Electromagnetic field generator alignment

Abstract

Systems and methods for electromagnetic field generator alignment are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of the EM field, one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient. The system may also include a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on the one or more EM sensor signals, encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field, and provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to facilitate alignment of a field generator and one or more electromagnetic (EM) sensors with respect to each other, the system comprising:
 an EM sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of an EM field generated by the EM field generator, one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient;   a processor; and   a memory storing computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 determine a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on the one or more EM sensor signals; 
 encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field; and 
 provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render the encoded data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the working volume comprises (i) a first sub-volume and (ii) a second sub-volume larger than and enveloping the first sub-volume; and   the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 encode the representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes of the field generator, and 
 provide the encoded representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes to the display. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 encode user instructions to a user of the system to position the field generator such that the EM sensor is positioned within at least one of the first and second sub-volumes, and   provide the encoded user instructions to the display.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least two additional EM sensors, the EM sensors are configured to be placed on the patient so as to surround an area of interest. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the area of interest at least partially overlaps an anatomical feature of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 encode user instructions to position the field generator such that a defined number of the EM sensors are positioned within the first working volume, and   provide the encoded user instructions to the display.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 encode user instructions to position: (i) a first one of the EM sensors on the patient's mid sternum, (ii) a second one of the EM sensors on the patient's left lateral eighth rib, and (iii) a third one of the EM sensors on the patient's left lateral eighth rib; and   provide the encoded user instructions to position the first to third EM sensors on the patient to the display.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 receive input from the user that one of the second and third EM sensors cannot be positioned with the working volume;   encode user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors closer to the field generator than the one of the second and third EM sensors' current position; and   provide the encoded user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors to the display.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:
 determine a position of an EM sensor with respect to a field generator based on one or more EM sensor signals, the EM sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of an EM field generated by the field generator, the one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient;   encode a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field; and   provide the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the working volume comprises (i) a first sub-volume and (ii) a second sub-volume larger than and enveloping the first sub-volume, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:
 encode the representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes of the field generator, and   provide the encoded representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes to the display.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:
 encode user instructions to a user of the system to position the field generator such that the EM sensor is positioned within at least one of the first and second sub-volumes, and   provide the encoded user instructions to the display.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the EM sensor and at least two additional EM sensors are configured to be placed on the patient so as to surround an area of interest. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the area of interest at least partially overlaps an anatomical feature of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:
 encode user instructions to position the field generator such that a defined number of the EM sensors are positioned within the first working volume, and   provide the encoded user instructions to the display.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:
 encode user instructions to position: (i) a first one of the EM sensors on the patient's mid sternum, (ii) a second one of the EM sensors on the patient's left lateral eighth rib, and (iii) a third one of the EM sensors on the patient's left lateral eighth rib; and   provide the encoded user instructions to position the first to third EM sensors on the patient to the display.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:
 receive input from the user that one of the second and third EM sensors cannot be positioned with the working volume;   encode user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors closer to the field generator than the one of the second and third EM sensors' current position; and   provide the encoded user instructions to reposition the one of the second and third EM sensors to the display.   
     
     
         17 . A method of facilitating alignment of a field generator and an electromagnetic (EM) sensor with respect to each other, the method comprising:
 determining a position of the EM sensor with respect to the field generator based on one or more EM sensor signals, the EM sensor configured to generate, when positioned in a working volume of an EM field generated by the EM field generator, the one or more EM sensor signals based on detection of the EM field, the EM sensor configured for placement on a patient; and   encoding a representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to the working volume of the EM field; and   providing the encoded representation of the position to a display configured to render encoded data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the working volume comprises (i) a first sub-volume and (ii) a second sub-volume larger than and enveloping the first sub-volume, the method further comprising:
 encoding the representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes of the field generator, and   providing the encoded representation of the position of the EM sensor with respect to each of the first and second sub-volumes to the display.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 encoding user instructions to a user of the system to position the field generator such that the EM sensor is positioned within at least one of the first and second sub-volumes, and   providing the encoded user instructions to the display.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the EM sensor and at least two additional EM sensors are configured to be placed on the patient so as to surround an area of interest.