Location pad for neurosurgical procedures
A location pad includes multiple field-generators and a frame. The multiple field-generators are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient organ, so as to measure a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest. The frame is transparent to an X-ray radiation, and is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest.
1. A location pad, comprising:
(a) multiple field-generators, which are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient organ, for measuring a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest;
(b) a frame, which is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest; and
(c) a fixing assembly associated with both the multiple field-generators and the frame, wherein the fixing assembly is configured to allow the multiple field-generators to move to multiple locations of a surface of the frame in order to adjust the size and shape of the region-of-interest.
2. The location pad according to claim 1 , wherein the field-generators comprise at least first and second field-generators, and comprising at least a first electrical cable connected to the first field-generator, and a second electrical cable connected to the second field-generator, and wherein the first and second electrical cables are positioned out of the region-of-interest.
3. The location pad according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a substance selected from a list of substances consisting of carbon and organic polymer.
4. The location pad according to claim 1 , wherein the patient is positioned on a table, and wherein the location pad is configured to be positioned between the patient and the table.
5. The location pad according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the field-generators comprises multiple non-concentric coils.
6. The location pad according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the field-generators comprises multiple concentric coils.
7. A method for producing a location pad, the method comprising:
(a) providing multiple field-generators for generating respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient organ, so as to measure a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest;
(b) utilizing a fixing assembly to adjust the spatial positioning of the multiple field-generators in order to set the size and shape of the region-of-interest; and
(c) fixing the multiple field-generators on a frame at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the field-generators comprise at least first and second field-generators, and comprising connecting a first electrical cable to the first field-generator, and a second electrical cable to the second field-generator, and positioning the first and second electrical cables out of the region-of-interest.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the field-generators comprises multiple non-concentric coils.
10. The method according to claim 9 , and comprising arranging at least two of the non-concentric coils side-by-side in a given plane.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the field-generators comprises multiple concentric coils.
12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the frame comprises a substance selected from a list of substances consisting of carbon and organic polymer.
13. A method, comprising:
(a) positioning a location pad relative to a region-of-interest of a patient, wherein the location pad comprises a frame that fixes multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest;
(b) adjusting the spatial position of the multiple filed-generators utilizing a fixing device of the frame in order to set the size and shape of the region-of-interest;
(c) inserting a medical instrument into the region of interest;
(d) tracking a position of the medical instrument using the field-generators; and
(e) simultaneously with tracking the position, irradiating the region-of-interest with a fluoroscopic imaging system so as to produce an image of the region-of-interest.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein positioning the location pad comprises placing the location pad between the patient and a table on which the patient is positioned.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein tracking the position comprises producing magnetic fields using the field-generators, and tracking the position by applying magnetic position tracking to the produced magnetic fields.
16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the region-of-interest comprises at least a volume of a brain of the patient, and wherein inserting the medical instrument comprises inserting a guidewire for performing a neurosurgical procedure at the region of interest.
17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the location pad comprises a low profile.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the multiple field-generators comprises concentric coils.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a guidewire.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a position tracking sensor.