Non-invasive tracking device and method

• US 20080071195A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: de la Barrera, Jose Moctezuma, Cuellar, Alberto D., Sarvestani, Amir
• Application Number:
  US11/522,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071195A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A device for use with a surgical navigation system includes a body with an inner and outer wall that is shaped to envelope an extremity of a patient, a tracking device associated with the body in a fixed relation to the outer wall of the body, and a filler that fixably conforms to the space between the inner wall of the body and the extremity. The device can be used in orthopedic surgery.

Claims

1. A medical device for use with a surgical navigation system comprising:

a body shaped to envelope an extremity of a patient, the body having an inner wall and an outer wall;

a tracking device associated with the body in a fixed relation to the outer wall of the body; and

a filler that fixably conforms to the space between the inner wall of the body and the extremity.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the body is rigid.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the filler is an inner liner of the body that conforms to the extremity.

4. The medical device of claim 1 that includes an opening in the body to enable the determination of an anatomical landmark.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the extremity is the leg and the body is in the shape of a boot.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the filler is a bladder that can be filled with a fluid.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device is an inertial sensor.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device is an optical sensor tracked by an optical tracking system.

9. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device is an electromagnetic sensor tracked by an electromagnetic tracking system.

10. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device is integral to the outer wall.

11. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device is mounted on the outer wall.

12. The medical device of claim 11 wherein the tracking device is mounted using a rigid connector attached to the outer wall.

13. The medical device of claim 1 that includes a clamp for an extra-medullary tibia rod.

14. A method of attaching a tracking device to a patient in a non-invasive manner, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a body around an extremity of the patient;

non-invasively securing the body to the extremity so that the body is fixed relative to the extremity; and

associating a tracking device to the body so that the tracking device is fixed relative to the body.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the non-invasive securing is done by using an inner layer that conforms to the extremity.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the non-invasive securing is done by using a bladder that can be filled with fluid.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the tracking device is used during a knee replacement procedure to determined the necessary anatomical landmarks.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the tracking device is used during a hip replacement procedure to determined the necessary anatomical landmarks.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the associating of the tracking device is performed by attaching the tracking device to a connector that is affixed to the body.

20. A method for establishing a coordinate system of an anatomical structure with reference to neighboring structures and for establishing spatial relationships between the anatomical structure and the neighboring structures or surgical devices in a non invasive manner, the method comprising the steps of:

placing an enveloping body around a portion of an extremity of a patient,

associating a tracking device with the enveloping body,

manipulating the extremity using natural extremity joint constraints to create rigid transformation situations to access parameters of adjacent limb members of the extremity; and

tracking the tracking device during the manipulation to establish the coordinate system.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the extremity is a leg and the portion of the anatomy is an ankle.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the manipulation is done with the leg in extension.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the manipulation is done with the leg in flexion.