Patent ID: 8900229

Claim:
A medical probe, comprising: an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end; a distal tip, which is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with a body tissue; a joint, which couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube; and a joint sensor, contained within the probe, for sensing a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube, the joint sensor comprising first and second subassemblies, which are disposed within the probe on opposite, respective sides of the joint and each comprise one or more magnetic transducers, the joint sensor being configured to generate a signal indicative of an axial displacement and an orientation of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube, wherein one of the first and second subassemblies is coupled to be driven by an electrical current to emit at least one magnetic field, and the other of the first and second subassemblies is coupled to output one or more signals in response to the at least one magnetic field, and wherein the signals are indicative of the position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube.