Method and apparatus for correction of multiple EM sensor positions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10016148-B2
Application number	US-52829106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2006
Priority date	Sep 27, 2006
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

In one aspect of the present technique, a method for selecting between a plurality of electromagnetic sensors to correct for one or more field distortions includes, in the presence of an electromagnetic field, acquiring signals representative of the location of a plurality of electromagnetic sensors. The method further includes selecting between the signals from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors based on one or more quality metrics. In another aspect of the present technique, a system for selecting an optimum EM sensor to correct for one or more field distortions includes a plurality of EM sensors and an additional EM sensor for transmitting or receiving signals representative of the location of each of the plurality of EM sensors. The system further includes a controller configured to acquire signals representative of the location of the plurality of EM sensors, and select between the signals from the plurality of EM sensors based on one or more quality metrics.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for selecting between a plurality of electromagnetic sensors to locate a device, comprising:
in the presence of an electromagnetic field, acquiring signals representative of the location of each of a plurality of electromagnetic sensors;
selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors based on one or more quality metrics, each of the sensors emitting signals in response to the electromagnetic field;
determining the location of a device in the electromagnetic field based upon the signals from the selected sensor; and
projecting the device location on an image of a subject in the electromagnetic field and displaying the image and projection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more quality metrics are selected from one or more of a transmitter-to-receiver distance, an electromagnetic field strength, or an electromagnetic field integrity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors comprises using a weighting algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors comprises determining a transmitter-to-receiver distance for each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors comprises comparing the transmitter-to-receiver distance for each of the electromagnetic sensors to the transmitter-to-receiver distance for the remainder of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors comprises comparing the transmitter-to-receiver distance for each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors to a distance threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors comprises determining a field integrity value for each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors comprises determining an electromagnetic field strength at each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining the location of each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors based on the acquired signals.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining a position and orientation of the device based in part on the selection between the plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring the integrity of the electromagnetic field.

12. The method of claim 1 , comprising fixing the plurality of electromagnetic sensors in relation to an imaging system.

13. A system for selecting an optimum electromagnetic sensor to locate a device, comprising:
a plurality of electromagnetic sensors;
an additional electromagnetic sensor configured to generate an electromagnetic field, wherein each of the sensors of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors is configured to emit signals in response to the electromagnetic field;
a controller configured to acquire signals representative of the location of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors, to select between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors based on one or more quality metrics, to determine the location of a device in the electromagnetic field based upon the signals from the selected sensor, and to project the device location on an image of a subject in the electromagnetic field; and
a display to display the image and projection.

14. The system of claim 13 , comprising an imaging system, and wherein the plurality of electromagnetic sensors are fixed in relation to the imaging system.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the additional electromagnetic sensor is fixed in relation to the subject.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more quality metrics are selected from one or more of a transmitter-to-receiver distance, an electromagnetic field strength, or an electromagnetic field integrity.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the location of each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors based on the acquired signals.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to correct the determined location of each of the plurality of electromagnetic sensors for distortions.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position and orientation of the device based in part on the selection between the plurality of electromagnetic sensors.

20. A computer program, stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for selecting an optimum electromagnetic sensor to locate a device, the program constructed and arranged to:
acquire signals representative of the location of each of a plurality of electromagnetic sensors, each of the sensors emitting signals in response to an electromagnetic field;
select between the sensors from the plurality of electromagnetic sensors based on one or more quality metrics;
determine the location of a device in the electromagnetic field based upon the signals from the selected sensor; and
project the device location on an image of a subject in the electromagnetic field and display the image and projection.

Assignees

• Li Dun Alex
• Jensen Vernon Thomas
• Atria Cristian
• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Li Dun Alex
• Jensen Vernon Thomas
• Atria Cristian

Classifications

• A61B2090/397

  electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave · CPC title

• A61B5/06 Primary

  Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies {; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body of the patient} · CPC title

• A61B5/062

  using magnetic field · CPC title

• A61B90/39

  Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers · CPC title

• A61B6/547

  involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device · CPC title