# US 2014/0276955 A1 · Monolithic integrated three-dimensional location and orientation tracking marker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0276955 A1 - Document ID: US20140276955A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/226,708 - Filed: 2014-03-26 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-18 - Assignees: Navigate Surgical Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Navigate Surgical Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Ehud (Udi) Daon; Martin Gregory Bennett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140276955A1 ## CPC - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis - A61B 10/0233: {Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments} - A61B 2034/101: {Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations} - A61B 2034/2065: {Tracking using image or pattern recognition} - A61B 2090/3966: {Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image} - A61B 2090/3983: {Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery} - A61C 1/082: {Positioning or guiding, e.g. of drills} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A rigid positioning and orienting portion of a handheld apparatus has a three-dimensional tracking marker monolithically integrated within its structure, thereby making it possible to track the apparatus using a suitable a tracker. The tracker may track the position or orientation, or both, of the monolithically integrated tracking marker. The tracker may be a two-dimensional imaging tracker. The tracking marker may be monolithically integrated with a rigid positioning and orienting portion of the handheld apparatus during the manufacture of the rigid positioning and orienting portion of the handheld apparatus. In a surgical monitoring system the monolithically integrated tracking marker is trackable by a tracker and may have markings containing a plurality of contrasting portions arranged in a rotationally asymmetric pattern; wherein at least one of the contrasting portions has a perimeter that has a mathematically describable curved section recognizable to a controller in communication with the tracker. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising a rigid positioning and orienting portion and a three-dimensional tracking marker monolithically integrated with the rigid positioning and orienting portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker is shaped for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker is shaped for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined by a two-dimensional imaging tracker. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker comprises positioning and orienting markings for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the positioning and orienting markings are monolithically integrated with the tracking marker. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the positioning and orienting markings are one of scribed, engraved, stamped, and embossed on the tracking marker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker is at least one of shaped and marked for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker comprises positioning and orienting markings for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the positioning and orienting markings are monolithically integrated with the rigid positioning and orienting portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker is at least one of shaped and marked for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined by a tracker when the tracking marker is within a field of view of the tracker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker is at least one of shaped and marked for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined by a two-dimensional imaging tracker when the tracking marker is within a field of view of the tracker. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rigid positioning and orienting portion includes a medical instrument. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rigid positioning and orienting portion includes a medical hand instrument. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rigid positioning and orienting portion includes a surgical hand instrument. ### Claim 15 A surgical monitoring system comprising: a. a tracker having a field of view; b. a surgical instrument comprising a rigid positioning and orienting portion; and c. a three-dimensional tracking marker monolithically integrated with the rigid positioning and orienting portion of the surgical instrument and trackable by the tracker when within the field of view of the tracker. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker is at least one of shaped and marked for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined by the tracker. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The surgical monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the tracker is a two-dimensional imaging tracker. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The surgical monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the monolithically integrated tracking marker comprises positioning and orienting markings for having at least one of its location and its orientation determined. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the positioning and orienting markings are monolithically integrated with the tracking marker. ### Claim 20 A method for making a three dimensionally trackable rigid positioning and orienting portion of an apparatus, the method comprising the steps of creating the apparatus; and monolithically forming a three-dimensional tracking marker integral with the rigid positioning and orienting portion of the apparatus. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of monolithically forming positioning and orienting markings integral with the tracking marker. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the forming is one of scribing, engraving, stamping, and embossing. ### Claim 23 A surgical monitoring system comprising: a. a tracker having a field of view; and b. a surgical instrument comprising a three-dimensional tracking marker bearing markings, the markings comprising a plurality of contrasting portions arranged in a rotationally asymmetric pattern; wherein at least one of the contrasting portions has a perimeter that has a mathematically describable curved section and the three-dimensional tracking marker is trackable by the tracker within the field of view of the tracker. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The surgical monitoring system of claim 23, wherein the three-dimensional tracking marker is monolithically integrated with a rigid positioning and orienting portion of the surgical instrument. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The surgical monitoring system of claim 24, wherein the markings are monolithically integrated with the tracking marker. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The surgical monitoring system of claim 24, wherein the markings are one of scribed, engraved, stamped, and embossed on the tracking marker.