# US 10,441,193 B2 · Distributed location sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,193 B2 - Document ID: US10441193B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/292,773 - Filed: 2016-10-13 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-23 - Assignees: St. Jude Medical International Holding S.à r.l. - Applicants: St. Jude Medical International Holding S.à r.l., Luxembourg, LU - Inventors: Itay M. Kariv - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441193B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/062: {using magnetic field} - A61B 5/06: Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies {; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body of the patient} - A61B 5/065: {Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation} - A61B 5/061: {Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body (A61B1/00158 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/00029: {open} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61B 2090/376: {using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy} - A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A catheter configured for use with a magnetic field-based localization system includes a distributed location sensor that includes a plurality of individual location sensing coils electrically connected in series. The distributed location sensor has an effective magnetic center based on the individual characteristics of each location sensing coil. The effective magnetic center can be located in a space occupied by another structure such as an irrigation fluid delivery tube. The plurality of individual location sensing coils are generally smaller, thereby easing placement, and collectively, when connected in series, output a relatively strong and noise-free signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical device configured for use with a magnetic field-based localization system, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end portion and distal end portion; an element coupled to said distal end portion of said shaft configured to provide at least one of a diagnostic and therapeutic function, said element including a distal portion having a first outside diameter and a proximal portion including a shank having a second outside diameter that is reduced relative to said first outside diameter, said element further including a shoulder extending from a distal end of said shank to said distal portion, said element further having an irrigation passageway formed in a body portion of said shank of said element and wherein said irrigation passageway further includes at least one outlet on an outer surface of said distal portion of said element, and wherein said irrigation passageway further includes an inner surface in said body portion of said shank, said element including a first bore axially extending into said body portion of said shank and having a first inside surface, said element further including a second bore axially extending into said body portion of said shank and having a second inside surface, wherein said first and second inside surfaces are separated by said body portion, said irrigation passageway being separated from said first and second bores by said body portion; and at least first and second location sensing coils being respectively disposed in said first bore and said second bore, said first and second location sensing coils being configured to produce a signal responsive to an applied magnetic field produced by the localization system, and wherein said at least first and second location sensing coils comprise cylindrical coils having a respective coil axis associated with a respective cylindrical axis thereof, and wherein said coil axes are radially offset from a longitudinal axis of said shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 further including a fluid delivery lumen coupled at one end thereof to said element, said lumen being configured to be coupled to an irrigation fluid delivery system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein said shaft has a longitudinal axis, each of said sensing coils having a respective coil axis, wherein at least one of said coil axes is not coincident with said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein said at least first and second location sensing coils are off-central-axis relative to a central longitudinal axis of said shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein said first and second bores are radially offset from said longitudinal axis of said shaft by a substantially equal distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said location sensing coils includes a magnetically-permeable core. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said location sensing coils comprises one of an air-core and a non-magnetically permeable core. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field-based localization system is configured to produce a three-dimensional location defined in a three-dimensional reference coordinate system responsive to said signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1 wherein said first location sensing coil has a first detection characteristic and said second location sensing coil has a second detection characteristic that is different from said first detection characteristic. ### Claim 10 A medical device configured for use with a magnetic field-based localization system, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end portion and distal end portion; an element coupled to said distal end portion of said shaft configured to provide at least one of a diagnostic and therapeutic function, said element including a distal portion having a first outside diameter and a proximal portion including a shank having a second outside diameter that is reduced relative to said first outside diameter, said element further including a shoulder extending from a distal end of said shank to said distal portion, said element further including a first bore axially extending into a body portion of said shank and having a first inside surface, said element further including a second bore axially extending into said body portion of said shank and having a second inside surface, wherein said first and second inside surfaces are separated by said body portion; an obstruction located on or in said shaft selected from the group comprising a fluid delivery lumen, a pull wire lumen, a pull wire, a pull ring, a twisted pair cable, an irrigation passageway, a temperature sensor, and electrical wiring; and at least first and second location sensing coils being respectively disposed in said first bore and said second bore, said first and second location sensing coils being configured to produce a signal responsive to an applied magnetic field produced by the localization system, and wherein said at least first and second location sensing coils comprise cylindrical coils having a respective coil axis associated with a respective cylindrical axis thereof, and wherein said coil axes are radially offset from a longitudinal axis of said shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The medical device of claim 10 wherein said shaft has a longitudinal axis, each of said sensing coils having a respective coil axis, wherein at least one of said coil axes in not coincident with said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The medical device of claim 10 wherein said at least first and second location sensing coils are off-central-axis relative to a central longitudinal axis of said shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The medical device of claim 10 wherein said first and second bores are radially offset from said longitudinal axis of said shaft by a substantially equal distance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The medical device of claim 10 wherein said first and second bores are radially offset from a longitudinal axis of said shaft by unequal distances.