Electromagnetically tracked K-wire device

• US 7,840,254 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics Limited (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics Limited (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Glossop, Neil David
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAO, ELMER M
• Application Number:
  US11/333,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/2, 606/10, 606/13, 606/14, 606300-321, 600/407, 600/595, 600/42
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• 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 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

Devices and methods for registering, dynamically referencing, and navigating an anatomical region of interest of a patient are provided using a tracked Kirschner wire (K-wire), where the K-wire includes a position-indicating element.

Claims

1. A device for image guided surgery that includes a k-wire for insertion in an anatomical body, the k-wire comprising:

at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element, located in a distal end of the elongated member and capable of providing the position and orientation of the location of the position-indicating element;

at least one conductive lead-wire from which signals are carried from the at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element at the distal end along at least a portion of a length of the k-wire to a proximal end;

a plurality of connection bands associated with the k-wire, wherein the plurality of connection bands are located at the proximal end and connect the at least one conductive lead-wire to an electromagnetic position sensor system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the connection bands are configured to facilitate axial rotation of the k-wire while maintaining contact with the electromagnetic position sensor system.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the connection bands connect the at least one conductive lead wire to the electromagnetic position sensor system via a rotary slip coupling that permits rotational movement of the k-wire while maintaining electrical contact between the electromagnetic sensor system and the position indicating element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a tip of the k-wire includes a sharp point.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least part of the k-wire is threaded.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one position-indicating element contains radio-opaque markings.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the radio-opaque markings further form a pattern that can be used to encode information relating to the k-wire.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the information can be decoded using X-rays.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the k-wire includes an integrated identification system encoding information relating to the elongated member.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the identification information includes at least one of:

a pattern of dark and light regions that effectively constitute barcode or other similar code and that can be optically determined;

a plurality of switches that can be used to construct a binary number that encodes information;

a memory device;

or

an RFID device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive elements are of the same or smaller diameter than the remainder of the k-wire.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the k-wire includes recesses, and the plurality of connection bands are located in the recesses.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection bands is located in recesses of the k-wire and is flush with the k-wire.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection bands are substantially near each other and are separated by an insulating portion of the k-wire.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection bands are rings located around the k-wire.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection bands are rings located around the k-wire in recesses of the k-wire.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the k-wire includes a groove along a length of the k-wire between the at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element and plurality of connection bands, and wherein the at least one conductive lead-wire is located in the groove.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the k-wire includes a further groove at the distal end, and wherein the at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element is located in the further groove.

19. An apparatus for dynamically referencing a portion of an anatomy of a patient, the apparatus comprising an electromagnetic position sensor system and at least one instrumented K-wire, the at least one instrumented K-wire including at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element located in a distal end of an elongated member insertable in an anatomical body, the at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element being capable of providing position and orientation of a location of the position-indicating element, wherein the at least one instrumented K-wire further includes a plurality of connection bands located at a proximal end of the elongated member, and at least one conductive lead-wire for carrying signals from the at least one electromagnetic position-indicating element at the distal end along at least a portion of a length of the elongated member to the proximal end.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a computer system, the computer system including a readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the apparatus to track a portion of the anatomical body to which the at least one instrumented K-wire is secured by tracking the position and orientation of the at least one position-indicating element.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the elongated member includes recesses, and the plurality of connection bands are located in the recesses.