Patent · US Active

Electromagnetic tracking method and apparatus for compensation of metal artifacts using modular arrays of reference sensors

US7902816B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
5References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 2006
Grant dateMar 8, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 28, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2562/164
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electromagnetic tracking method includes generating an electromagnetic field (14) in a region of interest (16). The electromagnetic field is subject to distortion in response to a presence of metal artifacts proximate the electromagnetic field. An array of reference sensors (30,50,102,104,110) having a predefined known configuration are disposed proximate the region of interest. A first set of locations of the array of reference sensors is determined with respect to the electromagnetic field generator (12) in response to an excitation of one or more of the reference sensors via the electromagnetic field. A second mechanism (28), other than the electromagnetic field, determines a first portion of a second set of locations of at least one or more sensors of the array of reference sensors with respect to the second mechanism, the second mechanism being in a known spatial relationship with the electromagnetic field generator. A remainder portion of the second set of locations of the reference sensors of the array of reference sensors is determined in response to (i) the first portion of the second set of locations determined using the second mechanism and (ii) the predefined known c…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.