A method and system using electromagnetic tracking to monitor the respiration of a patient. The system includes trackers attached to the patient that emit and receive a magnetic field that changes as the patient breathes. The changing field received by the tracker can be associated with the breathing states of the patient and used to generate a respiratory signal. The respiratory signal may be used to indicate when to advance an intervention tool during an intervention procedure on the patient. The same electromagnetic system may also be used to track the position of the intervention tool, further assisting the intervention procedure.
