SMART PEDICLE TOOL
First Claim
1. A bone navigation device, comprising:
- a bone penetrating device adapted to penetrate bone and having at least one optical waveguide extending therethrough and configured to emit light in the visible to near infrared range to illuminate bone and receive reflected light from the bone to determine the optical characteristics of the bone; and
at least one window formed in the bone penetrating device adapted to allow light from the at least one optical waveguide to illuminate the bone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various methods and devices are provided for navigating through bone. In one embodiment, a bone navigation device is provided and includes a bone penetrating member configured to be implanted in bone and having at least one optical waveguide extending therethrough. The optical waveguide is adapted to illuminate tissue surrounding the device and to receive reflected/transmitted light from the tissue to determine the optical characteristics of the tissue, thus facilitating navigation through the tissue. At least one window can be formed in the bone penetrating member for allowing light from the at least one optical waveguide to illuminate the tissue, and for receiving the reflected light.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A bone navigation device, comprising:
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a bone penetrating device adapted to penetrate bone and having at least one optical waveguide extending therethrough and configured to emit light in the visible to near infrared range to illuminate bone and receive reflected light from the bone to determine the optical characteristics of the bone; and at least one window formed in the bone penetrating device adapted to allow light from the at least one optical waveguide to illuminate the bone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of navigating bone, comprising:
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driving a bone penetrating device into bone; illuminating tissue surrounding the bone penetrating device with light from at least one optical waveguide extending through the bone penetrating device; detecting light reflected back from the tissue to determine the optical characteristics of the tissue; and navigating through the bone based on the optical characteristics of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification