Stereotaxy wand and tool guide
First Claim
1. A system for designating a coordinate and trajectory on a subject and for guiding a tool at the coordinate and along the trajectory as the tool is applied to the subject, the system comprising:
- a subject support;
a means for securing a preselected portion of the subject to the subject support;
a frame assembly which mounts at least three receivers in a fixed relationship to the subject support;
a wand having a tip portion, a portion extending along a pointing axis of the wand, an offset portion which is offset from the pointing axis of the wand, and at least two wand emitters being mounted in a spaced relationship to the offset portion in a fixed relationship to the pointing axis of the wand, the emitters selectively emitting wand signals which are received by the at least three receivers;
a guide defining a path extending longitudinally along a guide axis, the path being configured for selectively receiving a tool and the tip portion;
a wand position determining means for determining a position of the wand tip portion by measuring wand signal travel of the wand signals between the wand emitters and the at least three receivers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patient is secured to a subject support (10). A stereotaxic wand (40) is inserted into a tool guide (60). The wand has a tip portion (44), a portion extending along a pointing axis (46) of the wand, an offset portion (42) which is offset from the pointing axis of the wand, and at least two wand emitters (48, 50), mounted in alignment with the pointing axis of the wand. The two emitters selectively emit wand signals which are received by three receivers (14) mounted to a frame assembly (12). The tool guide includes a bore (66) extending along a guide axis. The bore is configured for selectively receiving a tool and the tip portion of the wand. An entry point and a trajectory are identified by the surgeon with the wand in the guide. More specifically, a trajectory and location of the wand are superimposed on a diagnostic image on a monitor (30). If the surgeon is satisfied with the entry point and trajectory shown on the monitor, a surgical tool is inserted into the bore while the tool guide is held along the designated trajectory and at the designated entry point.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for designating a coordinate and trajectory on a subject and for guiding a tool at the coordinate and along the trajectory as the tool is applied to the subject, the system comprising:
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a subject support; a means for securing a preselected portion of the subject to the subject support; a frame assembly which mounts at least three receivers in a fixed relationship to the subject support; a wand having a tip portion, a portion extending along a pointing axis of the wand, an offset portion which is offset from the pointing axis of the wand, and at least two wand emitters being mounted in a spaced relationship to the offset portion in a fixed relationship to the pointing axis of the wand, the emitters selectively emitting wand signals which are received by the at least three receivers; a guide defining a path extending longitudinally along a guide axis, the path being configured for selectively receiving a tool and the tip portion; a wand position determining means for determining a position of the wand tip portion by measuring wand signal travel of the wand signals between the wand emitters and the at least three receivers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for orienting a tool and guiding an application of the tool to a subject comprising:
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a wand for designating at least a pointing axis, said wand having at least two signal emitters mounted thereto for emitting signals; at least three receivers mounted in a fixed relationship for receiving the signals emitted by the wand emitters; a wand position determining means for determining a position of the pointing axis by measuring travel of the signals between the wand emitters and the receivers; and a guide for guiding a tool along a guide axis, said guide having a means for selectively receiving each of the tool and the wand individually and constraining the received wand. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for guiding an application of a tool to a subject from an entry point along a trajectory, the apparatus comprising:
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a guide member defining a guide axis and having a terminal end positionable on a selected subject entry point, said guide member being configured to support a tool along the guide axis; a handle connected to the guide member, for holding the terminal end at the selected entry point and for holding the guide axis steady; a means for emitting signals indicative of an orientation of the guide axis; a receiver for receiving the emitted signals; a means connected with the receiver for determining the orientation of the guide axis from the signals; a means for storing a diagnostic image of the subject; a means for correlating the guide axis with a coordinate system of the diagnostic data; a display means for displaying a selected portion of the diagnostic data with the guide axis superimposed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of orienting a tool and guiding an application of the tool to a subject, the method comprising:
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a) maneuvering a wand and guide in combination to a proposed entry point and trajectory for application of the tool, the wand including signal emitters; b) calculating coordinates of the signal emitters from travel times between signals emitted from the emitters and received by at least three receivers held in fixed relationship to the subject; c) calculating a trajectory and entry point from the emitter coordinates; d) correlating the calculated entry point and trajectory with electronic diagnostic image data of the subject stored in computer memory; e) generating a human-readable display of at least a portion of the image data with the trajectory and entry point superimposed thereon; f) inserting the tool into the guide while maintaining the guide steady at the proposed entry point; g) applying the tool to the subject through the guide along the proposed trajectory to the proposed entry point. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification