Method of locating a coil which consists of determining the space occupied by a source coil generating a magnetic field

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means by referring to a reference signal;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second axial line normal to the first one;
• first to eight magnetic field determining sections to determine first to eighth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the space occupied by the magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to eighth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to eighth magnetic field determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means by referring to a reference signal;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second axial line parallel to the first one;
• first to eight magnetic field determining sections to determine first to eighth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the space occupied by the magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to eighth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to eighth magnetic field determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means by referring to a reference signal;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second axial line parallel to the first one;
• ninth to twelfth single axis coils placed around a third axial line parallel to both of the first and second ones;
• first to twelfth magnetic field determining sections to determine first to twelfth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the space occupied by the magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to twelfth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to twelfth magnetic field determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means by referring to a reference signal;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• and
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope, and whose displaying means is to display the insertion state of an endoscope as a 3D image.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radiofrequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radiofrequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second specified axial line different from the first one;
• first to eighth magnetic field determining sections to determine first to eighth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the space occupied by the magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to eighth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to eighth magnetic field determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second axial line normal to the first one;
• first to eighth magnetic field determining sections to determine first to eighth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the space occupied by the magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to eighth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to eighth magnetic field determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second axial line parallel to the first one;
• and
• first to eighth magnetic field determining sections to determine first to eighth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the space occupied by the magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to eighth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to eighth magnetic field determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• and
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second axial line parallel to the first one;
• ninth to twelfth single axis coils placed around a third axial line parallel to both of the first and second axial lines;
• first to twelfth field intensity determining sections for determining the magnetic field intensity of the first to twelfth single axis coils generated by a source coil;
• and
• a source coil space determining section to determine the space occupied by the source coil based on the first to twelfth field intensity data obtained by the first to twelfth field intensity determining sections.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic field generating means to radiate an electromagnetic wave accompanied with a magnetic field in response to a radio-frequency signal;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic wave and to detect the magnetic field signal therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract a specified frequency component from the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signal or the specified frequency component extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signal detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• and
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver a radio-frequency signal to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) a first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope, and whose displaying means is to display the insertion state of an endoscope as a 3D image.

An apparatus used together with an endoscope to detect the insertion state of the endoscope, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of magnetic field generating means to radiate electromagnetic waves accompanied with magnetic fields in response to a plurality of radio-frequency signals;
• a magnetic field detecting means to receive the electromagnetic waves and to detect the magnetic field signals therefrom;
• a frequency extracting means to extract specified frequency components from the signals detected by the magnetic field detecting means;
• an insertion state reconstructing means to reconstruct an insertion state of an endoscope inserted into the body on the basis of the signals or the specified frequency components extracted by the frequency extracting means;
• a displaying means to display the insertion state reconstructed by the insertion state reconstructing means;
• a detected signal transmitting means to transmit the signals detected by the magnetic field detecting means to the foregoing insertion state reconstructing means;
• and
• a radio-frequency delivering means to deliver radio-frequency signals to the magnetic field generating means, wherein one of:
• (a) first set having the magnetic field detecting and detected signal delivering means, and (b) a second set having the magnetic field generating and radio-frequency delivering means is introduced into the insert of the endoscope;
• first to fourth single axis coils placed around a first specified axial line;
• fifth to eighth single axis coils placed around a second specified axial line different from the first one;
• first to eight magnetic field determining sections to determine first to eighth magnetic field intensities generated by the magnetic field generating means;
• and
• a means by which to determine the spaces occupied by the plurality of magnetic field generating means on the basis of first to eighth magnetic field intensity data obtained by the first to eighth magnetic field determining sections.

A coil apparatus for detecting endoscope location, comprising:

• at least one coil of wire having a terminal and placed in an endoscope element to be inserted into a bodily cavity which is used for generating or detecting a magnetic field;
• a signal wire to transmit a signal to the coil;
• a connection section to connect the signal wire with the terminal of the coil;
• and
• a fixing section made of a non-conductive material around which the signal wire connected with the coil wire is wound at least at the connection section for fixation.