Method for contact-free magnetic navigation
In a method and a system for contact-free magnetic navigation of a magnetic body in a work space that is at least partially filled with a fluid, a thickening agent is added to the fluid. The use of a thickening agent as an additive for such a fluid is also described.
1. A system for contact-free magnetic navigation, comprising:
a magnetic body configured for introduction in vivo into a workspace of a living subject that is at least partially filled with a fluid;
a thickening agent added in vivo to said fluid that thickens said fluid to increase a braking effect that said fluid exerts on said magnetic body; and
a magnet system that generates a magnetic field in said fluid thickened by said thickening agent with which said magnetic body interacts to navigate said magnetic body in vivo in said workspace in a contact-free manner.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thickening agent is a biocompatible thickening agent.
3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said biocompatible thickening agent is agar-agar.
4. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said biocompatible thickening agent is gelatin.
5. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said biocompatible thickening agent is a polysaccharide.
6. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said polysaccharide is starch.
7. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said polysaccharide is pectin.
8. A medical apparatus comprising:
a magnetic body comprising a probe, said magnetic body being configured for introduction in vivo into an organ of a patient, said organ being partially filled with fluid, and said probe being configured to implement a medical examination in said organ;
a thickening agent added in vivo to said fluid that thickens said fluid to increase a braking effect that said fluid exerts on said magnetic body; and
a magnetic navigation system that generates a magnetic field in said fluid thickened by said thickening agent that interacts with said magnetic body to navigate said magnetic body in said organ in a contact-free manner.
9. A medical apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said probe is an endoscopy capsule.