Patent ID: 6233476
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
Apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a surgical tool relative to a reference frame, in association with an image, comprising:a magnetic field transmitter, including at least one magnetic field generating element;a detection probe including at least one magnetic field detector;a signal generation module, connected to said at least one magnetic field generating element;a detection processor, connected to said detection probe; andmounting means, for mounting onto said surgical tool,said signal generation module determining a multiple frequency transmit signal and providing said multiple frequency transmit signal to said magnetic field transmitter, said detection processor receiving a detected signal from said detection probe, at least a portion of said detected signal corresponding to said multiple frequency transmitted signal, determining the location and orientation of said detection probe from the power of said at least a portion of said detected signal and indicating the location of said surgical tool within said image.