# US 12,213,747 B2 · Optical communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,747 B2 - Document ID: US12213747B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/581,933 - Filed: 2022-01-23 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-21 - Assignees: Think Surgical, Inc. - Applicants: Think Surgical, Inc. - Inventors: Joel Zuhars; Saleh Tabandeh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213747B2 ## CPC - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers} - H04B 10/116: Visible light communication - A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2034/2055: {Optical tracking systems} - A61B 2090/3937: {Visible markers} - A61B 2090/3945: {Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes} - A61B 2090/397: {electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave} - A61B 2090/3983: {Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery} - H04B 10/112: Line-of-sight transmission over an extended range - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An optical tracking system includes at least one tracking array for generating and optically transmitting data between 1 and 2,000 MB/s. At least one tracker for optically receiving the optically transmitted data between 1 and 2,000 MB/s is also provided. The tracking system is used not only for tracking objects and sending tracking information quickly but also providing the user or other components in an operating room with additional data relevant to an external device such as a computer assisted device. Orthopedic surgical procedures such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are performed more efficiently and with better result with the optical tracking system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical device for operating a tool, comprising: three or more first light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein at least one of the three or more first LEDs is configured to both emit a tracking signal for a tracker to determine a position of the surgical device and transmit data associated with the surgical device; a photosensor for receiving positional data from a second LED coupled to a tracker, wherein the positional data includes a position of the surgical device relative to a position of a patient; a processor for receiving and processing the data from the photosensor to create instructions; and a controller for moving a position of the tool relative to the position of the patient in response to the instructions received from the processor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 wherein a tracker tracks at least one of: i) the position of the surgical device; ii) the position of the tool; or iii) the position of the patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical device of claim 2 wherein the tracker communicates position information to the second LED for transmission of the positional data to the photosensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surgical device of claim 2 wherein the tracker comprises a processor and two or more tracker photosensors in communication with the tracker processor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical device of claim 4 wherein the tracker photosensors comprise a photodiode, CCD, CMOS camera, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the second LED emits light for data transmission to the photosensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical device of claim 6 wherein the light is visible light or infrared light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the data associated with the surgical device comprises at least one of: i) an operating status of the surgical device; ii) data logged by the surgical device; or iii) a battery life of the surgical device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of: i) a hand-held drill; ii) a robot; or a hand-held saw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A surgical system, comprising: the surgical device of claim 1; and a tracker for tracking at least one of the position of the surgical device, the position of the tool, or the position of the patient, wherein the tracker communicates position information to the second LED for transmission of the positional data to the photosensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the data associated with the surgical device comprises at least one of: i) an operating status of the surgical device; ii) data logged by the surgical device; or iii) a battery life of the surgical device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the second LED emits light for data transmission to the photosensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the light is visible light or infrared light. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the tracker comprises a processor and two or more tracker photosensors in communication with the tracker processor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the tracker photosensors comprise a photodiode, CCD, CMOS camera, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the surgical device further comprises at least one of: i) a hand-held drill; ii) a robot; or iii) a hand-held saw. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the three LEDs is modulated to transmit data at different data rates. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the three LEDs is modulated to transmit a first type of data at a first data rate and a second type of data at a second data rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical device of claim 18 wherein the at least one of the three LEDs is modulated to transmit the first type of data and the second type of data in parallel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the positional data is pre-processed or processed by the process prior to receipt by the photosensor.