Guidance system with claviculae position sensors

A method for guiding insertion of a enteral tube into a subject, the method comprising:

• applying an electromagnetic field covering at least part of a subject's torso utilizing an external electromagnetic field generator;
• attaching at least two wired or wirelessly connected reference sensors at a location on the subject's upper torso;
• marking a location of at least a xiphoid process and a point on a side if the subject's torso utilizing a registration sensor;
• calculating a width of the subject's torso based on the location of the xiphoid process and the point on the side of the subject's torso marked by the registration sensor;
• determining a plane defined by signals obtained from the at least two reference sensors, and the xiphoid process marked by the registration sensor;
• calculate a vector N normal to the plane;
• producing a diagram of the subject's upper body indicating the location of the subject's xiphoid process and suprasternal notch, wherein the diagram takes into consideration the calculated width of the subject's torso and the location of one or both of the pair of reference sensors;
• inserting an enteral tube comprising an electromagnetic sensor into the subject;
• and
• determining in real-time, by changes in the strength of the electromagnetic field sensed by the electromagnetic sensor, a location, direction and/or insertion path of a tip of the enteral tube relative to one or both of the pair of reference sensors, and projecting the location, direction and/or insertion path over the diagram, using vector N to determine the projection direction, while taking into consideration relative movement between the at least two reference sensors.

A processing circuitry configured to:

• receive signals from at least two wired or wirelessly connected reference sensors attached to a location on the subject's upper torso and exposed to an electromagnetic field;
• receive indications of a location of at least a xiphoid process and a point on a side of the subject's torso marked by a registration sensor, the registration sensor configured to sense an electromagnetic field generated by a field generator;
• calculate a width of the subject's torso based on the location of the xiphoid process and the point on the side of the subject's torso marked by the registration sensor;
• determine a plane defined by the at least two reference sensors, and the xiphoid process marked by the registration sensor;
• calculate a vector N normal to the plane;
• produce a diagram of the subject's upper body indicating in the location of the subject's xiphoid process and suprasternal notch,
• receive signals from an enteral tube comprising an electromagnetic tip sensor,
• determine in real-time, by changes in the strength of the electromagnetic field sensed by the electromagnetic sensor, a location, direction and/or insertion path of a tip of the enteral tube relative to one or both of the pair of reference sensors, and projecting the location, direction and/or insertion path over the diagram, using vector N to determine the projection direction, while taking into consideration relative movement between the at least two reference sensors.