Tracking system to monitor the position and orientation of a device using magnetic resonance detection of a sample contained within the device
US5271400A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/5617
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tracking system employs magnetic resonance signals to monitor the position and orientation of a device, such as a catheter, within a subject. The device has an MR active sample and a receiver coil which is sensitive to magnetic resonance signals generated by the MR active sample. These signals are detected in the presence of magnetic field gradients and thus have frequencies which are substantially proportional to the location of the coil along the direction of the applied gradient. Signals are detected responsive to sequentially applied mutually orthogonal magnetic gradients to determine the device's position in several dimensions. The position of the device as determined by the tracking system is superimposed upon independently acquired medical diagnostic images. One or more devices can be simultaneously tracked.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.