Navigation Systems And Methods For Reducing Tracking Interruptions During A Surgical Procedure
AssigneeMAKO Surgical Corp.
InventorsJosé Luis Moctezuma de la Barrera, Donald W. Malackowski
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Abstract
Navigation systems and methods for reducing tracking interruptions during a surgical procedure. A virtual boundary generator generates virtual boundaries associated with tracking devices and a localizer. A collision detector evaluates movement of virtual objects relative to the virtual boundaries to detect collisions between the virtual objects and the virtual boundaries. A feedback generator responds to the collision detection to reduce tracking interruptions between the tracking devices and the localizer.
Claims26
A method of reducing tracking interruptions between a tracking device and a localizer of a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the tracking device within a field-of-view of the localizer;
- generating a virtual line-of-sight boundary based on a line-of-sight relationship between the tracking device and the localizer;
- updating the virtual line-of-sight boundary to account for relative movement between the tracking device and the localizer;
- evaluating relative movement between a virtual object and the virtual line-of-sight boundary, wherein the virtual object is associated with a physical object in the field-of-view of the localizer;
- and
- detecting a collision between the virtual object and the virtual line-of-sight boundary to enable a response that prevents the physical object from obstructing the line-of-sight between the tracking device and the localizer.
A navigation system for reducing tracking interruptions caused by a physical object defined in virtual space as a virtual object, said system comprising:
- a localizer having a field-of-view;
- a tracking device for placing within said field-of-view of said localizer so that said localizer is capable of establishing a line-of-sight relationship with said tracking device;
- a virtual boundary generator configured to generate a virtual line-of-sight boundary based on the line-of-sight relationship between said tracking device and said localizer and configured to update the virtual line-of-sight boundary to account for relative movement between said tracking device and said localizer;
- and
- a collision detector configured to evaluate movement of the virtual object relative to the virtual line-of-sight boundary to detect a collision between the virtual object and the virtual line-of-sight boundary and enable a response that prevents the physical object from obstructing the line-of-sight between said tracking device and said localizer.
A method of reducing tracking interruptions between a tracking device and a localizer of a navigation system, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the tracking device within a field-of-view of the localizer;
- generating a virtual field-of-view boundary based on the field-of-view of the localizer;
- associating a virtual object with the tracking device;
- tracking movement of the virtual object relative to the virtual field-of-view boundary;
- and
- detecting a collision between the virtual object and the virtual field-of-view boundary while tracking to enable a response that prevents the tracking device from moving outside of the field-of-view of the localizer.
A navigation system for reducing tracking interruptions, said system comprising:
- a localizer having a field-of-view;
- a tracking device for placing within said field-of-view of said localizer so that said localizer is capable of receiving signals from said tracking device, said tracking device having a virtual object associated therewith;
- a virtual boundary generator to generate a virtual field-of-view boundary based on said field-of-view of said localizer;
- and
- a collision detector configured to evaluate movement of the virtual object relative to the virtual field-of-view boundary to detect a collision between the virtual object and the virtual field-of-view boundary and enable a response that prevents said tracking device from moving outside of said field-of-view of said localizer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.