Abstract: A control system and method for automatically adjusting the height of an external ventricular drain from a patient. The height of a pole supporting the bag into which the fluid is drained can be varied, increased or decreased, as driven by a motor. A drip chamber and collection bag that receive the fluid from the patient are attached to the height variable pole. An external fluid pressure tube is coupled to the patient at one end and to a pressure sensor at the other. The pressure sensor is coupled to the height variable pole. The system includes a feedback loop that adjusts the height of the external ventricular drain (EVD) to match the height of the patient's head. As the patient's head moves up or down, the variable height pole moves up and down a corresponding distance to maintain the patient's intracranial or intraspinal pressure, and therefore the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage rate, at a preset value.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a portion of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. In some embodiments, the medical instrument includes a needle, a syringe, and a needle-position-tracking element positioned between the needle and the syringe and in fluid communication with both. The needle-position-tracking element includes an electromagnet structure that includes a core, a conductive coil wrapped around the core, and ancillary circuitry configured to pass a current through the conductive coil to thereby generate a magnetic field. A sensor device senses the magnetic field and generates corresponding sensor signals. A control circuit calculates the position of a portion of the medical instrument based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A medical tracking system including a medical trackable structure configured to be inserted in a body of a patient, a control circuit, and a sensor is provided. The medical trackable structure includes a permanent magnet, and a coil arranged adjacent to the permanent magnet. The control circuit is configured to apply an excitation signal to the coil and rotate the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field including harmonics during the rotation, based in part on the excitation signal applied to the coil. The sensor is configured to sense the harmonics included in the magnetic field and to output to the control circuit a sensor signal based on the magnetic field. The control circuit further calculates position information associated with the medical trackable structure within the body of the patient based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. The medical instrument includes an electromagnet structure having an inductor coil wound around a core. A control circuit applies a low frequency excitation signal across the inductor coil. The inductor coil and the core generate a magnetic field. A plurality of sensors sense parameters of the generated magnetic field and produce sensor signals. The control circuit calculates the position of the medical instrument based on the produced sensor signals.

Abstract: A control system and method for automatically adjusting the height of an external ventricular drain from a patient. The height of a pole supporting the bag into which the fluid is drained can be varied, increased or decreased, as driven by a motor. A drip chamber and collection bag that receive the fluid from the patient are attached to the height variable pole. An external fluid pressure tube is coupled to the patient at one end and to a pressure sensor at the other. The pressure sensor is coupled to the height variable pole. The system includes a feedback loop that adjusts the height of the external ventricular drain (EVD) to match the height of the patient's head. As the patient's head moves up or down, the variable height pole moves up and down a corresponding distance to maintain the patient's intracranial or intraspinal pressure, and therefore the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage rate, at a preset value.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a portion of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. In some embodiments, the medical instrument includes a needle, a syringe, and a needle-position-tracking element positioned between the needle and the syringe and in fluid communication with both. The needle-position-tracking element includes an electromagnet structure that includes a core, a conductive coil wrapped around the core, and ancillary circuitry configured to pass a current through the conductive coil to thereby generate a magnetic field. A sensor device senses the magnetic field and generates corresponding sensor signals. A control circuit calculates the position of a portion of the medical instrument based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A medical guidewire includes an electrically conductive core, a polymer tubing that encloses at least a portion of the electrically conductive core, and a trackable electromagnetic element formed in a distal end of the medical guidewire. The trackable electromagnetic element includes a coil. A first end of the coil is electrically coupled to an electrically conductive structure such as a metallic braid in the polymer tubing, and a second end of the coil is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive core.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. The medical instrument includes an electromagnet structure having an inductor coil wound around a core. A control circuit applies a low frequency excitation signal across the inductor coil. The inductor coil and the core generate a magnetic field. A plurality of sensors sense parameters of the generated magnetic field and produce sensor signals. The control circuit calculates the position of the medical instrument based on the produced sensor signals.

Abstract: A multipart connector is employed in a system that tracks a medical device in the human body. The multipart connector includes a first connector portion and a second connector portion wherein the first connector portion pierces a contamination barrier to couple with the second connector portion. The medical device is a trackable structure having an integrated electromagnet circuit. The trackable structure is arranged to controllably produce a magnetic field. An interface is provided in the system to produce a positional representation of the trackable structure when the trackable structure is placed and moved within the human body. A magnetic field sensing device drives the integrated electromagnet circuit of the trackable structure tracks medical device and provides position information to the interface. The multipart connector electrically couples the magnetic field sensing device to the trackable structure.

Abstract: An electronic sensor device test fixture includes an electronic sensor device receiving mechanism arranged to receive an electronic sensor device. The electronic sensor device test fixture also includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils removably or permanently arranged in known positions relative to the electronic sensor device receiving mechanism.