Apparatus and method for magnetic navigation using boost magnets

摘要

A method of and system for navigating a medical device in a subject. The device has a magnet in a tip of the device and is navigable in the subject using source magnets positioned outside the subject. A source magnet magnetic field is used to navigate the device tip to a point in the subject. A boost magnetic moment is created by boost coils and is added to a permanent tip magnet moment to increase the torque applied by the externally generated magnetic field to the device tip. At least one boost magnet is used to apply the boost magnetic field. This method also makes it possible to design magnetic navigation systems with reduced size and cost.