System for the navigation-assisted positioning of elements

• US 6,947,783 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC), Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag (Smith & Nephew PLC), Smith & Nephew Pte. Limited (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Immerz, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US09/808,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 600/410, 600/426, 600/425, 600/407, 600/411, 606/130, 606/88, 606/87, 606/90
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/154 for preparing bone for knee prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/157 Cutting tibia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/92 Impactors or extractors, e.g. for removing intramedullary devices insertion or extraction of artificial joints A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/397 electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A system for applying an element to a body, wherein the position of a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said body and said element relative to the position of said body is detected, it also relating to a system for applying an element to a body comprising a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body and a position detection device for detecting the position of said device, for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body, and for detecting said position of said body.

Claims

1. A system for applying an element to a living body, comprising:

a) a device for physically altering a part of the living body to prepare and/or produce a connection between said element and said living body; and

b) a position detection device (i) for detecting a position of said device for physically altering a part of the living body to prepare and/or produce a connection between said element and said living body, and (ii) for detecting a position of said living body, wherein plural markers are applied to said device for physically altering for three-dimensional tracking of said device for physically altering.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said body and said element is a drill, a saw, a surface-working device, a screwing device or a nailing device.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said position detection device detects optical, acoustical and/or radio signals.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one or more markers are applied to said body.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a processor is provided for preparing or implementing one or more of the steps in a method comprising:

detecting the position of a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said body and said element relative to the position of said body.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a display device is provided, connected to said processor.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein an input device is provided, connected to said processor.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a data recording device is provided for recording data during the operation of said system.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, comprising means for applying the element to the prepared or produced connection, wherein the means for applying the element to the prepared or produced connection aligns the element to the body.