System and method for optical position measurement and guidance of a rigid or semi-flexible tool to a target
US7876942B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30208
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for measuring the position of a hand-held tool relative to a body in six degrees of freedom employs a camera attached via a mechanical linkage to the tool so that the camera moves together with the proximal portion of the tool and has a field of view including the distal end of the tool. A processing system processes images from the camera to determine a position of at least part of the tool. By employing optically identifiable fiducial reference points defined on the external surface of the body, a projection of the tool tip position onto a plane containing the target can be derived and displayed together with the target position, thereby facilitating guiding the tool to the target.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.