Magnetic Catheter Interface for Real-Time Field Direction Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter visualization systems provide only one-way information and lack interaction capabilities for precise control, necessitating a method for a user interface that allows practitioners to interact with and control magnetic catheters using external magnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A user interface method and device that acquires subject spatial images, displays the catheter position, and adjusts external magnetic fields in real-time to control the catheter's direction, utilizing a coil system to generate magnetic fields based on calculated currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a visualizing tool is used to display catheter position, then the practitioner can view the internals of the patient, but the system lacks interaction capability for precise control
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays real-time visual feedback of the magnetic catheter's position and orientation overlaid on ultrasound images, and simultaneously provides control feedback by showing the relationship between joystick movement and magnetic field direction changes, enabling precise interactive control
Solution Approach 2:
A joystick serves as an intermediary device between the practitioner and the magnetic catheter, translating physical hand movements into controlled magnetic field direction changes that steer the catheter through body cavities
2Ease of operation
If magnetic field direction is changed to control catheter, then precise control is achieved, but real-time visualization of magnetic field direction is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color-coded graphical elements to represent different aspects of the magnetic field: blue arrows indicate current magnetic field direction, red arrows indicate target direction, and green arrows indicate desired direction, providing intuitive visual information about magnetic field state
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a visual dimension to magnetic field representation by displaying 3D coordinate spaces and directional arrows overlaid on 2D ultrasound images, allowing practitioners to perceive spatial magnetic field information that would otherwise be invisible
3Adaptability or versatility
If coil system is used to generate external magnetic field, then magnetic catheter control is enabled, but accurate calculation of required currents is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores the relationship between desired magnetic field directions and required coil currents, allowing real-time control without complex on-the-fly calculations. The processor retrieves pre-computed current values based on the target direction selected by the practitioner
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 precise control of magnetic catheters by visualizing and interacting with external magnetic fields, allowing accurate calculation of required currents for coil systems to change catheter direction.
Implementation Method 1
a coil system to generate magnetic fields based on calculated currents
Implementation Method 2
controlling a change in a direction of the magnetic catheter by controlling a direction of an external magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a user interface for controlling a magnetic catheter by changing an external magnetic field, including steps of: acquiring a k-th subject spatial image by photographing a subject space from a k-th subject spatial absolute coordinate point, displaying a k-th selection indicating symbol at a k-th subject spatial relative coordinate point, which is a relative coordinate point selected by a user with respect to the k-th subject spatial absolute coordinate point as its origin, displaying a k-th visualized coordinate space to expose a yaw and a pitch of a current direction of the magnetic catheter, and continuously exposing the yaw and the pitch of the current direction of the magnetic catheter as time passes.