, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end of the medical device into the operating region in the patient'"'"'s body;
establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil adjacent the distal end of the elongate medical device to create a magnetic moment at the distal end of the elongate medical device to turn the distal end of the elongate medical device in the desired direction; and
varying the direction and/or intensity of the applied magnetic field to orient the elongate medical device.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of navigating an elongate medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one coil adjacent the distal end, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end of the medical device into the operating region in the patient'"'"'s body;
establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil adjacent the distal end of the elongate medical device to create a magnetic moment at the distal end of the elongate medical device to turn the distal end of the elongate medical device in the desired direction, the step of selectively energizing the least one coil comprising applying electrical energy in pulses to the at least one coil in the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of navigating an elongate medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one coil adjacent the distal end, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end of the medical device into the operating region in the patient'"'"'s body;
establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil adjacent the distal end of the elongate medical device to create a magnetic moment at the distal end of the elongate medical device to turn the distal end of the elongate medical device in the desired direction, by applying electrical energy in pulses to the at least one coil in the medical device to retain the coils below a temperature that is harmful to tissue.
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25. A method of navigating an elongate medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one coil adjacent the distal end, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end of the medical device into the operating region in the patient'"'"'s body;
establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil adjacent the distal end of the elongate medical device to create a magnetic moment at the distal end of the elongate medical device to turn the distal end of the elongate medical device in the desired direction, by applying electrical energy in pulses to the at least one coil in the medical device to retain a temperature below about 45°
C.
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26. A method of navigating an elongate medical device within an operating region in the body of a patient, the medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one coil adjacent the distal end, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end of the medical device into the operating region in the patient'"'"'s body;
establishing a navigating magnetic field in the operating region;
selectively energizing the at least one coil adjacent the distal end of the elongate medical device to create a magnetic moment at the distal end of the elongate medical device to turn the distal end of the elongate medical device in the desired direction, by applying electrical energy in pulses to the at least one coil in the medical device to retain a balance between the heat generated in the coil and the heat conducted from the coil by the flow of body fluids past the coils.
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- 27. An elongate medical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end adapted to be navigated within the body with an externally applied magnetic field, the medical device comprising a permanent magnet body in the distal end of the medical device, the magnetic body being moveable to change the direction of the magnetic moment of the magnetic body relative to the medical device.
Specification