Navigating A Surgical Instrument

Abstract

An instrument tracking device for cooperating with an instrument during a surgical procedure where the instrument has an elongated body extending along a first longitudinal axis and including a working member at a distal tip includes a body having a distal end and a proximal end. An opening can be formed through the body along a second longitudinal axis. The opening can define a passthrough in the body from the distal end to the proximal end. A first tracking coil can be disposed in the body and can define a first tracking coil axis that is substantially coaxial with the second longitudinal axis of the body. A connection mechanism cooperates between the elongated housing and the body that secures the body to the elongated housing of the instrument upon passing at least a portion of the elongated housing through the passthrough of the body in an assembled position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of tracking an instrument having a working member at a distal tip of the instrument, comprising:
 slidably advancing a tracking device over an end of the instrument;   releasably coupling the tracking device to the instrument; and   unobstructably viewing along a sight line of the instrument as a position of the instrument is tracked with the tracking device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the distal tip of the working member through an opening defined by the tracking device to releasably affix the tracking device to a distal end of the instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising releasably coupling the tracking device to the instrument with a connection member selected from the group comprising adhesive, cooperating threads, clips, snaps, or fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning a first tracking coil attached to the tracking device about the distal tip of the working member such that the first tracking coil is positioned concentric to a longitudinal axis of the working member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising positioning a second tracking coil and a third tracking coil attached to the tracking device such that the second and third tracking coils are radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the working member and radially offset from one another. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasably coupling the tracking device to the instrument includes releasably coupling the tracking device to a handpiece of the instrument by way of a snap-fit connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking the position of the instrument with a navigation system and displaying the instrument relative to image data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the tracking device from the instrument and disposing of the tracking device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning first, second, and third tracking coils that are each radially spaced from a longitudinal axis of the working member and radially offset about the tracking device on the instrument. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the tracking device from a sealed container prior to releasably coupling the tracking device to the instrument. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a surgical handpiece, the working member is a blade or a bur, and the tracking device is an electromagnetic tracking device. 
     
     
         12 . A method of tracking an instrument having a working member at a distal tip of the instrument, comprising:
 inserting the distal tip of the working member through an opening defined by a body of a tracking device;   slidably advancing the body of the tracking device over a distal end of the instrument;   releasably coupling the body of the tracking device to the instrument; and   navigating the instrument with the tracking device attached thereto.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein inserting the distal tip of the working member and slidably advancing the body of the tracking device over a distal end of the instrument further includes positioning a first tracking coil disposed on the tracking device concentric with a longitudinal axis of the working member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising positioning second and third tracking coils radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the working member and radially offset from one another upon inserting and slidably advancing the body of the tracking device over the distal end of the instrument. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein inserting the distal tip of the working member and slidably advancing the body of the tracking device over the distal end of the instrument further includes positioning first, second, and third tracking coils radially spaced from a longitudinal axis of the working member and radially offset about a perimeter of the body of the tracking device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising removing the tracking device from a sealed container prior to releasably coupling the tracking device to the instrument. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein navigating the instrument with the tracking device attached thereto further includes tracking a position of the instrument relative to a patient and displaying the instrument on image data of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . A method of tracking an instrument having a working member at a distal tip of the instrument, comprising:
 providing a body of a tracking device that defines an opening extending along a longitudinal axis of the body;   providing at least one tracking coil attached to the body of the tracking device such that the distal tip of the working member can be inserted and slidably advanced through the opening defined by the body to position the at least one tracking coil relative to the instrument; and   tracking a position of the instrument with the tracking device and a navigation system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the at least one tracking coil attached to the body of the tracking device includes providing at least one tracking coil positioned about the opening of the body and concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing the tracking device in a sealed container to be removed and releasably coupled to the instrument.