PATENTS
Method And Apparatus For Controlling Catheter Positioning And Orientation
Patent Number: EP 2 142 091 A0
Date Filed: October 16, 2008
Country Filed In: Europe
Product Application: MOSFET Catheter
Description:
A method and apparatus for detecting position and orientation of catheter distal magnetic element end while moving in a patient's heart are described. The apparatus comprising of four sensors, detecting the magnetic field generated by the catheter tip. Each sensor transmits the field magnitude and direction to a detection unit, which filters the signals and removes other field sources, such, as generated by CGCI coils and external medical hardware. The method allows the measurements of magnitude corresponding to the catheter tip distance from the sensor and the orientation of the field showing the magnetic tip orientation. Since the tip's magnetic field is not symmetric, the position and orientation computation technique are not independent of each other. Hence, an iterative calculation is used to converge to a solution.
Field of Use: The MOSFET Catheter was designed to be used in conjunction with the Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) system to provide physicians the ability to guide a catheter through a patient's body using a robotically controlled magnetic guidance system. The catheter greatly improved upon eliminating the issues regarding signal to noise ratio making the MOSFET Catheter much better at being able to generate high-fidelity mapping and imaging. Initial applications for the technology were for the field of Electrophysiology and specifically for the ablation of the heart to treat patients with AFib.