Surgical navigation system with magnetoresistance sensors

• US 8,358,128 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US12/325,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.21, 324/252, 338/32.R, 600/424
• US Class Current: 324/252
• 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 coupled to a navigation interface and rigidly attachable to an anatomical reference of a patient;

at least one magnetoresistance sensor coupled to the navigation interface and attachable to at least one device; and

at least one processor coupled to the navigation interface for determining the position and orientation of the at least one device;

wherein the at least one magnetoresistance reference sensor and the at least one magnetoresistance sensor each comprising;

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 on a surface of the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material; and

wherein the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material is between the insulating substrate and the bias magnet material.

2. The surgical navigation system of claim 1, wherein the bias magnet material subjects the semiconductor material to a magnetic field.

3. The surgical navigation system of claim 2, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor provides a signal in response to a strength and a direction of the magnetic field.

4. 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.

5. 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;

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 substate, and a bias magnet material deposited on a surface of the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material; and

wherein the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material is between the insulating substrate and the bias magnet material.

6. The surgical navigation system of claim 5, wherein the bias magnet material subjects the semiconductor material to a magnetic field.

7. The surgical navigation system of claim 6, wherein the magnetoresistance reference sensor provides a signal in response to a strength and a direction of the magnetic field.

8. The surgical navigation system of claim 7, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor has an active area of approximately 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm in size.

9. 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;

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 on a surface of the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material; and

wherein the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material is between the insulating substrate and the bias magnet material.

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

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

12. The surgical navigation system of claim 9, wherein the magnetoresistance sensor has an active area of approximately 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm in size.

13. A surgical navigation system comprising:

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

at least one magnetoresistance sensor attachable to a first device;

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

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

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 on a surface of the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material, and wherein the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material is between the insulating substrate and the bias magnet material; and

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 on a surface of the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material, and wherein the alternating pattern of the metal material and the semiconductor material is between the insulating substrate and the bias magnet material.