Claims
- 1. A system for use in locating an implantable medical device comprising:
- means for emitting a first frequency of energy, the emitting means fixed relative to a first point in space;
- means for sensing the emitted energy at a first location and a second location, the first location and the second location positioned along the same plane, the sensing means fixed relative to a second point in space, the sensing means having means for moving relative to the emitting means wherein the second point in space may be moved closer to the first point in space;
- means for determining whether the sensed energy at the first location equals the energy at the second location;
- signal means for signaling when the sensed energy at the first location equals the energy at the second location to thereby signal the first point in space and the second point in space are aligned.
- 2. An implantable medical device comprising:
- means for sensing energy at a at a first location and a second location, the first location and the second location fixed relative to one another along the same plane;
- means for determining whether the sensed energy at the first location equals the energy at the second location.
- 3. A method of locating the alignment between an implanted device and an external object comprising the steps of:
- emitting energy from an implanted device;
- moving an implant location antenna array along a patient's surface;
- sensing energy received by each of the antennas of the implant location antenna array from the implanted device;
- determining whether the sensed energy received by each of the antennas of the implant location antenna array above a predetermined minimum;
- determining whether the sensed energy received by each of the antennas of the implant location antenna array is at an equal level; and
- emitting an alignment signal when the sensed energy received by each of the antennas of the implant location antenna array is at an equal level and above the predetermined minimum.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to one or more of the following each of which are filed on this same day each incorporated herein by reference and each assigned to the assignee of the present application:
US Referenced Citations (12)