Navigated surgical system including override option

A method of operating a surgical tool having a variable speed motor using a navigation system to track a position of the surgical tool while performing a medical procedure on a patient, said method comprising:

• receiving patient data representative of a patient's anatomy that is uploaded to the navigation system;
• defining a zone within the patient data stored on the navigation system;
• using the navigation system, determining the position of the surgical tool relative to the defined zone;
• wherein upon the navigation system determining the surgical tool has entered the defined zone:
• deactivating the variable speed motor of the surgical tool;
• presenting a user selectable override option;
• and
• upon the user selecting the override option, continuing operation of the variable speed motor of the surgical tool while within the defined zone.

A surgical system comprising:

• a surgical tool comprising:
• a surgical handpiece including a variable speed motor;
• a handpiece control console in communication with said surgical handpiece, said handpiece control console configured to selectively energize said surgical handpiece;
• a footswitch in communication with said handpiece control console for controlling operation of said surgical handpiece;
• a surgical navigation system configured to track a position of said surgical handpiece relative to a user defined zone, said surgical navigation system comprising:
• a navigation console in communication with said surgical tool;
• and
• wherein upon said navigation system determining said position of said surgical handpiece has entered said user defined zone, said navigation console is configured to communicate a first instruction to said surgical tool to deactivate said surgical handpiece;
• and
• wherein upon said navigation system determining said position of said surgical tool has entered said user defined zone, said navigation system is further configured to provide an override option that is selectable by a user of said surgical system, and upon selection of said override option by said user, said navigation console is configured to communicate a second instruction said surgical tool to continue operation of said surgical handpiece.