Surgical sensor

• US 20030066538A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hunter, Mark W., McCoid, Sheri, Kessman, Paul, Martinelli, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,007,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• 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 2090/3916 Bone tissue
• 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 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• 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 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other structures and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor, comprising:

an anchor adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure;

a receiver, for sensing signals generated by a surgical guidance system;

a transmitter coupled to the receiver, for conveying to a processor signals received by the receiver; and

a connector for securing at least the receiver to the anchor, the connector being configured so that the signals conveyed by the transmitter are indicative of a current position of the anchor.

3. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the anchor is a surgical screw.

4. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiver includes at least one electromagnetic sensor.

5. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of collinear electromagnetic coils wound at differing angles.

6. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes at least one wire connected to the receiver for hardwiring the receiver to the processor.

7. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is wireless.

8. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a conductive electrode.

9. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein the screw contains an opening therein and where the connector includes potting material for securing at least the receiver within the opening.

10. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector includes a housing that mounts on the anchor.

11. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least the receiver is selectively detachable from the anchor.

2. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor, wherein at least the receiver is located in a cavity integral with the anchor.

12. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor, comprising:

a threaded region;

a grasping region for allowing at least a portion of the threaded region to be threaded into an anatomical structure;

a sensor mounting portion;

a receiver at least partially contained within the sensor mounting portion, the receiver configured to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system; and

a transmitter coupled to the receiver, for transmitting, as a function of the sensed reference signals, positional signals indicative of a current position of the receiver.

13. The integrated surgical anchor/location sensor of claim 12, wherein the sensor mounting portion is selectively detachable from the threaded region.

14. The integrated surgical anchor/location sensor of claim 12, wherein the transmitter includes a wire for hardwiring the receiver to a surgical guidance system.

15. The integrated surgical anchor/location sensor of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is wireless.

16. The integrated surgical anchor/location sensor of claim 12, wherein the receiver includes at least one electromagnetic coil.

17. The integrated surgical anchor/location sensor of claim 12, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of coils coaxially arranged and wound at differing angles.

18. The integrated surgical anchor/location sensor of claim 12, wherein the receiver includes a conductive electrode configured to receive conductive localization signals.

19. A surgical localization sensor for integration into a tissue or bone anchor, the localization sensor comprising:

a receiver for sensing reference signals generated by a surgical navigation system;

a transmitter for conveying positional signals, as a function of a current location of the receiver and the reference signals generated by the surgical navigation system; and

a connector for mounting at least the receiver to the anchor, the connector configured so that the positional signals conveyed by the transmitter reflect a current position of the anchor.

20. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the receiver includes at least one electromagnetic coil.

21. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils coaxially arranged and wound at differing angles.

22. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the receiver includes a conductive electrode.

23. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the transmitter includes a wire for hardwiring the sensor to a surgical localization system.

24. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the transmitter is wireless.

25. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the connector includes a housing configured to be secured to the anchor.

26. An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor, comprising:

an anchor adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure;

a signal generator for emitting signals to be processed by surgical navigation system circuitry; and

a connector for securing the signal generator to the anchor, the connector being configured so that the signals emitted by the signal generator are indicative of a current position of the anchor.

27. The integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor of claim 26, wherein the signal generator is an electromagnetic field generator.

28. The integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor of claim 26, wherein the signal generator is a magnet.