Image guided spinal surgery guide system and method for use thereof

• US 8,105,339 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Melkent, Anthony J., Foley, Kevin T., Estes, Bradley T., Chaudoin, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US12/840,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606 96- 97, 606/130, 600426-427, 600/429, 600/424
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/254 being adapted depending on the stage of the surgical procedure
• 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 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4632 using computer-controlled surgery, e.g. robotic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/912 Radiolucent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

A guide is disclosed for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare across a spinal disc and adjacent vertebrae an implantation space. The guide is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the guide in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide includes a body for providing protected access to prepare across the spinal disc and into the adjacent vertebrae the implantation space. The body has a passage adapted to receive a bone removal device for forming the implantation space through the body. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the body for use in identifying the location of the guide relative to the adjacent vertebrae. A system and method for using the guide in spinal surgery are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for use in performing surgery to prepare an implantation space in at least one bone, said system comprising:

a guide having an elongated wall configured to engage the at least one bone for use in preparing the implantation space, said guide defining an elongated passage extending through said guide for use in forming the implantation space;

a tool configured to be inserted into said passage in said guide for use in performing the surgery, said tool including a first tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a position of said tool relative to at least one of said guide or said at least one bone; and

a computer controlled surgical navigation system having a position tracking device configured to track positions of said tool relative to a known reference point, wherein at least one of an orientation or a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said first tracking device;

a second tracking device separately attached to said guide for use in identifying a position of said guide relative to at least one of the at least one bone or said tool;

wherein said computer controlled surgical navigation system having the position tracking device is configured to track positions of both said tool and said elongated guide based on said first tracking device and said second tracking device, respectively.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said position tracking device is selected from a group of position tracking devices comprising:

acoustic, magnetic, electromagnetic, radiologic, light emitting devices and micropulsed radar systems.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide is configured to be impacted to engage and penetrate the at least one bone.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second tracking devices are active tracking devices selected from a group comprising:

acoustic, magnetic, electromagnetic, radiologic, light emitting devices and micropulsed radar systems.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second tracking devices are passive tracking devices having reflective surfaces.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool is selected from a group comprising:

a distractor, a tap, an inserter and a reamer.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide is operable configured to engage a pair of adjacent vertebrae.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said tool is an inserter configured to insert at least one of an implant or a bone dowel in the at least one bone and wherein said first tracking device is used for identifying a position of at least one of the implant or the bone dowel.

9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said computer controlled surgical navigation system displays a position of said inserter and displays at least one of the implant or the bone dowel on an end of said inserter based on a geometrical configuration of said inserter and of at least one of the implant or the bone dowel attached to said inserter being entered into said computer controlled surgical navigation system.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide having said second tracking device is used as a dynamic reference during the surgery.

11. A system for use in performing surgery to prepare an implantation space in at least one bone, said system comprising:

a guide configured to engage the at least one bone for use in preparing the implantation space, said guide defining a passage extending through said guide for use in forming the implantation space;

a tool configured to be inserted into said passage in said guide for use in performing the surgery, said tool including a first tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a position of said tool relative to at least one of said guide or said at least one bone; and

a computer controlled surgical navigation system having a position tracking device configured to track positions of said tool relative to a known reference point, wherein at least one of an orientation or a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said first tracking device;

wherein said guide includes an extension configured to engage and penetrate a spine defined at least in part by the at least one bone;

wherein said guide having a second tracking device can be used as a dynamic tracking device during the surgery.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein said guide includes extensions extending from a first end configured to engage and penetrate the at least one bone.

13. A system for use in performing surgery to prepare an implantation space in at least one bone, said system comprising:

an elongated guide tube configured to engage the at least one bone for use in preparing the implantation space, said elongated guide tube defining an elongated passage extending through said elongated guide tube for use in forming the implantation space;

a tool configured to be inserted into said elongated passage in said elongated guide tube for use in performing the surgery, said tool including a first tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a position of said tool relative to at least one of said elongated guide tube or said at least one bone; and

a computer controlled surgical navigation system having a position tracking device configured to track positions of said tool relative to a known reference point, wherein at least one of an orientation or a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said first tracking device;

a second tracking device separately attached to said elongated guide tube for use in identifying a position of said guide relative to at least one of the at least one bone or said tool;

wherein said tool is an inserter configured to insert at least one of an implant or a bone dowel in the at least one bone and wherein said first tracking device is used for identifying a position of at least one of the implant or the bone dowel;

wherein said computer controlled surgical navigation system displays a position of said inserter and displays at least one of the implant or the bone dowel on an end of said inserter based on a geometrical configuration of said inserter and of at least one of the implant or the bone dowel attached to said inserter being entered into said computer controlled surgical navigation system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said computer controlled surgical navigation system is configured to track both the first tracking device and the second device and, based on tracking both the first tracking device and the second device, said computer controlled surgical navigation system displays the at least one of the implant or the bone dowel on an end of said inserter.