Modular reconfigurable magnetic navigation system and method

Abstract

A modular electromagnetic navigation system with reconfigurable magnetic field generating antennas provides improved means for tracking various magnetic wired or wireless sensors with multiple biomedical and industrial applications. Electromagnetic field generating antennas (pods) can be implemented as multilayered printed circuit boards (PCB) with different layers being sufficiently aligned and connected in series for increased magnetic field strength. The pods can be kept separate or implemented on the same PCB as pod assemblies (pads) consisting of spaced apart pods. Different pods and pads can be placed on a side of or around the desired navigation volume allowing creation of arbitrary navigation spaces. Individual pods can also be used as magnetic field sensors or integrated with additional magnetic field sensors allowing localization of the pods in the system to adjust the navigation volume in real time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.