Patent ID: 7873401
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A catheter tip assembly, comprising; a flexible portion proximate to a distal end of a catheter; a rigid portion disposed at said distal end of said catheter and adjacent to said a distal end of said flexible portion; a permanent magnet responsive to an applied magnetic field to move said catheter tip assembly, said permanent magnet disposed in said rigid portion; and a plurality of piezoelectric rings disposed in said relatively rigid portion, said piezoelectric rings responsive to an applied ultrasonic signal, said piezoelectric rings producing data to measure a rotation of a north pole of said permanent magnet, a first piezoelectric ring of said plurality of piezoelectric rings disposed proximate to a distal end of said permanent magnet and a second piezoelectric ring of said plurality of piezoelectric rings disposed proximate to a proximal end of said permanent magnet.