Interchangeable localizing devices for use with tracking systems

• US 7,933,640 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kienzle, Thomas C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung; Unsu
• Application Number:
  US10/535,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,721 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600421-424, 600/439, 128/899, 378/197, 378/205, 32420711-20713, 324/207.17, 606/130
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/154 for preparing bone for knee prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8866 for gripping or pushing bones, e.g. approximators joint distractors A61B17/025
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• 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 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A system for tracking the position of an instrument relative to an area of interest includes a first fixator configured to carry first and second localizing devices. A second fixator is configured to carry the first localizing device. A third localizing device communicates with the first localizing device and the second localizing device communicates with the first localizing device such that the position of the second localizing device can be determined relative to the position of the third localizing device. The second localizing device is attachable to the instrument and the first localizing device is attachable to the first fixator such that the first localizing device communicates with the second localizing device on the instrument in order that the position of the second localizing device on the instrument can be determined relative to the third localizing device.

Claims

1. A method of determining the position of an image of a first area of interest relative to a second area of interest comprising the steps of:

connecting a first fixator carrying a first localizing device to a first point proximate said first area of interest;

connecting a second fixator carrying a second localizing device to a second point proximate said second area of interest;

providing an imaging device configured to acquire an image of an area of interest and carrying a third localizing device;

determining a first position of said third localizing device relative to said second localizing device;

determining a first position of said first localizing device relative to said second localizing device;

acquiring an image of said first area of interest with said imaging device;

determining a second position of said third localizing device relative to said second localizing device;

determining a second position of said first localizing device relative to said second localizing device;

calculating the difference between said first and second positions of said first localizing device relative to said second localizing device and the difference between said first and second positions of said third localizing device relative to said second localizing device;

calculating the position of said third localizing device relative to said first localizing device if said difference is less than a predetermined threshold; and

indicating an error if said difference is greater than said predetermined threshold.