Patent ID: 7771436
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A system for orienting a surgical device, comprising: a surgical navigation system having a display unit; a navigation tracker having a body including a geometrical feature defining an unobstructed axial channel extending along the body between opposite open ends and capable of being movably coupled to a surgical device having an effector axis, the navigation tracker capable of being tracked by the navigation system, wherein there is a known relation between the navigation tracker and the effector axis when the surgical device is disposed in and moving longitudinally along the axial channel; a first circuit adapted to calculate an orientation of the effector axis of the surgical device from the known relation between the navigation tracker and the effector axis while the surgical device is movably coupled in and moving longitudinally along the axial channel; and a second circuit for displaying the orientation of the effector axis of the surgical device on a display unit.