Patent ID: 8419750

Claim:
A system for tracking the position of an instrument relative to an area of interest, comprising: an instrument; an instrument guide comprising an opening for receiving the instrument, said instrument guide having a handle and carrying a first localizer proximate said instrument, said first localizer being movable relative to said instrument and movable with respect to said handle, said handle being movable with respect to said first localizer; a fixator configured to be attached to the area of interest, said fixator carrying a second localizer, said second localizer being movable with respect to the fixator, said first and second localizers being movable in order that one of said first and second localizers communicates with the other of said first and second localizers such that the position of one of said first and second localizers is known relative to the position of the other of said first and second localizer; wherein said first and second localizers are connected to a computer that analyzes the communications therebetween to calculate the position of said first localizer relative to said second localizer; wherein said fixator includes a base member and at least one screw; wherein said fixator includes a post extending therefrom and the second localizer is configured to be detached and reattached to said post.