Image guided spinal surgery guide, system and method for use thereof

A surgical instrument for use in performing surgery to prepare an implantation space in at least one bone, said surgical instrument used with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing a position tracking device to track positions of said surgical instrument in three dimensional space, said surgical instrument comprising:

• a guide operable to engage the at least one bone for use in preparing the implantation space, said guide defining a passage extending through said guide for use in forming the implantation space;
• a first tracking device connected to said guide, wherein said first tracking device connected to said guide is operable as a reference array once said guide engages the at least one bone;
• and
• a tool operable to be inserted into and moved within said passage in said guide for use in performing the surgery, said tool including a second tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a position of said tool relative to the at least one bone, wherein at least one of an orientation or a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said second tracking device on said tool;
• wherein said guide is operable to be tracked with said first tracking device separately from said tool being tracked with said second tracking device to allow a guide location of the guide and a tool location of the tool to be known respectively.

A surgical instrument for use in performing surgery to prepare an implantation space in at least one bone, said surgical instrument used with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing a position tracking device to track positions of said surgical instrument in three dimensional space, said surgical instrument comprising:

• a guide operable to be placed in contact with the at least one bone for use in preparing the implantation space, said guide defining a passage extending through said guide for use in forming the implantation space;
• a tool inserted into said passage in said guide for use in performing the surgery;
• and
• a first tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a position of said tool relative to the at least one bone, wherein at least one of an orientation or a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said first tracking device on said tool;
• and a second tracking device attached to said guide;
• wherein said tool is operable to be tracked with said first tracking device separately from said guide being tracked with said second tracking device to allow a guide location of said guide and a tool location of said tool to be known respectively.

A surgical instrument for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare an implantation space across adjacent vertebrae, said surgical instrument for use with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing a position tracking device to track positions of said surgical instrument in three-dimensional space, said surgical instrument comprising:

• a guide having a first end and a second end and defining a passage through said first and second end and operable to be positioned near the adjacent vertebrae, wherein said guide includes a plurality of penetrating projections extending from said first end of said guide operable to engage and penetrate the adjacent vertebrae;
• a first tracking device attached to said second end of said guide;
• a tool operable to be positioned through said passage to prepare the implantation space near the adjacent vertebrae;
• a second tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a location of said tool relative to the adjacent vertebrae;
• and
• wherein said first tracking device connected to said guide is operable as a reference array once said plurality of penetrating projections of said guide engage and penetrate the adjacent vertebrae;
• wherein said tool is operable to be tracked with said second tracking device separately from said guide being tracked with said first tracking device to allow a guide location of said guide and a tool location of said tool to be known respectively;
• wherein said second tracking device is operable to identify a position of said tool relative to said guide, wherein an orientation of said guide and a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said second tracking device on said tool and said first tracking device on said guide.

A surgical instrument for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare an implantation space across adjacent vertebrae, said surgical instrument for use with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing a position tracking device to track positions of said surgical instrument in three-dimensional space, said surgical instrument comprising:

• a guide having a first end and a second end and defining a passage through said first and second end and operable to be positioned near the adjacent vertebrae, wherein said guide includes a plurality of penetrating projections extending from said first end of said guide operable to engage and penetrate the adjacent vertebrae;
• a first tracking device attached to said second end of said guide;
• a tool selected from a group consisting of a distractor, a tap, an inserter and a reamer operable to be positioned through said passage to prepare the implantation space near the adjacent vertebrae;
• a second tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a location of said tool relative to the adjacent vertebrae;
• and
• wherein said first tracking device connected to said guide is operable as a reference array once said plurality of penetrating projections of said guide engage and penetrate the adjacent vertebrae;
• wherein said tool is operable to be tracked with said second tracking device separately from said guide being tracked with said first tracking device to allow a guide location of said guide and a tool location of said tool to be known respectively;
• wherein said second tracking device is operable to identify a position of said tool relative to said guide, wherein an orientation of said guide and a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said second tracking device on said tool and said first tracking device on said guide;
• wherein said first tracking device and said second tracking device are selected from a group consisting of a passive tracking device and an active tracking device;
• wherein the computer controlled surgical navigation system employing the position tracking is operable to determine the locations of said tool and said guide to generate a display of a position of at least one of said tool, an implant, or a bone dowel, relative to an axis of the adjacent vertebrae to provide a view along the adjacent vertebrae, said tool, said implant, or said bone dowel.