Planar Antenna Assembly Design for Electromagnetic Navigation
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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 arranged in loops, where distances between loops increase from the innermost to the outermost loop, allowing for efficient electromagnetic field radiation and reducing the need for detailed mappings through a computer-implemented method that generates theoretical field mappings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple antenna assemblies are employed to enable accurate determination of sensor location and orientation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple planar antennas onto a single substrate to form one integrated antenna assembly. This merging approach maintains the capability to determine multiple degrees of freedom of the sensor while reducing the overall number of separate antenna assemblies required, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using multiple separate antenna assemblies in three-dimensional space to using multiple planar antennas integrated on a two-dimensional substrate. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain measurement precision while reducing device complexity by consolidating components into a single planar structure
2Measurement precision
If exhaustive electromagnetic field mapping is conducted at hundreds of thousands of locations, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs electromagnetic field mapping computations in advance through simulation, storing the results for later use during actual medical procedures. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming exhaustive measurements during the procedure itself, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a theoretical model copy of the electromagnetic field distribution through simulation, which can be used repeatedly without requiring actual physical measurements. This copying approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating the time-consuming nature of exhaustive field mapping during procedures
3Measurement precision
If exhaustive electromagnetic field mapping is performed for each antenna assembly design and instance, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal electromagnetic field model that can be applied to multiple antenna assembly designs and instances. This universal model eliminates the need to perform exhaustive mapping procedures repeatedly for each individual case, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time loss
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 determination of sensor location and orientation while minimizing equipment costs and procedural time.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna assembly radiates an electromagnetic field throughout the chest of the patient
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic sensor that senses the radiated electromagnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of designing an antenna assembly for radiating an electromagnetic field for electromagnetic navigation is provided. Multiple diagonal lines are computed, relative to a coordinate system of a substrate having a boundary, based on a seed rectangle having multiple vertices. Each diagonal line bisects a respective vertex of the seed rectangle, and extends from that vertex to the boundary. For each diagonal line, distances between adjacent pairs of planar antenna vertices to be positioned along the respective diagonal line are determined, and the planar antenna vertices are positioned along the respective diagonal line based on the determined distances. The distances increase in a direction from the respective vertex of the seed rectangle to the boundary. A planar antenna layout is generated by interconnecting the planar antenna vertices by way of respective straight linear portions to form multiple loops that sequentially traverse each of the diagonal lines.