System for local error compensation in electromagnetic tracking systems

An EMTS for accurately tracking a medical device through an anatomy comprising:

• an electromagnetic field generator generating an electromagnetic field;
• at least one medical device having an electromagnetic sensor coil in communication with said electromagnetic field generating a position reading;
• an error correction tool generating an error correction function applied to said position reading of said medical device wherein said error correction tool comprises;
• at least three electromagnetic sensors arranged in a known configuration.

A method for local error compensation of metal distortions in tracking medical devices using an EMTS comprising:

• generating an electromagnetic field from at least one electromagnetic field generator having at least a first optical sensor;
• a first platform capable of sustaining medical procedures having at least a second optical sensor;
• a positioning system comprising
• at least one Electromagnetic Tracking System (EMTS) sensor;
• performing a compensation mapping comprising the steps of:
• moving said positioning system to different locations within a desired spatial volume;
• generating a correction function from known positioning of said electromagnetic field generator and said first platform relative to said positioning system;
• wherein said first optical sensor, said second optical sensor and said EMTS sensor are in communication.