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Ascension
to Showcase Catheter Tracking
at American College of Cardiology
Conference
BURLINGTON, VERMONT:
February 27, 2006: Ascension
Technology will showcase
its latest
developments in micro-miniature
sensors for tracking and localizing
interventional catheters at
ACC.06, in
Atlanta, Georgia, March 11-14,
2006.Ascension’s medically
compliant microBIRD tracker
now supports instantaneous
3D tracking of sensors as
small as 1.3mm wide. microBIRD
employs DC magnetic field
sensing technology to overcome
metal and noise limitations
of earlier
tracking devices
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For
image-guided procedures,
4-8 sensors, embedded
in the distil tip or
along the sheath of
a catheter, needle,
or probe, are instantly
localized. Measurements
are referenced to one
another, or to one or
more field generating
devices. Fields are
non-radiating and unattenuated
by the human body. Studies
have shown that the
use of magnetic tracking
in image-guided procedures
has the potential of
significantly reducing
the amount of fluoroscopy
employed during a procedure.
Measurements are also
fully integrated with
3D imaging software
for real-time procedural
vision.
To date, 3D tracking
devices have not been
heavily used in the
cardiac suite due
to environmental issues,such
as the amount of metal
and electronic noise
in the general vicinity
of the tracking device.
These limitations
are overcome with
the current generation
microBIRD tracker.
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1.3mm
sensor integrated into
5 French catheter.
Ascension has miniaturized
new generation of
metal-tolerant magnetic
sensors, as small as
0.6mm, for guiding catheters
to targets within the
human body. |
According to Jack Scully,
Ascension’s Vice President
of New Business Development,
“We now offer medicaldevice
manufacturers a whole new
generation of magnetic tracking
equipment that simplifies
use and integration. For
example, microBIRD sensors
work without loss of accuracy
even when inserted into
catheters containing intravascular
ultrasound arrays. Measurement
precision is unaffected
by medical grade metals,
such as 300-series stainless
steel, aluminum and composite
materials often contained
in procedural trays and
tables. Clinical testing
is presently underway with
a new flat “metal-immune”
transmitter upon which the
patient lies. It negates
the distorting effects of
ferrous metals, such as
carbon steel and iron alloys,
often contained in patient
tables.“
Partnering with a number
of researchers and device
manufacturers, Ascension
is developing new applications
for guidance and localization
of interventional catheters,
including the deployment
of stents,delivery of therapeutic
agents, and 3D visualization
of vascular images.
microBIRD
demonstrations will be conducted
in Booth #3472
To schedule a meeting,
contact Trish Scott at 802-893-6657,
ext. 34 or email tscott@ascension-tech.com
Ascension Technology Corporation
(Burlington, Vermont, USA)
makes magnetic, optical,
inertial and hybrid head
tracking devices for use
in flight and simulator
systems. For more information
about its state-of-the-art
target acquisition and simulator
tracking systems, visit
More info about the conference
visit http://www.expo.acc.org
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