Distal targeting of locking screws in intramedullary nails
First Claim
1. A distal targeting system for determining the location and orientation of an instrument relative to a target, comprising:
- a movable guide assembly for guiding an instrument toward a target;
a plurality of magnetic field generators that generate known distinguishable magnetic fields in response to drive signals, said magnetic field generators being operably associated with said guide assembly. one or more magnetic field detectors disposed at known locations with respect to said target that generate magnetic field detector signals in response to said magnetic fields, said magnetic field detectors having known alignments with an axis of said target;
a signal processor responsive to said drive signals and said magnetic field detectors signals for producing three location coordinates of a point on said guide assembly and two orientation coordinates of an axis of said guide assembly; and
a display responsive to said signal processor that provides an indication of a location of said point with respect to said target and of an alignment between said axis of said guide assembly and said axis of said target.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a distal targeting system a hand-held location pad is integral with a guide section for a drill or similar surgical instrument, and has a plurality of magnetic field generators. A sensor, such as a wireless sensor, having a plurality of field transponders, is disposed in an orthopedic appliance, such as an intramedullary nail. The sensor is capable of detecting and discriminating the strength and direction of the different fields generated by the field generators. Control circuitry, preferably located in the location pad is responsive to a signal of the sensor, and determines the displacement and relative directions of an axis of the guide section, and a bore in the orthopedic appliance. A screen display and optional speaker in the location pad provide an operator-perceptible indication that enables the operator to adjust the position of the guide section so as to align its position and direction with the bore.
248 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A distal targeting system for determining the location and orientation of an instrument relative to a target, comprising:
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a movable guide assembly for guiding an instrument toward a target;
a plurality of magnetic field generators that generate known distinguishable magnetic fields in response to drive signals, said magnetic field generators being operably associated with said guide assembly. one or more magnetic field detectors disposed at known locations with respect to said target that generate magnetic field detector signals in response to said magnetic fields, said magnetic field detectors having known alignments with an axis of said target;
a signal processor responsive to said drive signals and said magnetic field detectors signals for producing three location coordinates of a point on said guide assembly and two orientation coordinates of an axis of said guide assembly; and
a display responsive to said signal processor that provides an indication of a location of said point with respect to said target and of an alignment between said axis of said guide assembly and said axis of said target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A distal targeting system for determining the location and orientation of an instrument relative to a target, comprising:
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a movable guide assembly for guiding the instrument toward the target;
a plurality of permanent magnets;
one or more magnetic field detectors disposed at known locations with respect to said target that generate field detector signals in response to said fields, said magnetic field detectors having known alignments with an axis of said target;
a signal processor responsive to said drive signals and said field detector signals for producing three location coordinates of a point on said guide assembly and two orientation coordinates of an axis of said guide assembly; and
a location pad attached to said guide assembly and moveable therewith, responsive to said signal processor that provides a quantitative indication of a distance and a location of said point with respect to said target and of an alignment between said axis of said guide assembly and said axis of said target. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A distal targeting system for determining the location and orientation of an instrument relative to a target, comprising:
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a hand-held movable guide assembly for guiding the instrument toward the target;
a plurality of magnets;
a plurality of magnetic field detectors disposed at known locations with respect to said target that generate sensor signals in response to said fields, said sensors having known alignments with an axis of said target;
a signal processor disposed in said guide assembly responsive to said drive signals and said field detector signals for producing three location coordinates of a point on said guide assembly and two orientation coordinates of an axis of said guide assembly; and
a location pad disposed in said guide assembly, responsive to said signal processor that provides a quantitative indication of a distance and a location of said point with respect to said target and of an alignment between said axis of said guide assembly and said axis of said target, said location pad having a visual display for providing said quantitative indication. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for treating fractures of a bone, comprising:
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An implant for cooperation with the bone;
An instrument for cooperation with the bone and the implant. a movable guide assembly for guiding the instrument toward the target;
a plurality of permanent magnets;
one or more magnetic field detectors disposed at known locations with respect to said target that generate field detector signals in response to said fields, said magnetic field detectors having known alignments with an axis of said implant;
a signal processor disposed in said guide assembly responsive to said drive signals and said field detector signals having a first output responsive to a difference between a location of said implant and a location of said guide assembly and second output responsive to a difference between a direction of an axis of said guide assembly and a direction of said axis of said target; and
a display disposed in said guide assembly responsive to said signal processor that provides a qualitative indication of said first output and said second output. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A system for treating fractures of a long bone, comprising:
- an intermedullary nail for cooperation with the bone;
an instrument for cooperation with the long bone and the nail. a movable guide assembly for guiding the instrument toward the target;
a permanent magnet disposed at a known location with respect to said nail and having a known alignment with an axis of said nail;
a plurality of field detectors in said guide assembly producing field detector signals responsive to a field of said magnet;
a signal processor disposed in said guide assembly responsive to said field detector signals having outputs representative of a difference between a location of said nail and a location of said guide assembly and a difference between a direction of an axis of said guide assembly and a direction of said axis of said nail; and
a display disposed in said guide assembly responsive to said signal processor that provides a first indication of said difference between said location of said nailand a second indication of said difference between said direction of said axis of said guide assembly. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
- an intermedullary nail for cooperation with the bone;
Specification