Patent ID: 6694169
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of operating a targeting system, comprising:providing an instrument having a penetrating beam emitter and a penetrating beam receiver; providing an adjustable targeting assembly including a targeting marker in a path of a penetrating beam of the emitter, the targeting marker being at least partially opaque to a penetrating beam emitted by the emitter, and the targeting marker indicating a targeting point on a target axis, the targeting assembly further including a targeting beam device that is capable of providing a targeting beam along the target axis; providing a first calibration target indicating a first calibration point at a first location in the path of the penetrating beam, the first calibration target being at least partially opaque to the penetrating beam; sending the penetrating beam toward the receiver; receiving the penetrating beam at the receiver; providing the targeting beam along the target axis; adjusting the targeting assembly so the targeting beam impinges the first calibration point at the first location, and so an image provided by the receiver indicates the targeting point coincides with the first calibration point at the first location; recording information corresponding to a position of the target axis as a first calibration position; providing a second calibration target indicating a second calibration point at a second location in the path of the penetrating beam, the second calibration target being at least partially opaque to the penetrating beam; adjusting the targeting assembly so the targeting beam impinges the second calibration point at the second location, and so an image provided by the receiver indicates the targeting point coincides with the second calibration point at the second location; and recording information corresponding to a position of the target axis as a second calibration position.