Marker navigation device

US7696899B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Brainlab AG · DE

Inventors

• Martin Immerz · Bogen, DE
• Gregor Tuma · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2007
• Grant date: Apr 13, 2010
• Expiry date: Oct 14, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2034/2055
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A marker navigation device for determining and/or tracking a location of a marker device is provided. The marker device is attachable to an object, said marker device including a plurality of markers having known dimensions and being in a known positional relationship relative to each other. The marker navigation device includes: a detection device operative to detect signals emitted by or reflected from the plurality of markers, wherein the detection device is formed such that in first locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, detection of signals from one marker of the plurality of markers is restricted or impossible due to a location of another marker of the plurality of markers. In second locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, the plurality of markers are detectable by the detection device. The navigation device also includes a processing device communicatively coupled to the detection device and configured to calculate the first locations based on the relative locations of individual markers of the plurality of markers and based on the known dimensions of the plurality of markers, and calculate an actual location of the marker d…