Patent ID: 8543188
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A navigation system for a medical device to be at least partially inserted into a patient during a surgical procedure, the system comprising: a reference unit configured to attach to a patient; a field generator disposed within the reference unit, the field generator creates an electromagnetic field about the field generator; a remote unit configured to attach to a proximal end of the medical device, the remote unit generates a signal based upon the location of the remote unit within the electromagnetic field; a processor connected to the remote unit to receive the signal from the remote unit, the signal being indicative of the position and/or the orientation of the remote unit relative to the reference unit; and a calibration apparatus removably attachable to a distal end of the medical device, said calibration apparatus having a calibration member that aligns with a work end of the medical device when the calibration apparatus is attached to the medical device; wherein the processor determines a location and an orientation of said remote unit with respect to the reference unit when the calibration member is physically engaged with the reference unit to calibrate the navigation system by relating the distal end of the medical device represented by the calibration apparatus to the proximal end of the medical device; and wherein the calibration apparatus prohibits use of the medical device for the surgical procedure when attached to the distal end of the medical device, therefore the calibration apparatus is attached to the distal end of the medical device to calibrate the navigation system and removed from the medical device for the surgical procedure.