The present invention discloses a method for determining the position and / or orientation of a
catheter or other interventional access device or
surgical probe using phase patterns in a magnetic
resonance (MR)
signal. In the method of the invention, global two-dimensional correlations are used to identify the phase pattern and orientation of individual microcoils, which is unique for each
microcoil's position and orientation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, tracking of interventional devices is performed by one integrated
phase image projected onto the axial plane and a second image in an
oblique plane through the center of the coil and normal to the coil plane. In another preferred embodiment, the position and orientation of a
catheter tip can be reliably tracked using
low resolution MR scans clinically useful for real-time interventional MRI applications. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides real-time
computer control to track the position of endovascular access devices and
interventional treatment systems, including surgical tools and tissue manipulators, devices for
in vivo delivery of drugs,
angioplasty devices,
biopsy and sampling devices, devices for delivery of RF, thermal,
microwave or
laser energy or
ionizing radiation, and internal illumination and imaging devices, such as catheters, endoscopes,
laparoscopes, and related instruments.