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Probe for determining magnetic marker locations

  • US 10,188,310 B2
  • Filed: 08/21/2015
  • Issued: 01/29/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a distance and direction between a probe and a magnetic marker, the method comprising:

  • providing the probe, wherein the probe comprisesa first sensor including a first magnetometer having a first range within which a magnetic marker can be detected and a first accelerometer, anda second sensor including a second magnetometer having a second range within which the magnetic marker can be detected and a second accelerometer,wherein the first sensor is separated from the second sensor by a distance that is greater than the first range and the second range such that the magnetic marker can only be detected by one of the first magnetometer and the second magnetometer at a time;

    wherein the probe is configured to determine a position, in three-dimensional space, of the magnetic marker;

    balancing the probe while the probe is positioned away from the magnetic marker such that the magnetic marker is not within the first range of the first magnetometer or the second range of the second magnetometer;

    moving the balanced probe so that the magnetic marker is within the first range of the first magnetometer and not within the second range of the second magnetometer; and

    determining the distance and direction between the probe and the magnetic marker by comparing an output of the first sensor with an output of the second sensor.

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