# US 10,869,612 B2 · Transducer with magnetic nanowire array > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,612 B2 - Document ID: US10869612B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/396,682 - Filed: 2017-01-01 - Published: 2017-07-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-03 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.; Regents of the University of Minnesota - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc.; Regents of the University of Minnesota - Inventors: Matthew Hein; Daniel J. Foster; David R. Wulfman; Bethanie J. H. Stadler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869612B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/062: {using magnetic field} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - G01R 33/0011: {comprising means, e.g. flux concentrators, flux guides, for guiding or concentrating the magnetic flux, e.g. to the magnetic sensor} - G01R 33/04: using the flux-gate principle - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61B 2562/0223: Magnetic field sensors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A transducer includes a planar coil coupled to a magnetic flux guide. The magnetic flux guide includes an array of nanowires. The transducer could include a plurality of magnetic flux guides and a plurality of planar coils stacked together. The flux guides and planar coils could alternative in the stacked configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A minimally-invasive medical device comprising: a body housing a transducer configured to sense magnetic fields, wherein the transducer includes a first planar coil and a second planar coil both coupled with a first magnetic flux guide that includes an array of nanowires comprising a ferromagnetic metal, the first planar coil is positioned on one side of the first magnetic flux guide and the second planar coil is positioned on an opposite side of the first magnetic flux guide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of magnetic flux guides, which includes the first magnetic flux guide, and a plurality of planar coils, which includes the first and second planar coils, wherein the plurality of magnetic flux guides and planar coils alternate in a stacked configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 2, wherein some of the plurality of planar coils are configured to receive an excitation signal and wherein the other of the plurality of planar coils are configured to sense magnetic fields. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the first planar coil is embedded in the array of nanowires. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a magnetic sensor coupled with the first magnetic flux guide and the first planar coil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 5, wherein the magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistive element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 6, wherein the magnetic sensor is positioned on a first side of the first magnetic flux guide, and wherein the first planar coil is positioned on an opposite side of the first magnetic flux guide as the magnetic sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of planar coils, which include the first and second planar coils, each sandwiched between layers of oxide material to form first and second assemblies, wherein the first magnetic flux guide is sandwiched between the first and second assemblies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic flux guide includes a template comprising one of anodized aluminum, titanium oxide, or a polymer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the array of nanowires comprises nickel-iron. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of transducers positioned within the minimally-invasive medical device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the individual nanowires have an aspect ratio of at least 5. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein nanowires have a diameter of 3-200 nm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the body has a diameter of 300 um 20 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the body is a catheter body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanowires extend lengthwise along a direction perpendicular to a plane along which the first planar coil is coiled. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 16, wherein the nanowires have a shape anisotropy along the direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanowires are arranged to direct magnetic flux towards the first planar coil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The minimally-invasive medical device of claim 1, wherein the body extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the nanowires extend lengthwise along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 20 A minimally-invasive medical device comprising: a body housing a transducer configured to sense magnetic fields, wherein the transducer includes a planar coil coupled with a magnetic flux guide that includes an array of nanowires comprising a ferromagnetic metal, wherein the magnetic flux guide includes a template comprising one of anodized aluminum, titanium oxide, or a polymer.