Patent ID: 6185448
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for locating and mapping a catheter in body invasive operations, comprising:a device for creating a directional magnetic field, with the directional magnetic field revolving 360 degrees through a person's body in correspondence to a specific organ in the person's body, said device including:a north pole magnet generator,a south pole magnet generator, with the directional magnetic field being created by both the north and south pole magnetic generators and extending between said north pole magnet generator and said south pole magnet generator,a frame for positioning said north and south pole magnet generators on opposite sides of the person's body in correspondence to the specific organ in the person's body, anda revolving assembly for rotating said north and south pole magnet generators on said first and second opposite sides, respectively, in synchronism and in alignment with each other, in planes substantially transverse to said directional magnetic field such that said directional magnetic field traces a substantially cylindrical path during said rotation;a catheter for insertion into the organ, said catheter including a first sensing group including three sensors facing in mutually orthogonal directions and which detect a strength of said revolving magnetic field;a position detector for detecting an angular position of said directional magnetic field; anda central processing unit for computing and determining a location of said catheter in relation to said organ in response to said detected strength of said revolving magnetic field by said sensors of said first sensing group and the angular position of said directional magnetic field.