Position and Orientation Tracking of Transponder

Abstract

One or more implementations are described herein for improved instrument tracking. In a surgical navigation system, one implementation stores a plan for an image guided procedure, before conducting the procedure. This plan includes a path to be traversed by a medical instrument during the procedure. An image of the patient's anatomy displayed with a superimposed a pictorial representation of the path on the image. A transpoder coupled to the medical instrument and emits a signal while inside the patient's body. A position and/or orientation of the transponder (and the instrument) is determined based, at least in part, upon the received transponder signal.

1 . A method for improved instrument tracking, said method comprising: 
 in a surgical navigation system, storing a plan for an image guided procedure, before conducting said procedure, said plan comprising a path to be traversed by a medical instrument during said procedure;    displaying an image of a patient's anatomy on a display and superimposing a pictorial representation of said path on said image;    receiving a signal at a receiver from a transponder, said transponder being coupled to a medical instrument inside a patient's body and emitting said transponder signal;    determining a position of said transponder based, at least in part, upon said transponder signal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting data from said transponder to said receiver.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said data comprises information identifying said transponder.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said data distinguishes said transponder from other transponders.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plan comprises the administration of a therapeutic material.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising facilitating administration of said therapeutic material when said medical instrument has traversed said path.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining said plan for said image guided procedure before conducting said procedure.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 facilitating insertion of said medical instrument inside a patient's body;    facilitating guiding of said medical instrument along said path inside the patient's body so that the transponder substantially traverses said path.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising superimposing an indication of said position of said transponder on said image.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising superimposing an indication of said position of said transponder on said image with said superimposed pictorial representation of said path on said image.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plan further comprises a planned radition exposure dose, the method further comprising: 
 measuring an actual radiation exposure dose during an actual image-guided medical procedure;    comparing the planned radiation exposure dose of a planned image-guided procedure to the actual radiation exposure dose during the actual image-guided procedure;    updating the plan for an image guided procedure in response to the comparison.    
   
   
       11 . One or more processor-readable media having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a surgical navigation system, performs acts comprising: 
 in a surgical navigation system, storing a plan for an image guided procedure, before conducting said procedure, said plan comprising a path to be traversed by a medical instrument during said procedure;    displaying an image of a patient's anatomy on a display and superimposing a pictorial representation of said path on said image;    receiving a signal at a receiver from a transponder, said transponder being coupled to a medical instrument inside a patient's body and emitting said transponder signal;    determining a position of said transponder based, at least in part, upon said transponder signal.    
   
   
       12 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising determining an orientation of said transponder based, at least in part, upon said transponder signal.  
   
   
       13 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 deriving data from said transponder;    identifying said transponder based upon data derived from said transponder.    
   
   
       14 . One or more media as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said data distinguishes said transponder from other transponders.  
   
   
       15 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  wherein said plan comprises the administration of a therapeutic material.  
   
   
       16 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising facilitating administration of said therapeutic material.  
   
   
       17 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising facilitating determination of said plan for said image guided procedure before conducting said procedure.  
   
   
       18 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 facilitating insertion of said medical instrument inside a patient's body;    facilitating guiding of said medical instrument along said path inside the patient's body so that the transponder substantially traverses said path.    
   
   
       19 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising superimposing an indication of said position of said transponder on said image.  
   
   
       20 . One or more media as recited in  claim 11  further comprising superimposing an indication of said position of said transponder on said image with said superimposed pictorial representation of said path on said image.