Surgical guidance system and method with indicator light

Abstract

A surgical system includes a surgical tool, a tracking system configured to obtain tracking data indicative of positions of the surgical tool relative to an anatomical feature, an indicator light configured to emit light, and a computer system programmed to control the indicator light to change a color of the light based on the tracking data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical system, comprising:
 a surgical tool;   a tracking system configured to obtain tracking data indicative of positions of the surgical tool relative to an anatomical feature;   an indicator light configured to emit light; and   a computer system programmed to control the indicator light to change a color of the light based on the tracking data.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is programed to change the color of the light based on a cutting depth of the surgical tool into the anatomical feature. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator light is configured to emit light of a plurality of colors. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical system of  claim 3 , wherein the indicator light is configured to display light of three or more colors. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the color of the light emitted by the indicator light is indicative of a spatial relationship between the surgical tool and the anatomical feature. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator light is positioned on the surgical tool. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator light is configured to move with the surgical tool. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator light comprises a multi-colored light emitting diode indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator light comprises a multi-colored lamp. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display screen distinct from the indicator light. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is further programmed to define a virtual object relative to the anatomical feature in accordance with a surgical plan; and
 wherein the computer system is programmed to control the indicator light based on the tracking data by comparing the positions of the surgical tool to the virtual object.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical system of  claim 11 , wherein the tracking data is further indicative of motion of the anatomical feature; and
 wherein the computer system is programmed to adjust the virtual object based on the motion of the anatomical feature.   
     
     
         13 . One or more non-transitory memory devices storing programming that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining tracking data indicative of positions of a surgical tool relative to an anatomical feature; and   controlling an indicator light to change colors based on the tracking data.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory memory devices of  claim 13 , wherein the color of the light is changed based on a cutting depth of the surgical tool into the anatomical feature. 
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory memory devices of  claim 13 , wherein controlling the indicator light is performed such that the colors of the light are indicative of spatial relationships between the surgical tool and the anatomical feature. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a computer-assisted surgical system, comprising:
 obtaining tracking data indicative of positions of a surgical tool relative to an anatomical feature; and   controlling an indicator light to change color based on the tracking data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the indicator light is coupled to the surgical tool. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein controlling the indicator light comprises causing the indicator light to change color based on cutting depth of the surgical tool into the anatomical feature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein controlling the indicator light to change color causes the color to be indicative of a spatial relationship between the surgical tool and the anatomical feature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 defining a virtual object relative to the anatomical feature in accordance with a surgical plan; and   controlling the indicator light based on comparing the positions of the surgical tool to the virtual object.