Actively controlled optical tracker with a robot
US10441366B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/502
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and processes are provided that utilize the accuracy and adaptability of an optical tracking system to track an object by maintaining a line of sight (LOS) between the optical signals from the tracked object and the optical receivers regardless of the position and orientation of the object being tracked. LOS is maintained without having to manually adjust a tracked device or the optical receivers, or be limited to a specified working volume. Instead, whenever the tracked device moves, an active controller device calculates new values for the degrees of freedom of a series of joints holding a tracking array to the tracked object to position and orient the tracking array to maintain visibility to the optical receivers. A computer-assisted or robotic device that decreases operating times, and improves surgical accuracy, without additional user requirements or adjustments to maintain the LOS of the optical tracking system is provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.