Probe for determining magnetic marker locations
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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Abstract
A probe including a first sensor having a first magnetometer and a first accelerometer and a second sensor having a second magnetometer and a second accelerometer is configured for determining the distance and direction to a marker. The marker may be magnetic and may be surgically inserted into a patient'"'"'s body to mark a specific location. The probe may be used to locate the marker, thus identifying the location. The probe may include a microprocessor that receives an output from the first sensor and an output from the second sensor and determines the distance and direction to the marker.
93 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for determining a distance and direction between a probe and a magnetic marker, the method comprising:
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providing the probe, wherein the probe comprises a first sensor including a first magnetometer having a first range within which a magnetic marker can be detected and a first accelerometer, and a 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification