A system for combining electromagnetic position and orientation tracking
with magnetic resonance scanner is provided. One embodiment includes a
magnetic resonance scanner defining a reference coordinate system for
scanning a target. Coupled to the magnetic resonance scanner is a
magnetic field source which produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field
is sensed by a magnetic field sensor which produces a signal proportional
to the magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor has a location relative
to the reference coordinate system. The location of the magnetic field
sensor relative to the reference coordinate system of the magnetic
resonance scanner is determined by a location tracking device using at
least a line segment model of the magnetic field source and the signal
from the magnetic field sensor.
