Interchangeable Localizing Devices For Use With Tracking Systems

A system for electromagnetically tracking the position of a surgical instrument relative to an image of a patient's body, comprising:

• a C-arm positioned proximate a first point of said body, said C-arm including an imaging device and an electromagnetic receiver, said imaging device taking an image of said body;
• a first fixator joined to said body at a second point proximate an area of interest, said first fixator being configured to carry an electromagnetic receiver and an electromagnetic transmitter;
• and
• a second fixator positioned at a third point of said body proximate said first and second points, said second fixator configured to carry an electromagnetic transmitter, said transmitter at said second fixator communicating with said receivers at said C-arm and said first fixator such that the position of said receiver at said first fixator can be determined relative to the position of said receiver on said C-arm and said image, said receiver at said first fixator being attachable to said surgical instrument and said transmitter at said second fixator being attachable to said first fixator such that said transmitter communicates with said receiver on said surgical instrument in order that the position of said receiver on said instrument can be determined relative to said transmitter on said first fixator and to said receiver at said C-arm and said image.

A method for extending the operating range of a tracking system using localizing devices, comprising:

• connecting a first fixator carrying a first localizing device to a first point proximate an area of interest;
• connecting a second fixator carrying a second localizing device to a second point proximate the area of interest;
• positioning a third localizing device at a third point, said second point being located proximate said first and third points;
• providing said first and third localizing devices in communication with said second localizing device such that the position of said first localizing device relative to said third localizing device may be calculated;
• removing said first localizing device from said first fixator and attaching said first localizing device to an instrument proximate said area of interest;
• removing said second localizing device from said second fixator and attaching said second localizing device to said first fixator;
• and
• providing said first and second localizing devices in communication with each other such that the position of said first localizing device on said instrument relative to said third localizing device may be calculated.

A method for extending the spatial operating range of an electromagnetic localizing system comprising the steps of:

• providing a first surgical instrument with an attached receiver;
• providing a second surgical instrument with an attached transmitter;
• providing a fixator to which a receiver and a transmitter attach;
• calculating the position of a receiver attached to the fixator relative to a transmitter attached to the fixator;
• attaching a receiver to the fixator;
• determining the position of the first surgical instrument relative to the receiver attached to the fixator;
• removing the receiver from the fixator;
• attaching a transmitter to the fixator;
• determining the position of the second surgical instrument relative to the transmitter attached to the fixator;
• and
• calculating the position of the first surgical instrument relative to the second.

A system for extending the operating range of a tracking system using localizing devices, comprising:

• a first fixator connected to a first point proximate an area of interest, said first fixator being configured to carry a first localizing device;
• a second fixator at a second point and proximate said first point, said second fixator being configured to carry a second localizing device;
• a first instrument configured to carry a third localizing device, and said third localizing device on said first instrument communicating with said second localizing device at said second fixator in order that the position of said third localizing device can be determined relative to said second localizing device, said second localizing device communicating with said first localizing device at said first fixator in order that the position of said third localizing device on said first instrument can be determined relative to the position of said first localizing device at said first fixator;
• and
• a second instrument configured to carry a fourth localizing device, said fourth localizing device communicating with said first localizing device at said first fixator in order that the position of said fourth localizing device on said second instrument can be determined relative to said first localizing device on said first fixator and to the position of said third localizing device on said first instrument.

A system for extending the operating range of a tracking system using localizing devices, comprising:

• a first fixator connected to a first point proximate an area of interest, said first fixator being configured to carry first and second localizing devices, such that the positions of said first and second localizing devices on said first fixator are fixed and known relative to one another;
• a second fixator at a second point proximate said first point, said second fixator being configured to carry said second localizing device;
• a first instrument configured to carry a third localizing device, said third localizing device communicating with said second localizing device on said second fixator in order that the position of said third localizing device can be determined relative to said second localizing device, said second localizing device communicating with said first localizing device on said first fixator such that the position of said third localizing device on said first instrument can be determined relative to the position of said first localizing device on said first fixator;
• and
• a second instrument configured to carry a fourth localizing device, said fourth localizing device communicating with said second localizing device at said first fixator in order that the position of said fourth localizing device on said second instrument can be determined relative to said second localizing device on said first fixator;
• and such that the position of said fourth localizing device on said second instrument can be determined relative to said position of the third localizing device on said first instrument.

A system for localizing instruments relative to a patient's bone, comprising:

• a fixator for attaching to bone, said fixator being configured to carry a transmitter and receiver in a fixed and known position relative to one another;
• a first surgical instrument with an attached receiver;
• a second surgical instrument with an attached receiver;
• means for determining the position of the first surgical instrument relative to said fixator with an attached transmitter;
• means for determining the position of the second surgical instrument relative to the fixator with an attached receiver;
• and
• means for calculating the position of the first surgical instrument relative to the second surgical instrument.

A method for extending the spatial operating range of an electromagnetic localizing system comprising the steps of:

• providing an electromagnetic localizing device with an electromagnetic transmitter and receiver;
• providing a first surgical instrument with an attached receiver;
• providing a second surgical instrument with an attached receiver;
• providing a fixator to which a receiver and a transmitter attach;
• determining the position of a receiver attached to the fixator relative to a transmitter attached to the fixator;
• attaching a receiver to the fixator;
• determining the position of said first surgical instrument relative to said receiver attached to said fixator;
• removing said receiver from said fixator;
• attaching a transmitter to said fixator;
• determining the position of said second surgical instrument relative to said transmitter attached to said fixator;
• and
• determining the position of said first surgical instrument relative to said second surgical instrument.