Signaling device and method for monitoring positions in a surgical operation

• US 5,279,309 A
• Filed: 07/27/1992
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Russell H., Kim, Yong-yil
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/919,450
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 128/630, 128/653.1, 128/654, 128/664, 128/665, 128/774, 128/775, 128/777, 128/782, 128/907, 604/20, 116/202, 116/209
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2068 using pointers, e.g. pointers having reference marks for determining coordinates of body points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3916 Bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/5025 with a counter-balancing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• 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 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0275 Universal joints, e.g. Hooke, Cardan, ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/04 by rotating at least one arm, excluding the head movement itself, e.g. cylindrical coordinate type or polar coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37074 : Projection device, monitor, track tool, workpiece form, process on display
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40418 : Presurgical planning, on screen indicate regions to be operated on
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40609 : Camera to monitor end effector as well as object to be handled
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45123 : Electrogoniometer, neuronavigator, medical robot used by surgeon to operate
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45166 : Tomography

Abstract

The system and method includes a manipulator for manipulating a surgical instrument relative to a patient'"'"'s body and, a position sensor for sensing the position of the surgical instrument relative to the patient'"'"'s body. The manipulator can be manually or computer actuated and can have brakes to limit movement. In a preferred embodiment, orthogonal only motion between members of the manipulator is provided. The position sensor includes beacons connected to the patient and manipulator or surgical instrument and, a three dimensional beacon sensor adapted to sense the location and position of the beacons. Redundant joint sensors on the manipulator may also be provided. The system and method uses a computer to actively interact with the surgeon and can use various different input and output devices and modes.

Claims

1. A signaling device for use with a position monitoring system for use in a surgical operation, the device comprising:

a pin having a center axis for positioning into a patient'"'"'s body; and

a beacon connected to the pin, the beacon having a housing and an energy emitter, the housing having a channel with an end of the pin therein, the channel having a channel axis coaxial with the energy emitter, and means for positioning the housing at a predetermined position on the pin end including means for removably mounting the housing on the pin such that the beacon can be removed from and replaced on the pin at the predetermined position, the energy emitter being coaxially aligned with the center axis of the pin at the predetermined position of the housing on the pin.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means for positioning includes the housing forming a stop for the end of the pin in the channel.

3. A method of sensing relative positioning of multiple portions of a patient'"'"'s body during surgery comprising steps of:

connecting beacons to portions of the patient'"'"'s body;

measuring locations of the beacons;

sensing positions on the patient'"'"'s body as reference points;

determining the position of the beacons relative to sensed reference points;

tracking movement of the beacons; and

determining the position of the portions of the patient'"'"'s body relative to each other based upon the movement of the beacons relative to each other.