System and method for identifying a landmark
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for identifying a landmark, the system comprising:
- a. a field generator for generating a magnetic field;
b. an orthopaedic implant configured to be placed within the magnetic field, the orthopaedic implant having at least one landmark, a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the orthopaedic implant defining;
i. a cannulation that extends along the longitudinal axis andii. a longitudinal groove that is at least partially offset from the cannulation, the longitudinal groove extending along the longitudinal axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
c. a first magnetic sensor configured to be placed in the distal end portion of the longitudinal groove and spaced apart from the at least one landmark a set distance;
d. a landmark identifier that includes (i) a drill guide configured to receive a drill bit and (ii) a second magnetic sensor that is attached at a fixed position with respect to the drill guide and is configured to move with the drill guide; and
e. configured to compare sensor data from the first and second magnetic sensors and use the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark.
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Abstract
A system (10, 110) for identifying a landmark is disclosed. The system includes a field generator (16, 116) for generating a magnetic field, an orthopaedic implant (30, 130) located within the magnetic field, the implant having at least one landmark (31) and a first magnetic sensor (32) spaced apart from the landmark, a landmark identifier (18, 118) with a second magnetic sensor (20, 120) and a processor (12, 112) for comparing sensor data from the first and second sensor and using the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark. The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks.
167 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for identifying a landmark, the system comprising:
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a. a field generator for generating a magnetic field; b. an orthopaedic implant configured to be placed within the magnetic field, the orthopaedic implant having at least one landmark, a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the orthopaedic implant defining; i. a cannulation that extends along the longitudinal axis and ii. a longitudinal groove that is at least partially offset from the cannulation, the longitudinal groove extending along the longitudinal axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; c. a first magnetic sensor configured to be placed in the distal end portion of the longitudinal groove and spaced apart from the at least one landmark a set distance; d. a landmark identifier that includes (i) a drill guide configured to receive a drill bit and (ii) a second magnetic sensor that is attached at a fixed position with respect to the drill guide and is configured to move with the drill guide; and e. configured to compare sensor data from the first and second magnetic sensors and use the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for targeting a landmark, comprising:
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a medical implant having a landmark, the medical implant defining a groove; a processor; a magnetic field sensor; a landmark identifier; a field generator for generating a magnetic field; and a second sensor for sensing a position of an element relative to the landmark identifier when the element is received in the landmark identifier; the system configured such that with the magnetic field sensor located in the groove and oriented in a predetermined position relative to the landmark, the system can be utilized to guide the placement of the landmark identifier relative to the landmark, and wherein the system is configured to generate data from the second sensor while the element is received in the landmark identifier, and the processor is configured to use the generated data from the second sensor to determine a depth of insertion of the element into bone. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for targeting a landmark, comprising:
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a medical implant having a landmark; a magnetic field sensor; a landmark identifier; a field generator for generating a magnetic field; and one or more processing devices configured to determine a distance of the landmark identifier relative to the medical implant and output data for visual representations of the medical implant; the system configured such that with the magnetic field sensor oriented in a predetermined position relative to the landmark, the system can be utilized to guide locating of the landmark identifier relative to the landmark; the one or more processing devices being configured to switch, based on a distance of the landmark identifier to the medical implant, between (i) providing data for a zoomed-in view of the medical implant and (ii) providing data for a zoomed-out view of the medical implant. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for targeting a landmark, comprising:
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a medical implant having a landmark, the medical implant defining a groove; a magnetic field sensor; a landmark identifier; a field generator for generating a magnetic field; and a second sensor for sensing a position of an element relative to the landmark identifier when the element is received in the landmark identifier; the system configured such that with the magnetic field sensor located in the groove and oriented in a predetermined position relative to the landmark, the system can be utilized to guide the placement of the landmark identifier relative to the landmark, and the system configured such that with the element received in the landmark identifier, data from the second sensor can be utilized to determine a depth of insertion of the element into bone, wherein the second sensor is located to sense one or more indicators associated with the element as the element moves relative to the landmark identifier, and wherein the element is a drill bit, and the indicators are markings on the drill bit.
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Specification