Elongated Medical Instrument Magnetization for Precise Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in accurately monitoring the position and orientation of elongated medical instruments during procedures due to difficulties in tracking them in ultrasound images and the complexity of magnetizing such instruments with multiple dipoles, which can be disturbed between manufacture and use.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for processing an elongated medical instrument body by applying targeted processing to localized portions to alter its room temperature magnetic properties, allowing for complex patterns of magnetization, such as localized dipoles or multiple dipoles, using a uniform external magnetic field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If magnetization with multiple dipoles is applied to the elongated body, then measurement precision of position and orientation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated body is divided into multiple local portions, each receiving targeted processing to create distinct magnetic dipole characteristics. This segmentation allows multiple dipoles to be created along the length of the instrument, improving position and orientation monitoring accuracy while using a uniform external magnetic field for processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local portions of the elongated body are given different magnetic properties through targeted processing. Each portion develops unique magnetic characteristics that contribute to the overall multi-dipole pattern, enabling precise spatial monitoring without requiring complex non-uniform processing fields.
2Manufacturing precision
If targeted processing is applied to local portions of the elongated body, then magnetization pattern precision is improved, but processing time and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated body undergoes preliminary targeted processing of local portions before final magnetization. This preliminary action prepares the material structure in specific regions to respond differently to the uniform external magnetic field, ensuring accurate magnetization patterns are achieved efficiently during the subsequent magnetization step.
Solution Approach 2:
The targeted processing modifies physical or chemical parameters of the material in local portions, such as temperature, phase, or magnetic susceptibility. These parameter changes enable the material to develop desired magnetic properties when exposed to the uniform external magnetic field, achieving precise magnetization patterns through controlled material transformation.
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 monitoring of the instrument's position and orientation during medical procedures with improved accuracy and ease of use, while maintaining mechanical integrity and reducing the complexity of magnetization processes.
Implementation Method 1
applying targeted processing to each of one or more local portions of the elongated body to cause a change in a room temperature magnetic property of material in each local portion
Implementation Method 2
applying an external magnetic field to the elongated body, wherein the external magnetic field is applied substantially uniformly to at least a majority of the elongated body
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for processing an elongated body for a medical instrument. In one arrangement, targeted processing is applied to each of one or more local portions of the elongated body to cause a change in a room temperature magnetic property of material in each local portion, thereby causing the one or more local portions to have different room temperature magnetic properties than other portions of the elongated body.