Magnetic flexible catheter tracking system and method using digital magnetometers

1. A method for magnetic tracking of a flexible device, which is a flexible catheter device or another flexible elongated device, said flexible device comprising a tip and a body, the method comprising:

a. receiving by a host server a plurality of sensed values of a local magnetic field, sensed by a respective plurality of digital magnetometers, the digital magnetometers are located along said flexible device, on at least one of said tip and said body of said flexible device, wherein the sensed values are at least partially due to at least one alternating magnetic field generated by at least one magnetic field generator; and

b. calculating by the host server, based on the sensed magnetic field values and source amplitude and frequency of each generated magnetic field, a localization of said flexible device;

wherein said calculating comprises calculating for each digital magnetometer from said plurality of digital magnetometers a three-dimensional position and orientation in relation to said alternating magnetic field;

wherein a plurality of said digital magnetometers are located on a same digital communication bus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host server is included in a controller of the digital magnetometers.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

a. receiving by a host server, from at least one generator of an alternating magnetic field, a momentary phase value of the generated magnetic field; wherein phase data is received from the at least one generator in full rate of a magnetometer located at the at least one generator;

b. associating by the host server between the momentary phase value and at least some of the sensed magnetic field values received from the digital magnetometers; wherein the associating is based on a corresponding clock reading shared among the magnetic field generator, a controller of the digital magnetometers and the host server; and wherein the clock reading is shared by the magnetic field generator or by a clock source shared among the field generator, a controller of the digital magnetometers and the host server; and

c. calculating by the host server, based on the magnetic field values and the associated phase value, a localization of the flexible device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculation incorporates known structural relationships between the digital magnetometers to calculate an estimation of the position, orientation or curve of the flexible device as a whole.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensed values are at least partially due to at least two generated magnetic fields generated by at least two corresponding generators, wherein the at least two generators share the same clock or have synchronized clocks or share a clock source.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least two generated magnetic fields operate at different frequencies.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said calculating comprises imposing a shape constraints of said flexible device on said calculating of said localization of said flexible device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said host server is included in a controller in said flexible catheter device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said digital magnetometers are digital DC magnetometers.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said frequency is lower than 500 Hz.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said frequency is from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz.

12. A system for magnetic tracking of a flexible device, which is a flexible catheter device or another flexible elongated device, the system comprising:

a. at least one generator, each configured to generate an alternating magnetic field;

b. a flexible device comprising:

i. a tip and a body;

ii. a plurality of digital magnetometers, the digital magnetometers are located along said flexible device, on at least one of said tip and said body of said flexible device, each configured to communicate sensed values of a local magnetic field, wherein the sensed values are at least partially due to the generated magnetic field; and

c. a host server configured to:

iii. receive the sensed local magnetic field values from the corresponding digital magnetometers; and

iv. calculate, based on the magnetic field values and the source amplitude and frequency, a localization of said flexible device;

wherein said calculate comprises calculating for each digital magnetometer from said plurality of digital magnetometers a three-dimensional position and orientation in relation to said alternating magnetic field;

wherein a plurality of said digital magnetometers are located on a same digital communication bus.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the host server is included in a controller of the digital magnetometers.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the host server is configured to:

a. receive, from at least one generator of an alternating magnetic field, a momentary phase value of the generated magnetic field;

b. associate by the host server between the momentary phase value and at least some of the sensed magnetic field values received from the digital magnetometers; wherein the associating is based on a corresponding clock source reading shared among the magnetic field generator, a controller of the digital magnetometers and the host server; and

c. calculate by the host server, based on the magnetic field values and the associated phase value, a localization of the flexible device.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises a flexible PCB along the flexible device, wherein the digital magnetometers are located along the flexible PCB.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the flexible PCB is wrapped in a helix manner on a wall of the flexible device.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises a communication bus configured to carry the sensed values data digitally from the plurality of digital magnetometers towards the server.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the communication bus includes up to four wire lines that may carry the sensed values digital data from and provide power to the plurality of digital magnetometers.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one generator comprises one or more of:

a. an internal clock and is configured to share its clock readings with the digital magnetometers and with the host server; and

b. a magnetometer configured to detect phase data.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system includes at least two generators that generate at least two respective magnetic fields that may operate at different frequencies, wherein the at least two generators share the same clock or have synchronized clocks or share a clock source.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one generator comprises at least one permanent magnet and a motor device that rotates the magnet in a determined frequency.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one generator comprises one or more transmitting coils which generate EM fields of different geometry.

23. The system of claim 12 , wherein the device includes a plurality of dipole magnets positioned between the digital magnetometers.

24. The system of claim 12 , wherein the flexible catheter device is wireless.

25. The system of claim 12 , wherein said calculate comprises imposing a shape constraints of said flexible device on said calculated localization of said flexible device.

26. The system of claim 12 , wherein said host server is included in a controller in said flexible catheter device.

27. The system of claim 12 , wherein said digital magnetometers are digital DC magnetometers.

28. The system of claim 12 , wherein said frequency is lower than 500 Hz.

29. The system of claim 12 , wherein said frequency is from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz.

30. The system of claim 12 , wherein said flexible device comprises a plurality of digital IMU sensors.

31. The system of claim 30 , wherein said plurality of digital IMU sensors are located on said tip and along said body of said flexible device.

32. The system of claim 30 , wherein a plurality of said digital IMU sensors are located on a same digital communication bus.

33. The system of claim 30 , wherein said plurality of digital IMU sensors are placed in predefined locations along said flexible device.

34. The system of claim 30 , wherein said plurality of digital IMU sensors are placed at predefined distances between them along said flexible device.

35. The method of claim 1 , wherein said flexible device comprises a plurality of digital IMU sensors.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of digital IMU sensors are located on said tip and along said body of said flexible device.

37. The method of claim 35 , wherein a plurality of said digital IMU sensors are located on a same digital communication bus.

38. The method of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of digital IMU sensors are placed in predefined locations along said flexible device.

39. The method of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of digital IMU sensors are placed at predefined distances between them along said flexible device.

40. The method of claim 1 , wherein, said source amplitude and said frequency of each generated magnetic field are given to said host server.

41. The system of claim 12 , wherein, said source amplitude and said frequency of each generated magnetic field are given to said host server.

42. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises calculating an estimation of a full-curve localization of said flexible device along its length.

43. The system of claim 12 , wherein said host is further configured to calculate an estimation of a full-curve localization of said flexible device along its length.