Method and apparatus for image-based navigation
First Claim
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1. A navigation system, comprising:
- an instrument that is operable to be moved relative to a subject and having an exterior wall, a distal end and an instrument axis, wherein the instrument axis extends longitudinally from the distal end to a proximal end of the instrument, wherein the instrument comprises a holding portion defined by the instrument and within a surface of the exterior wall, wherein the holding portion defines first and second oval depressions, wherein the second oval depression is on an opposite side of the exterior wall than the first oval depression, and wherein a centerline of the first oval depression extends (i) through a center of the first oval depression, (ii) perpendicular to the instrument axis and (iii) through a center of the second oval depression;
a tracking device havinga first conductive wire wound around a first winding axis to form a first oval coil, wherein the first oval coil (i) has a first end at a first radial distance from the instrument axis and a first longitudinal distance from the distal end, and (ii) a second end at a second radial distance from the instrument axis, wherein the first radial distance is different from the second radial distance, wherein the first winding axis extends through and is at a first angle relative to the instrument axis, wherein the first angle is less than 90°
, wherein the first conductive wire defines a first oval aperture and is connected in series with at least a second conductive wire, wherein the second conductive wire is wound around a second winding axis to form a second oval coil, wherein the second oval coil has a third end at the first longitudinal distance from the distal end, wherein the second conductive wire defines a second oval aperture, wherein the first oval coil is partially disposed within the first oval depression and the second oval coil is partially disposed within the second oval depression, wherein the first oval coil and the second oval coil are angularly offset about the exterior wall with respect to and disposed away from the instrument axis, anda third conductive wire wound around a third winding axis and connected in series to at least a fourth conductive wire wound around a fourth winding axis,wherein the first winding axis, the second winding axis, the third winding axis and the fourth winding axis are different than the instrument axis,wherein the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire are angularly offset from one another about the instrument axis,wherein the third conductive wire and the fourth conductive wire are at least one of axially or angularly offset from one another around the instrument axis of the instrument, andwherein all of the first conductive wire, the second conductive wire, the third conductive wire, and the fourth conductive wire are positioned in the holding portion of the instrument;
a localizer operable with the tracking device to generate signals regarding position and orientation information of the instrument, wherein the first conductive wire, the second conductive wire, the third conductive wire and the fourth conductive wire sense an electromagnetic field generated by the localizer and generate the signals; and
a navigation processor operable to execute instructions to determine a plurality of degrees of freedom of location information regarding the instrument based on the generated signals regarding the position and the orientation information of the instrument from the tracking device.
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Abstract
A system and method for a procedure that can be performed on any appropriate subject. Procedures can include assembling any appropriate work piece or installing members into a work piece, such as an airframe, autoframe, etc. Regardless of the subject, tracking a substantially small tracking device in a plurality of degrees of freedom is provided. The tracking device can be positioned on or be formed in an instrument to be tracked.
172 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A navigation system, comprising:
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an instrument that is operable to be moved relative to a subject and having an exterior wall, a distal end and an instrument axis, wherein the instrument axis extends longitudinally from the distal end to a proximal end of the instrument, wherein the instrument comprises a holding portion defined by the instrument and within a surface of the exterior wall, wherein the holding portion defines first and second oval depressions, wherein the second oval depression is on an opposite side of the exterior wall than the first oval depression, and wherein a centerline of the first oval depression extends (i) through a center of the first oval depression, (ii) perpendicular to the instrument axis and (iii) through a center of the second oval depression; a tracking device having a first conductive wire wound around a first winding axis to form a first oval coil, wherein the first oval coil (i) has a first end at a first radial distance from the instrument axis and a first longitudinal distance from the distal end, and (ii) a second end at a second radial distance from the instrument axis, wherein the first radial distance is different from the second radial distance, wherein the first winding axis extends through and is at a first angle relative to the instrument axis, wherein the first angle is less than 90°
, wherein the first conductive wire defines a first oval aperture and is connected in series with at least a second conductive wire, wherein the second conductive wire is wound around a second winding axis to form a second oval coil, wherein the second oval coil has a third end at the first longitudinal distance from the distal end, wherein the second conductive wire defines a second oval aperture, wherein the first oval coil is partially disposed within the first oval depression and the second oval coil is partially disposed within the second oval depression, wherein the first oval coil and the second oval coil are angularly offset about the exterior wall with respect to and disposed away from the instrument axis, anda third conductive wire wound around a third winding axis and connected in series to at least a fourth conductive wire wound around a fourth winding axis, wherein the first winding axis, the second winding axis, the third winding axis and the fourth winding axis are different than the instrument axis, wherein the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire are angularly offset from one another about the instrument axis, wherein the third conductive wire and the fourth conductive wire are at least one of axially or angularly offset from one another around the instrument axis of the instrument, and wherein all of the first conductive wire, the second conductive wire, the third conductive wire, and the fourth conductive wire are positioned in the holding portion of the instrument; a localizer operable with the tracking device to generate signals regarding position and orientation information of the instrument, wherein the first conductive wire, the second conductive wire, the third conductive wire and the fourth conductive wire sense an electromagnetic field generated by the localizer and generate the signals; and a navigation processor operable to execute instructions to determine a plurality of degrees of freedom of location information regarding the instrument based on the generated signals regarding the position and the orientation information of the instrument from the tracking device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20)
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11. A method of making and using an instrument for navigation relative to a subject, comprising:
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providing a flexible instrument having a distal end that is operable to be moved relative to a subject and having an exterior wall and an instrument axis, wherein the instrument axis extends longitudinally from the distal end to a proximal end of the instrument; forming a holding portion defined by the instrument and within a surface of the exterior wall, wherein the holding portion defines first and second oval depressions, wherein the second oval depression is on an opposite side of the exterior wall than the first oval depression, and wherein a centerline of the first oval depression extends (i) through a center of the first oval depression, (ii) perpendicular to the instrument axis and (iii) through a center of the second oval depression; and forming a tracking device by winding a first conductive wire around a first winding axis a first distance from the distal end to form a first oval winding defining a first oval aperture, wherein the first winding axis intersects the instrument axis at a first angle less than 90°
, wherein the first oval winding is partially disposed within the first oval depression,winding a second conductive wire around a second winding axis at the first distance from the distal end to form a second oval winding defining a second oval aperture, wherein the second winding axis is not parallel to the instrument axis and intersects the instrument axis at a second angle less than 90°
, and wherein the second oval winding is partially disposed within the second oval depression,connecting in series the first winding and the second winding, winding a third conductive wire around a third winding axis to form a third oval winding, winding a fourth conductive wire around a fourth winding axis to form a fourth oval winding, connecting in series the third oval winding and the fourth oval winding, and the first, second, third and fourth oval windings are displaced away from the instrument axis and are angularly offset from each other. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification