Object location system and method using field actuation sequences having different field strengths
US6211666A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2034/2072
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system of operating a location system to locate objects in space, such as medical instruments (16) within the body of a patient is presented. The method includes cyclically actuating transmitters (10a, 10b, 10c) in a fixed frame of reference for the transmission of magnetic fields to a plurality of sensing units (54a, 54b, 54c). The sensing units detect characteristics of the fields during actuation sequences for determining location. At least one transmitter may be actuated during at least some of the cycles in a plural-value actuation sequence to provide a field with different field strengths during a sequence of plural sensing intervals, and with a progressively varying field strength value during transition intervals between the sensing intervals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.