Electromagnetic Navigation Antenna With Variable Loop Spacing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for generating electromagnetic field mappings for electromagnetic navigation are laborious, time-consuming, and require expensive equipment, especially when multiple antenna assemblies are needed to achieve accurate determination of sensor location and orientation within the body during medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The design of an antenna assembly with a substrate and multiple planar antennas, each arranged in loops with increasing distances between adjacent pairs, allowing for efficient electromagnetic field radiation and reducing the need for detailed mappings through theoretical computation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exhaustive electromagnetic field mapping measurements are conducted at hundreds of thousands of locations, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of how electromagnetic field mappings are obtained - transitioning from empirical measurement-based mappings to theoretically computed mappings. This allows high-precision field mappings to be generated rapidly through simulation rather than time-consuming physical measurements at hundreds of thousands of locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates theoretical copies of electromagnetic field mappings through computational simulation rather than physical measurements. These computed mappings replicate the necessary field information without requiring actual exhaustive measurement campaigns, significantly reducing time and resource requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antenna assemblies are employed to enable small electromagnetic sensors, then sensor versatility is improved, but device complexity and mapping requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the computational approach to handle multiple antenna assemblies, using theoretical computations that can efficiently process complex multi-antenna configurations without requiring separate exhaustive mappings for each antenna, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal computational framework that handles multiple antenna assemblies and various sensor configurations through a single theoretical mapping approach, making the system adaptable to different sensor sizes and procedural requirements without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If exhaustive electromagnetic field mapping is performed for each antenna assembly instance, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity and manufacturing efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes from measurement-based to computation-based field mapping, allowing theoretical mappings to be generated rapidly for each antenna instance without requiring time-consuming physical measurements, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically improving manufacturing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates theoretical copies of field mappings through computation that can be rapidly produced for each antenna assembly instance, replacing the need for actual physical measurements and enabling high-volume manufacturing while maintaining mapping accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate and efficient electromagnetic navigation without the need for extensive, laborious measurements, allowing for precise location and orientation determination of medical devices within the body, while minimizing equipment costs and procedural time.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna assembly radiates an electromagnetic field throughout the chest of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna assembly for radiating at least one electromagnetic field for electromagnetic navigation and an electromagnetic navigation system including such an antenna assembly are provided. The antenna assembly includes a substrate and a planar antenna including a trace that is deposited on the substrate and arranged in a plurality of loops. Respective distances between adjacent pairs of the loops increase in a direction from an innermost loop to an outermost loop.