Methods, systems, and devices for guiding surgical instruments using radio frequency technology

A surgical method, comprising:

• non-movably attaching a first radio frequency module to a patient;
• taking an image of the patient, said image including the first radio frequency module;
• establishing a predetermined trajectory based on the image;
• positioning a surgical instrument relative to the patient;
• comparing an actual trajectory of the surgical instrument with the predetermined trajectory by determining a spatial relationship between the first radio frequency module and a second radio frequency module attached to the instrument;
• and
• providing a notification to a user of the surgical instrument whether the actual trajectory of the surgical instrument is aligned with the predetermined trajectory.

A surgical method, comprising:

• taking an image of a patient;
• locating a first radio frequency module in the image, the first radio frequency module being positioned at a non-movable location of the patient;
• establishing a predetermined trajectory based on the non-movable location of the first radio frequency module;
• positioning a surgical instrument relative to the patient to define an actual trajectory;
• advancing the instrument along the actual trajectory;
• providing a notification to a user of the surgical instrument whether the actual trajectory of the surgical instrument is aligned with the predetermined trajectory.