Self-contained electromagnetic tracking unit
Inventors
Ashe, Westley S. • van Wijngaarden, Richard • Wiles, Andrew
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11612086-B2
Publication Date
2023-03-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electromagnetic tracking system includes a magnetic transmitter configured to output magnetic fields, a receiver responsive to the magnetic fields, an electronics assembly having conductive elements that cause distortion to the magnetic fields, and an output mechanism configured to output a position of the receiver relative to the magnetic transmitter, wherein the magnetic transmitter has at least one winding disposed around a hollow ferromagnetic core comprised of conductive material through which current is made to flow by the electronics, wherein the electronics assembly is at least partially contained within the hollow portion of the hollow ferromagnetic core. Methods of manufacturing include shaping walls into a hollow shell to surround an electronics assembly, covering the hollow shell with ferromagnetic material, inserting the wrapped hollow shell into a plastic bobbin, and winding the plastic bobbin with coil wire to produce three orthogonal windings.
Core Innovation
A self-contained electromagnetic tracking unit includes a hollow ferromagnetic-core magnetic transmitter and a receiver responsive to magnetic fields to determine a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter. The magnetic transmitter includes a hollow ferromagnetic core having an empty interior for containing drive electronics, and the ferromagnetic material shields the drive electronics to reduce magnetic field distortion and improve position accuracy.
The magnetic transmitter includes an electronics assembly having conductive elements and at least one winding disposed around a hollow ferromagnetic core. The electronics assembly is at least partially contained within a hollow portion of the hollow ferromagnetic core, and the electronics assembly comprises a flexible circuit contained in the hollow portion.
The flexible circuit is folded to provide structural support to ferromagnetic material while being contained within the hollow portion of the hollow ferromagnetic core. In representative structures, the flexible circuit is folded to provide structural support to a ferromagnetic material while forming a cuboid-like hollow core with a central portion and wall portions.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover 2 inventive features: a magnetic transmitter architecture and an electromagnetic tracking system architecture that uses the transmitter with a receiver. The coverage centers on a hollow ferromagnetic core containing an electronics assembly that includes a folded flexible circuit providing structural support to a transmitter ferromagnetic material, with one or more windings disposed around the hollow core and producing magnetic fields for receiver responsiveness.
Hollow ferromagnetic-core magnetic transmitter with contained electronics assembly and folded flexible circuit structural support
A magnetic transmitter comprising an electronics assembly having conductive elements; at least one winding disposed around a hollow ferromagnetic core; and the electronics assembly at least partially contained within a hollow portion of the hollow ferromagnetic core, wherein the electronics assembly comprises a flexible circuit contained in the hollow portion and folded to provide structural support to a ferromagnetic material of the magnetic transmitter.
Electromagnetic tracking system with magnetic transmitter and receiver responsiveness
An electromagnetic tracking system comprising a magnetic transmitter configured to output magnetic fields, the magnetic transmitter comprising at least one winding disposed around a hollow core and a foldable circuit located within the hollow core, the foldable circuit being folded to provide structural support to a material of the magnetic transmitter; and a receiver responsive to the magnetic fields.
Claim coverage concentrates on a magnetic transmitter in which the electronics assembly is at least partially contained within the hollow portion of a hollow ferromagnetic core, with a flexible or foldable circuit folded to provide structural support to a ferromagnetic or material portion located relative to the windings. The electromagnetic tracking system claim further ties this transmitter to a receiver responsive to the emitted magnetic fields.
Stated Advantages
Reduce magnetic field distortion.
Improve position accuracy.
Documented Applications
Electromagnetic tracking in surgical image-guided procedures, using output magnetic fields from the magnetic transmitter to support receiver position determination.
Electromagnetic tracking in AR/VR and gaming contexts, using orthogonal windings and multiplexing concepts described in the document.
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