Methods and systems for fiducial marker deployment in medical procedures

A marker deployment system, comprising:

• a handle extending radially from and longitudinally along a main axis from a proximal handle end to a distal handle end to define a proximal half of the handle adjacent the proximal handle end and a distal half of the handle adjacent the distal handle end;
• a driver tube coupled to and extending from the handle at the distal handle end along the main axis from a proximal tube end to a distal tube end and defining a tube bore extending axially therethrough, the distal tube end configured to support a bone marker;
• an inner rod extending axially through the driver tube from a proximal rod end to a distal rod end including a plurality of distal rod threads comprising a retention fastener configured to engage and selectively secure the bone marker at the distal tube end;
• and
• a knob operably coupled to the inner rod and rotatable about a knob axis of rotation extending along the main axis in a first direction to secure the bone marker and in a second direction opposite the first direction to release the bone marker, the knob disposed in the distal half of the handle.

A method of operating a marker deployment system comprising the steps of:

• telescoping a bone marker into an internal volume at a distal end of the marker deployment system, the bone marker comprising a polyhedron and an externally-threaded screw extending distally from the polyhedron and a retention bore having an entrance aperture through an upper face of the polyhedron;
• turning a knob in a first direction about a knob axis of rotation, the knob operably coupled to an inner rod extending along a main axis of the marker deployment system from a proximal rod end through a distal handle end of a handle and a driver tube of the marker deployment system to a distal rod end defining a retention fastener and at least a portion of the handle extends axially beyond the knob to define a proximal handle end;
• placing the retention fastener within the retention bore of the bone marker in response to turning the knob in the first direction, the retention fastener retains the bone marker in a mating relationship with the marker deployment system;
• positioning a distal end of the externally-threaded screw against a bone at a marker location;
• and
• screwing the externally-threaded screw into the bone by way of the marker deployment system.