Patent ID: 8333103

Claim:
A method for calibrating a force measuring probe used in a medical procedure performed on a body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing a probe, comprising an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, a distal tip disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with tissue of the body, a joint comprising a resilient member, which is configured to deform in response to force exerted on the distal tip when the distal tip engages tissue, the joint coupling 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 a first subassembly and a second subassembly, which are disposed within the probe on opposite, respective sides of the joint, wherein the first subassembly and the second subassembly comprise one or more magnetic transducers; and a processor, which is coupled to the probe for applying a current to one of the first subassembly and the second subassembly, thereby causing one of the first subassembly and the second subassembly to generate at least one magnetic field, and which is coupled to receive and process one or more signals output by the other of the first subassembly and the second subassembly responsively to the at least one magnetic field so as to detect changes in a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube, wherein the changes in the position of the distal tip detected by the processor comprise an axial displacement of the distal tip and an angular deflection of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube, and wherein the processor is configured to generate, responsively to the detected changes in the position, an output that is indicative of the force exerted on the distal tip, and a memory having an axial displacement threshold for the joint stored therein; applying force to the distal tip; measuring the axial displacement and the angular deflection of the distal tip; correlating the measured axial displacement and the angular deflection of the distal tip to the applied force at the distal tip and storing the correlation in the memory until reaching the axial displacement threshold; applying force greater than the axial displacement threshold to the distal tip to define a new force value; measuring the position of the distal tip in a plane transverse to the direction of force exerted on the distal tip; correlating the measured position of the distal tip in the plane transverse to the direction of force to the new force value and storing the correlation in the memory until reaching a pre-established upper limit for the new force value.