Insertion device positioning guidance system and method

1. A guidance system for positioning a gastroenteral tube comprising:

an electromagnetic field generator configured to be positioned externally to a subject's torso, said electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field covering a treatment area;

a gastroenteral tube comprising an electromagnetic sensor at a distal tip thereof, said electromagnetic sensor configured to sense and/or interfere with the electromagnetic field generated by the field generator;

a plate sensor configured to be positioned within the treatment area in a location defining an orientation of a subject, said plate sensor configured to be positioned independently of the insertion of the gastroenteral tube;

a reference sensor configured to be positioned, within the treatment area, on the subject's torso, the reference sensor configured to define a reference coordinate system representing the position and orientation of the subject's torso relative to said field generator, the reference sensor configured to be positioned independently of the insertion of the gastroenteral tube;

a registration sensor configured to mark at least a first and a second anatomic location relative to the reference coordinate system; and

a processing circuitry configured to:

operate said field generator, read signals obtained from said plate sensor, said reference sensor and said registration sensor, and calculate a position and orientation of said reference sensor and said registration sensor relative to said field generator,

generate a 3D anatomic map representing the torso of the subject and the first and second anatomic locations, and

visualize, on the 3D anatomic map, a position, orientation and/or path of the gastroenteral tube with respect to the first and second anatomic locations, independent of the subject's movement and independent of deviations in the position and/or orientation of said field generator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said reference sensor is configured to be positioned on a side of the patient's torso, such that the 3D anatomic map further depicts a frontal body contour of the subject.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D anatomic map shows a frontal upper view of the subject essentially parallel to said plate sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D anatomic map shows a side view of the subject essentially perpendicular to said plate sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D anatomic map shows an axial view of the subject.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a monitor configured to display the 3D map.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said plate sensor is configured to be positioned under the subject's upper torso and/or neck.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the registration sensor is a stylus configured to be manually operated.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first anatomic location is the suprasternal notch and the second anatomic location is the xiphoid process, and wherein a path display of the gastroenteral tube relative to the first and second anatomic locations is indicative of a successful insertion.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first anatomic location is the suprasternal notch and the second anatomic location is the xiphoid process, and wherein a path display of the gastroenteral tube relative to the first and second anatomic locations is indicative of a successful insertion.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gastroenteral tube is a feeding tube.

12. A method for guiding a gastroenteral tube, the method comprising:

utilizing an external electromagnetic field generator to apply an electromagnetic field to a treatment area;

inserting a gastroenteral tube comprising an electromagnetic sensor on its distal tip;

positioning a plate sensor within the treatment area in a location defining an orientation of a subject, the plate sensor configured to be positioned independently of the insertion of the gastroenteral tube;

positioning a reference sensor within the treatment area, on a subject's torso, wherein the reference sensor defines a reference coordinate system representing the position and orientation of the subject's torso relative to the field generator, the reference sensor configured to be positioned independently of the insertion of the gastroenteral tube;

marking at least a first and a second anatomic location utilizing a registration sensor;

operating said field generator, reading signals obtained from the plate sensor, the reference sensor and the registration sensor;

calculating, utilizing processing circuitry, a position and orientation of the reference coordinate system and the first and second anatomic locations relative to said field generator;

generating a 3D anatomic map representing the torso of the subject and the first and second anatomic locations; and

displaying a position, orientation and/or path of the gastroenteral tube on the 3D anatomic map, with respect to the first and second anatomic locations, independent of the subject's movement and independent of deviations in the position and/or orientation of said field generator.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the reference sensor comprises positioning thereof on a side of the patient's torso, such that the 3D anatomic map further depicts a body contour of the subject.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the 3D anatomic map shows a frontal upper view of the subject essentially parallel to said plate sensor.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the 3D anatomic map shows a side view of the subject essentially perpendicular to said plate sensor.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the 3D anatomic map shows an axial view of the subject.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning of the plate sensor comprises positioning thereof under the subject's upper torso and/or neck.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the registration sensor is a manually operated stylus.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gastroenteral tube is a feeding tube.