Surgical navigation tracker, system and method

Abstract

An adapter can be easily used to assist a surgical navigation system to determine the effector axis or the effector plane of a surgical device. The adapter has a body with a geometrical feature, the geometrical feature has a known relation with a navigation tracker device that can be attached to the adapter. When the adapter is held against a surgical device in a non-fixed manner, the effector axis or the effector plane of the device can be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The method includes a calibration method to determine the known relation between the effector axis or the effector plane and the location of the navigation tracker.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . An adapter to attach a navigation tracker to a surgical device, comprising:
 a body;   a connector attached to the body at a first end and having a second end;   an interface attached to the second end to enable a navigation tracker to be attached to the adapter; and   the body having a geometrical feature to enable a surgical device having an effector axis to be non-fixedly coupled to the body.   
   
   
       37 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the interface is a docking structure that releasably locks the navigation tracker into a specified position with respect to the body. 
   
   
       38 . The adapter of  claim 37  wherein the docking structure is a quick release device. 
   
   
       39 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the geometrical feature is suitably shaped to allow a reproducible alignment between the adapter and the effector axis. 
   
   
       40 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the geometrical feature is a V-shaped channel. 
   
   
       41 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the geometrical feature is a series of lugs on the body. 
   
   
       42 . The adapter of  claim 41  wherein the series of lugs are attached to a side of the body that is flat. 
   
   
       43 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the geometrical feature is two notches that are spaced apart. 
   
   
       44 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the body has a plurality of geometrical features projecting from the body. 
   
   
       45 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the geometrical features are V-shaped notches. 
   
   
       46 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the geometrical features are U-shaped notches. 
   
   
       47 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the body is comprised of a hard surface to prevent wearing when held against the surgical device. 
   
   
       48 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein a hand can easily hold the adapter in place relative to the surgical device. 
   
   
       49 . The adapter of  claim 36  wherein the body has multiple geometric features.