Patent ID: 7763035

Claim:
A surgical instrument for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare an implantation space across adjacent vertebrae, said surgical instrument for use with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing a position tracking device to track positions of said surgical instrument in three-dimensional space, said surgical instrument comprising: a tool operable to be positioned through a guide defining a passage and positioned near adjacent vertebrae to prepare the implantation space; a first tracking device attached to said tool for use in identifying a location of said tool relative to said adjacent vertebrae; and a second tracking device attached to a first end of said guide; wherein said guide includes a plurality of penetrating projections extending from a second end of said guide operable to engage and penetrate the adjacent vertebrae; wherein said tool is operable to be tracked with said first tracking device separately from said guide being tracked with said second tracking device to allow a guide location of said guide and a tool location of said tool to be known respectively; wherein said first tracking device is operable to identify a position of said tool relative to said guide, wherein an orientation of said guide and a depth of said tool are determined upon tracking said first tracking device on said tool and said second tracking device on said guide.