Abstract: An imaging system includes an ultrasound probe, and an interventional medical device having a tracking device. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer to generate an ultrasound field-of-view, a tracking field generator to generate an electromagnetic locator field, and a wireless receiver. The interventional medical device has a distal end portion to which the tracking device is mechanically coupled. The tracking device includes a plurality of tracking coils, a wireless transmitter, and a power supply circuit. The plurality of tracking coils interact with the electromagnetic locator field to determine a location within the electromagnetic locator field and to generate tracking data. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the tracking data from the tracking device of the interventional medical device to the wireless receiver of the ultrasound probe. The power supply circuit is configured to supply electrical power to the wireless transmitter of the tracking device.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (14) for use in an ultrasound imaging system (10) is configured to generate both an ultrasound field-of-view volume (26) and an electromagnetic (EM) locator field volume (24). The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound console (12), the ultrasound probe, and an interventional medical device (16). The ultrasound probe includes a probe housing, an ultrasound transducer array mounted to the probe housing and configured to generate the ultrasound field-of-view volume, and an EM locator field generator also mounted to the probe housing and configured to generate the EM locator field volume. The EM locator field volume thus advantageously moves in unison with the ultrasound field-of volume. An external EM locator field generator is not required. A tracking element (22) of the interventional medical device is configured to generate tip location data based on the EM locator field volume. The EM locator field generator may include a plurality of electromagnetic coils.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an ultrasound probe, and an interventional medical device having a tracking device. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer to generate an ultrasound field-of-view, a tracking field generator to generate an electromagnetic locator field, and a wireless receiver. The interventional medical device has a distal end portion to which the tracking device is mechanically coupled. The tracking device includes a plurality of tracking coils, a wireless transmitter, and a power supply circuit. The plurality of tracking coils interact with the electromagnetic locator field to determine a location within the electromagnetic locator field and to generate tracking data. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the tracking data from the tracking device of the interventional medical device to the wireless receiver of the ultrasound probe. The power supply circuit is configured to supply electrical power to the wireless transmitter of the tracking device.