Catheter PCB Ultrasound Array and Magnetic Sensor Coordinate Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical probes face challenges in accurately calibrating ultrasound arrays and location sensors for reliable intracardiac imaging, particularly in terms of coordinate registration and alignment within the body.
Innovation Solution
A medical probe with a flexible substrate-mounted 2D ultrasound transducer array and integral magnetic location sensor, calibrated using a jig with acoustic targets and magnetic-field generators, allowing for precise registration and alignment of the ultrasound and magnetic coordinate systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid mechanical framework is used for calibration with separate mounting of sensors and ultrasound arrays, then the calibration apparatus is stable and reproducible, but the device complexity and difficulty of coordinate registration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the magnetic location sensor and ultrasound transducer array onto a single flexible substrate, eliminating the need for separate mounting and calibration of independent components. This integration reduces the calibration apparatus complexity while maintaining reliability through unified coordinate systems inherent to the shared substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for both the magnetic sensor and ultrasound array, enables flexible positioning within the catheter, and establishes a common reference frame for both sensing modalities, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate calibration procedures are performed for magnetic sensors and ultrasound arrays, then each component can be calibrated independently, but the time required for complete calibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating both sensors on the same substrate, the calibration process is merged into a single procedure that simultaneously calibrates both magnetic and ultrasound components relative to the shared substrate coordinate system, eliminating the need for sequential independent calibration steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate provides a pre-established common reference frame before calibration begins, eliminating the need to perform separate coordinate transformations and registrations during calibration, thereby reducing total calibration time while maintaining independent calibration capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If magnetic sensors and ultrasound arrays are mounted on different substrates, then each substrate can be optimized for its specific sensor requirements, but the coordinate registration accuracy between sensors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Both magnetic sensors and ultrasound arrays are mounted on the same flexible substrate, which provides a unified mechanical reference frame. This ensures that both sensors share identical coordinate system origins and orientations, maximizing coordinate registration accuracy while the substrate can still be optimized for both sensor types through integrated design.
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
Enables highly accurate registration and calibration of ultrasound and magnetic sensors, facilitating reliable 3D or 4D intracardiac imaging with improved spatial coordinate determination.
Implementation Method 1
multiple magnetic-field generators, configured to generate a magnetic field in a vicinity of the magnetic position sensor
Implementation Method 2
an array of ultrasound transducers that emit an ultrasonic beam and receive reflected ultrasound waves in response to the ultrasound beam
Data Source
AI summary
A medical probe includes a shaft and a distal-end assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a body. The distal-end assembly is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The distal-end assembly includes (a) a substrate, (b) a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound transducer array located on the substrate, and (c) a sensor, which is also located on the substrate, the sensor configured to output signals indicative of a position and an orientation of the 2D ultrasound transducer array inside the organ.