Vanderbilt researchers have developed a new system to detect the position, orientation, and pressure exerted on surrounding tissues of a wireless capsule endoscopy device. Magnetic coupling is one of the few physical phenomena capable of transmitting actuation forces across a physical barrier. Magnetic manipulation has the potential to make surgery less invasive, by allowing untethered miniature devices to enter the body through natural orifices or tiny incisions, and then maneuver with minimal disruption to healthy tissue. In order to accomplish this goal, the pose (position and orientation) of the medical device must be available in real time.
