The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2006
Richard J. Mcclure, San Diego, CA (US);
Frederick J. Jeffers, Escondido, CA (US);
R. Kemp Massengill, Leucadia, CA (US);
Richard J. McClure, San Diego, CA (US);
Frederick J. Jeffers, Escondido, CA (US);
R. Kemp Massengill, Leucadia, CA (US);
MedNovus, Inc., Leucadia, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus are disclosed, to screen patients or other areas for ferromagnetic objects, particularly for use intra-operatively in an operating room. The device comprises at least one magnetic field source, at least one magnetic gradiometer, and the associated electronics. The field source and the gradiometer are supported by an arm structure which can be manipulated to position the field source and the gradiometer at one or more positions near areas of interest, such as areas on a patient or other subject, and to orient the field source and the gradiometer so that the axis of the magnetic field is arranged along three different non-parallel, non-coplanar, axes to ensure detection of any ferromagnetic object regardless of its shape and orientation. The device can be manipulated to place the sensor arrays in close proximity to selected parts of a subject's body, for screening purposes. Two field sources and two gradiometers can be provided, for positioning on two sides of a portion of the subject's body, such as the head.