System for determining the position and orientation of a catheter

Claim 2

Electromagnetic field detector located within a catheter, for determining the position and orientation of the catheter according to an electromagnetic field generated in the vicinity of the catheter, the catheter including a distal tip and the distal tip including a proximal side and a distal side, the electromagnetic field detector comprising: a ferromagnetic core having a perforation, said perforation providing communication between a first side of said ferromagnetic core and a second side of said ferromagnetic core, said first side facing said proximal side and said second side facing said distal side; and at least one winding wound around said ferromagnetic core, said at least one winding being coupled with a position and orientation determining system, said at least one winding producing a current according to said electromagnetic field, said position and orientation determining system determining said position and orientation according to said current, wherein said ferromagnetic core increases the sensitivity of said electromagnetic field detector to said electromagnetic field, by increasing a proportionality factor between said current and said electromagnetic field.

Claim 3

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 1 , wherein said perforation provides conveyance of a material through said perforation.

Claim 4

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 2 , wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of: pharmaceutical substance; and cryogenic fluid.

Claim 5

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 1 , wherein said perforation provides conveyance of an element through said perforation.

Claim 6

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 4 , wherein said element is selected from the group consisting of: guidewire; substance delivery lumen; electric conductor; optical conductor; flexible shaft; and medical element.

Claim 7

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 1 , wherein an inner wall of said perforation includes a biocompatible coating.

Claim 8

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 6 , wherein said biocompatible coating is selected from the group consisting of: Parylene; polyimide; Teflon; and drug.

Claim 9

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 6 , wherein said biocompatible coating has a property selected from the group consisting of: hydrophilic; and hydrophobic.

Claim 10

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 1 , wherein an electric shield encompasses said at least one winding.

Claim 11

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 9 , wherein said electric shield is in the form of a foil comprising an electrically conductive material.

Claim 12

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 9 , wherein said electric shield is in the form of a complete cylinder.

Claim 13

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 9 , wherein said electric shield is in the form of a partial cylinder.

Claim 14

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 9 , wherein said electric shield is in the form of an electrically conductive coating.

Claim 15

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one winding is coupled together by at least one electrical conductor.

Claim 16

Electromagnetic field detector located within a catheter, for determining the position and orientation of the catheter according to an electromagnetic field generated in the vicinity of the catheter, the catheter being incorporated with a medical operational device for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic medical operation, the electromagnetic field detector comprising: a ferromagnetic core having at least one adaptive feature for connecting said ferromagnetic core to said medical operational device; a mating feature to be connected to said adaptive feature, said mating feature being incorporated with said medical operational device; and at least one winding wound around said ferromagnetic core, said at least one winding being coupled with a position and orientation determining system, said at least one winding producing a current according to said electromagnetic field, said position and orientation determining system determining said position and orientation according to said current, wherein said ferromagnetic core increases the sensitivity of said electromagnetic field detector to said electromagnetic field, by increasing a proportionality factor between said current and said electromagnetic field.

Claim 17

Electromagnetic field detector located within a catheter, for determining the position and orientation of the catheter according to an electromagnetic field generated in the vicinity of the catheter, the catheter being incorporated with a medical operational device for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic medical operation, the electromagnetic field detector comprising: a ferromagnetic core having at least one adaptive feature for connecting said ferromagnetic core to said medical operational device; a mating feature to be connected to said adaptive feature, said mating feature being incorporated with said medical operational device; and at least one winding wound around said ferromagnetic core, said at least one winding being coupled with a position and orientation determining system, said at least one winding producing a current according to said electromagnetic field, said position and orientation determining system determining said position and orientation according to said current, wherein said ferromagnetic core increases the sensitivity of said electromagnetic field detector to said electromagnetic field, by increasing a proportionality factor between said current and said electromagnetic field.

Claim 18

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 15 , wherein said at least one adaptive feature is in the form of at least one protrusion protruding from said ferromagnetic core, and wherein said mating feature is in the form of at least one cavity, in a size and a shape to fit a respective one of said at least one protrusion.

Claim 19

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one protrusion comprises two protrusions in the form of two spaced apart opposing segments of a circle, thereby forming a notch between said two protrusions, and wherein said mating feature is in the form of a device protrusion, in a size and a shape to fit said notch.

Claim 20

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 15 , wherein said at least one adaptive feature is in the form of a perforation, and wherein said mating feature is in the form of a device protrusion, in a size and a shape to fit at least a portion of said perforation.

Claim 21

The electromagnetic field detector according to claim 15 , wherein said medical operational device is selected from the group consisting of: image detector; intravascular ultrasound device; coherence tomography device; magnetic resonance imaging device; valve; suturinig device; implant; biological marker; radiopaque marker; substance delivery device; diagnostic device; miniature camera; infrared camera; pressure sensor; temperature sensor; pH sensor; valvuloplasty operation device; expansion unit; baloon; stent; balloon expanding stent; ablation unit; laser; cryogenic fluid unit; electric impulse unit; cutting balloon; rotational atherectomy unit; rotablator; directional atherectomy unit; transluminal extraction unit; substance delivery unit; coated stent; drug delivery balloon; and brachytherapy unit.

Claim 22

Position and orientation determining system, for determining the position and orientation of a catheter, the catheter including a distal tip and the distal tip including a proximal side and a distal side, the position and orientation determining system comprising: an electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of said catheter; and an electromagnetic field detector located within said catheter, said electromagnetic field detector comprising: a ferromagnetic core having a perforation, said perforation providing a communication between a first side of said ferromagnetic core and a second side of said ferromagnetic core, said first side facing said proximal side and said second side facing said distal side; and at least one winding wound around said ferromagnetic core, said at least one winding producing a current according to said electromagnetic field, said position and orientation determining system determining said position and orientation according to said current, wherein said ferromagnetic core increases the sensitivity of said electromagnetic field detector to said electromagnetic field, by increasing a proportionality factor between said current and said electromagnetic field.

Claim 23

Position and orientation determining system, for determining the position and orientation of a catheter, the catheter including a distal tip and the distal tip including a proximal side and a distal side, the position and orientation determining system comprising: an electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of said catheter; and an electromagnetic field detector located within said catheter, said electromagnetic field detector comprising: a ferromagnetic core having a perforation, said perforation providing a communication between a first side of said ferromagnetic core and a second side of said ferromagnetic core, said first side facing said proximal side and said second side facing said distal side; and at least one winding wound around said ferromagnetic core, said at least one winding producing a current according to said electromagnetic field, said position and orientation determining system determining said position and orientation according to said current, wherein said ferromagnetic core increases the sensitivity of said electromagnetic field detector to said electromagnetic field, by increasing a proportionality factor between said current and said electromagnetic field.