Patent ID: 8862200
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a position of a magnetic source coupled to a bone of a patient, the method comprising: (i) measuring a magnetic field generated by the magnetic source with a magnetic sensor array, the magnetic field being defined by a plurality of three-dimensional magnetic flux densities; (ii) generating first data indicative of components of the three-dimensional magnetic flux density of the magnetic source at a plurality of points in space based on the measuring step; (iii) determining an estimated position of the magnetic source; (iv) calculating second data indicative of a theoretical value of the components of the three-dimensional magnetic flux density of the magnetic source based on the estimated position; (v) calculating a difference between the first data and the second data; and (vi) repeating steps (iii)-(v) until the difference between the first data and the second data is less than a predetermined minimum threshold value, wherein calculating second data comprises calculating a theoretical value of an X-component of the three-dimensional magnetic flux density of the magnetic field using the following equation: wherein B