Patent ID: 8086298

Claim:
An instrument arranged for insertion into the body of a patient for use in an image-guided procedure on the patient, the position of the instrument to be tracked with respect to the patient by an EMT system, said instrument comprising an EM sensor, a first member, and a releasable locking assembly, said first member comprising a first handle and an elongated linear stylet secured to and projecting from said first handle, said linear stylet having a distal tip portion and a hollow interior cavity terminating adjacent said distal tip portion, said EM sensor having an electrical cable connected to said sensor to form a replaceable unit, said replaceable unit being slidably releasably located within said cavity, whereupon when said sensor is located at a predetermined position in said cavity adjacent said distal tip portion of said stylet with said electrical cable extending along the length of and out of said cavity said replaceable unit may be locked in place thereat by said releasable locking assembly, said releasable locking assembly being arranged to be released to enable said replaceable unit to be slidably removed as a unit from said cavity of said stylet for use in another stylet having a distal tip portion and a hollow interior cavity terminating adjacent the distal tip portion by introducing said sensor and said electrical cable of said replaceable unit directly within the hollow interior cavity of the other stylet, whereupon said sensor is located at said predetermined position adjacent the distal tip of said other stylet, said locking assembly being operable to lock said replaceable unit thereat.