Method and apparatus for surgical navigation

US7751865B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic Navigation, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bradley A. Jascob · Broomfield, US
• John H. Dukesherer · Lakewood, US
• Scott Shaver · Draper, US
• Mark Hunter · Broomfield, US
• Todd Martens · Denver, US
• Nadim Yared · Superior, US
• Kirstin Boes · Golden, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2004
• Grant date: Jul 6, 2010
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49171
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient that may include a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The dynamic reference frames may be fixedly placed on the patient. Also the dynamic reference frames may be placed to allow generally natural movements of soft tissue relative to the dynamic reference frames. Also methods are provided to determine positions of the dynamic reference frames. Anatomical landmarks may be determined intra-operatively and without access to the anatomical structure.