Implant registration device for surgical navigation system

A method of registering an orthopedic implant in a computer assisted navigation system, said method comprising:

• providing a implant having a stem defining a stem axis, said stem having a distal end and a proximal end wherein said distal end has a smaller cross sectional area than said proximal end;
• providing a registration device having a first reference structure, said first reference structure including at least one reference element registerable in the computer assisted navigation system, said registration device being engageable with said stem at a predefined axial location;
• attaching a handling tool to said implant, said handling tool having a second reference structure mounted thereon, said second reference structure including at least one reference element registerable in the computer assisted navigation system;
• engaging the registration device with the implant at the predefined axial location with said implant secured to said handling tool and registering the positions of said first and second structures in the computer assisted navigation system;
• and
• determining the position of the implant stem relative to second reference structure.

A system for registering a surgical tool in a computer assisted navigation system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of differently sized surgical tools;
• a registration device engageable with each of said plurality of tools in a first predefined relative position;
• a first reference structure and a second reference structure, each of said reference structures having at least one reference element registerable in the computer assisted navigation system, said first reference structure disposed on said registration device at a predetermined location, said second reference disposed on any one of said plurality of tools;
• and
• wherein the relative positions of said first and second reference structures differs for each of said plurality of tools when said registration device is engaged at said first predefined location and said second reference structure is disposed upon a selected one of said tools.

A method of registering a surgical instrument in a computer assisted navigation system, said method comprising:

• providing a surgical instrument with a first reference structure mounted thereon, said first reference structure including at least one reference element registerable in the computer assisted navigation system;
• providing a registration device having a second reference structure, said second reference structure including at least one reference element registerable in the computer assisted navigation system, said registration device being engageable with said surgical instrument at a predefined location;
• engaging the registration device with the surgical instrument at the predefined location and registering the positions of said first and second structures in the computer assisted navigation system;
• and
• determining the size of the surgical instrument with the computer assisted navigation system.