Magnetic Navigation System with Movable Magnet Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic navigation of medical devices faces challenges in positioning external magnets close enough to patients for a strong magnetic field while accommodating varying patient sizes and other medical equipment, particularly imaging devices, to ensure effective access and operation.
Innovation Solution
The use of at least two movably mounted magnet units with positioners allows for coordinated movement around the operating region, enabling magnets to be positioned close to the patient and adjusted to maintain a magnetic field direction, even when accommodating imaging equipment, using compound permanent magnets with varying magnetization directions and a controller to manage field strength and direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If external magnets are positioned close to the patient to provide a strong magnetic field, then magnetic navigation effectiveness is improved, but interference with medical equipment and personnel access increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet units are mounted on movable supports that allow dynamic repositioning around the operating region. The magnets can be moved closer to the patient when strong magnetic field is needed for navigation, and moved away when imaging equipment needs access or personnel need to approach the patient. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining strong magnetic field and minimizing interference.
2Force
If magnets are made larger to provide sufficient magnetic field strength, then magnetic navigation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic navigation system uses multiple separate magnet units rather than one large magnet. Each magnet unit can be independently positioned and controlled. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the required overall magnetic field strength through coordinated operation of multiple smaller magnets, reducing the complexity and space requirements compared to a single large magnet while maintaining navigational effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If magnets are positioned to accommodate varying patient sizes, then adaptability is improved, but positioning precision and field consistency become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes a controller that receives input about the desired magnetic field direction and operates the positioners to achieve the correct orientation. This feedback control mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying patient sizes and positions while maintaining precise control over magnetic field direction, compensating for the variability introduced by different patient anatomies.
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 allows for a compact, efficient, and flexible magnetic navigation system that minimizes interference with medical equipment and personnel, while maintaining a strong magnetic field for device orientation and alignment, facilitating procedures across different patient sizes and imaging requirements.
Implementation Method 1
external source magnets, either electromagnets, or more recently permanent magnets, to provide a controllable magnetic field in an operating region in a subject to orient a magnetically responsive device
Implementation Method 2
Each magnet unit comprises a magnet and a positioner for changing the position of the magnet, and thus the direction of the magnetic field that the magnet applies to the operating region
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic navigation system for orienting a magnetically responsive device in an operating region in a subject has at least two magnet units and a support for mounting the at least two magnet units for movement relative to the subject, the support supporting the at least two magnet units adjacent the operating region in the subject at locations to apply a magnetic field to the operating region. Each magnet unit includes sing a magnet and a positioner for selectively changing the position of the magnet. The system also includes a control for operating the positioners of each magnet unit to selectively change the positions of the magnets to maintain the magnetic field direction applied to the operating region by the magnets as the locations of the magnet units relative to the operating region change. The system is adapted for implementing a method of navigating according to the present invention in which the magnets in the magnet units are selectively rotated and pivoted to maintain the appropriate magnetic field direction projected by the magnets to maintain the device direction as the magnet units move on the support about the operating region.