Trajectory guide with angled or patterned lumens or height adjustment

#This document relates generally to trajectory guides, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to a trajectory guide with at least one angled lumen or with patterned lumens.

#Neurosurgery sometimes involves inserting an instrument through a burr hole or other entry portal into a subject's brain toward a target region of the brain. Because of the precision needed to reach the target, while avoiding nearby structures that are often critical to brain function, stereotactic instrument guidance is sometimes provided. In one such technique, a stereotactic headframe is mounted about the patient's skull. A trajectory guide is mounted to the headframe to provide an instrument-guiding trajectory through the burr hole and aimed toward the target. In another technique (sometimes referred to as “frameless stereotaxy”), a trajectory guide is mounted directly to the skull in or about the burr hole. The skull-mounted trajectory guide also provides an instrument-guiding trajectory through the burr hole and aimed toward the target. In either technique, an image-guided workstation may be used to provide navigational guidance to the neurosurgeon, such as by displaying preoperative images of the subject to assist the neurosurgeon in planning or performing the procedure.

#Among other things, the present inventors have recognized that the limited diameter of the burr hole limits the size and location of the target area that can be accessed via the burr hole. The present inventors have also recognized an unmet need for reducing trauma to the brain. For these and other reasons, which will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and viewing the drawings that form a part thereof, the present inventors have recognized an unmet need for trajectory guide systems, devices, and methods that provide improved access and/or reduced trauma.

#In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes represent different instances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, a perspective view of one embodiment of an instrument-guiding apparatus, referred to herein as a “trajectory guide” assembly.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view further illustrating, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, certain portions of an exemplary trajectory guide assembly.

#In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

#In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this documents and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, a perspective view of one embodiment of an instrument-guiding apparatus, referred to herein as a “trajectory guide” assembly 100. Certain portions of this example of trajectory guide 100 are described in more detail in Skakoon et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/828,451, entitled “DEEP ORGAN ACCESS DEVICE AND METHOD,” which was filed on Apr. 6, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including its description of a trajectory guide that is, among other things, rotatable around an axis extending orthogonally from the skull and tiltable at an angle from said axis.