Method and apparatus for generating controlled torques on objects particularly objects inside a living body
First Claim
1. A method of generating a controlled torque of a desired direction and magnitude in an object within a body, comprising:
- producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within said body, said magnetic field having a coordinate system;
applying to said object a coil assembly including at least three coils whose axes are of known orientation with respect to each other, and have components in three orthogonal planes;
tracking the orientation of said object with respect to the coordinate system of said external magnetic field;
applying an electrical current and controlling the electrical current through said coils to cause the coil assembly to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with said external magnetic field to produce a torque of said desired direction and magnitude.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating a controlled torque of a desired direction and magnitude in an object within a body, particularly in order to steer the object through the body, such as a catheter through a blood vessel in a living body, by producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within the body, applying to the object a coil assembly including preferably three coils of known orientation with respect to each other, preferably orthogonal to each other, and controlling the electrical current through the coils to cause the coil assembly to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with the external magnetic field to produce a torque of the desired direction and magnitude.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of generating a controlled torque of a desired direction and magnitude in an object within a body, comprising:
-
producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within said body, said magnetic field having a coordinate system;
applying to said object a coil assembly including at least three coils whose axes are of known orientation with respect to each other, and have components in three orthogonal planes;
tracking the orientation of said object with respect to the coordinate system of said external magnetic field;
applying an electrical current and controlling the electrical current through said coils to cause the coil assembly to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with said external magnetic field to produce a torque of said desired direction and magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method of steering a medical device through a passageway within a body, comprising:
-
producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within said body, said magnetic field having a coordinate system;
providing a medical device located within said body;
applying to said medical device at least one coil;
tracking the orientation of said medical device with respect to the coordinate system of said external magnetic field;
applying an electrical current and controlling the electrical current through said coil to cause it to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with said external magnetic field to produce a torque steering said medical device in a desired direction. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
7. Apparatus for generating a controlled torque of a desired direction and magnitude to be applied to an object within a body, comprising:
-
means for producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within said body, said magnetic field having a coordinate system;
an object adapted to be located within said body;
a coil assembly attached to said object and including at least three coils whose axes are of known orientation with respect to each other, and have components in three orthogonal planes;
means for tracking the orientation of said object with respect to the coordinate system of said external magnetic field;
and a drive system for applying controlled electrical current trough said coils to cause the coil assembly to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with said external magnetic field to produce a torque of said desired direction and magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. Apparatus for steering a medical device through a passageway within a body, comprising:
-
a medical device adapted to be located within said body;
means for producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within said body;
at least one coil attached to said medical device;
means for tracking the orientation of said medical device with respect to the coordinate system of said external magnetic field;
and a drive system for applying controlled electrical current through said coil to cause the coil to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with said external magnetic field to produce a torque steering said medical device in a desired direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification