System and Method for Tracking a Subject

• US 20190321127A1
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: MOWLAI-ASHTIANI, Ali
• Granted Patent: US 11,090,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/862 at the periphery of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/207 Divots for calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3916 Bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3991 having specific anchoring means to fixate the marker to the tissue, e.g. hooks
• 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 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

Disclosed is a fixation system and method. The system and method may fix a selected member to a subject during a procedure. The selected member may include a tracking device or registration member.

Claims

1. A method of fixing a tracking device to a subject, comprising:

positioning an anchor in a subject;

engaging the anchor with an elongated member;

moving a stabilization base along the elongated member toward the anchor;

contacting the subject with at least a portion of the stabilization base to hold the elongated member relative to the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rotating a knob having internal threads to move the knob along the elongated member by engaging external threads on the elongated member;

abutting the stabilization base with the knob to move the stabilization base.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein contacting the subject with at least a portion of the stabilization base includes contacting at least three pins of the stabilization base with a surface of the subject.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the anchor with the elongated member includes capturing an engaging portion of the anchor with an anchor capturing portion of the elongated member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein capturing the engaging portion of the anchor with the anchor capturing portion of the elongated member includes forming the anchor and elongated member as one member.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein capturing the engaging portion of the anchor with the anchor capturing portion of the elongated member includes moving a spherically shaped portion of the anchor through an opening in a surface of the elongated member.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein capturing the engaging portion of the anchor with the anchor capturing portion of the elongated member includes positioning the engaging portion of the anchor in a preselected and determined position relative to the anchor capturing portion of the elongated member.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming an incision in a dermis of the subject to expose a bone;

wherein positioning the anchor in the subject includes passing the anchor through the incision and engaging the bone with the anchor.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

driving the anchor into the bone by rotating the anchor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein forming the incision includes forming the incision to have a length of less than about 3 millimeters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the anchor in the subject includes passing a bone engaging portion of the anchor through the incision having a maximum external dimension less than the length of the incision.

12. A method of fixing a tracking device to a subject, comprising:

forming an incision in a dermis of the subject to expose a bone of the subject;

positioning an anchor through the incision to engage the bone;

engaging the anchor with an elongated member at an anchor engaging end after the anchor is positioned to engage the bone;

moving a stabilization base along the elongated member toward the anchor; and

contacting the subject with at least a portion of the stabilization base to hold the elongated member relative to the subject by engaging both the subject and the elongated member that is engaging the anchor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming an incision in a dermis of the subject includes forming the incision to be less than 3 mm long.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein positioning the anchor includes passing the anchor through the incision, wherein the anchor has an external dimension less than about 2.5 mm.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

allowing the formed incision to heal without a closure procedure of the incision.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

moving the stabilization base along the elongated member away from the anchor;

disengaging the elongated member from the anchor; and

withdrawing the anchor through the incision from the bone.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

pushing a drape against a distal end of the elongated member opposite the anchor engaging end;

cutting the drape; and

passing the drape over a conical portion of the distal end.

18. A system for fixing a tracking device to a subject, comprising:

an anchor configured to be passed through an incision in a subject to engage a bone;

an elongated member having an anchor engaging portion to engage the anchor;

a stabilization base having a passage, wherein the elongated member is operable to pass through the passage such that the stabilization based is operable to move toward the anchor along the elongated member; and

a knob to abut the stabilization base and move the stabilization base toward the subject along the elongated member;

wherein the stabilization based is operable to contact the subject with at least a portion of the stabilization base to hold the elongated member relative to the subject.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a driving tool to drive the anchor into the bone of the subject.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the anchor includes a spherical portion operable to engage a complimentarily shaped anchor engagement portion of the elongated member.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the anchor includes a maximum exterior dimension of about 2.3 mm.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the elongated member includes a distal end opposite the anchor engaging portion;

wherein the distal end includes a smooth tapered outer wall and a distal portion configured to puncture a drape.