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Method for safely and efficiently navigating magnetic devices in the body

  • US 6,702,804 B1
  • Filed: 10/03/2000
  • Issued: 03/09/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of turning a medical device, having a magnetically responsive element associated with its distal end, at an operating point within an operating region inside a patient'"'"'s body from an initial direction to a desired final direction, through the movement of at least one external source magnet, the method comprising:

  • identifying a series of intermediate directions between the initial direction and the desired final direction, each intermediate direction being substantially in the plane containing the initial direction and the desired final direction;

    determining the magnetic field direction at the operating point that will cause the magnetically responsive element to align with each of series of intermediate directions and the desired final direction;

    successively moving the at least one source magnet to apply the determined magnetic field directions to align the magnetic medical device with each of the series of intermediate directions and the desired final directions.

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