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System and method for performing image guided surgery

  • US 6,332,891 B1
  • Filed: 02/16/1999
  • Issued: 12/25/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A surgical tool assembly comprising:

  • a handpiece, said handpiece having;

    a base;

    a power producing assembly located in said base;

    a coupling assembly mounted to said base for releasably attaching an accessory to said handpiece so that the accessory receives power from said power producing assembly, said coupling assembly having a run state in which the accessory is attached to said coupling assembly and an accessory load state in which the accessory is removable from said coupling assembly; and

    a state marker attached to said coupling assembly, wherein the state of said state marker is controlled by said coupling assembly so that, when said coupling assembly undergoes a transition from the run state to the accessory load state, said state marker undergoes a state transition; and

    a sensing unit, said sensing unit comprising;

    a housing configured to be releasably secured to said base of said handpiece;

    a position-locating device disposed in said housing configured to produce signals used to determine the position of said sensing unit; and

    a handpiece state sensor fitted to said housing, said handpiece state sensor configured to monitor the state of said state marker and to produce a handpiece state signal representative of the state of said state marker.

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