TECHNOLOGY NEWS: ELECTRONICS
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The six-degrees-of-freedom magnetic sensor fits inside the hollow tube of a 19-gauge biopsy needle.
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A company has succeeded in shrinking the size of a six-degrees-of-freedom magnetic sensor to 0.90 mm diam without sacrificing tracking parameters. The sensor is small enough to comfortably fit inside the hollow tube of a 19-gauge biopsy needle, according to Ascension Technology Corp. (Burlington, VT, USA; www.ascension-tech.com).
The 3D Guidance medSAFE magnetic sensor passively senses pulsed dc magnetic fields generated by cubic or flat transmitters and is available for easy integration and manufacturability by medical OEMs. Its first use is fast, accurate, and unobtrusive tracking of the distal tip of a needle deployed for soft-tissue intervention. Weighing less than 0.1 g, the sensor can rapidly track the needle’s movements in all six degrees of freedom. Besides monitoring needle and guidewire location, the new sensor with imaging software provides immediate feedback of a successful intervention without overreliance on x-rays.
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The performance of the new sensor is unaffected by occlusions, composite materials, or the presence of metals commonly found in healthcare environments such as 300-series stainless steel, titanium, and aluminium. When used with Ascension’s flat transmitter, it overcomes the distorting effects of underlying ferrous steel structures contained in procedural tables and gurneys.
In the past, engineers attempting to miniaturize magnetic sensors typically had to accept a tradeoff in diminished tracking capability of the instrument’s roll angle. This new sensor reportedly overcomes that limitation and allows optimal navigation and guidance of tools with miniscule inner diameters. It is fully integrated with other medSAFE sensors for gating purposes, ensuring that needle placements occur only at opportune times during the organ motion or respiratory cycle.
Focused solely on 3-D tracking technology, Ascension makes 16 tracking products employing four proprietary technologies. The 22-year-old company got its start developing helmet tracking devices for tactical aircraft and simulators before moving on to virtual reality and computer animation. It now offers a line of guidance and navigation devices for use in minimally invasive medical procedures.
