Instrument Alignment Feedback System and Method

Abstract

A system to measure and display the orientation of a handheld instrument is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing feedback regarding the orientation of a handheld instrument, comprising:
 at least one measurement sensor configured with the handheld instrument; and   a controller in communication with the at least one measurement sensor;   wherein the at least one measurement sensor measures the orientation of the instrument, and the controller provides feedback based on the measured orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the instrument is selected from the group:
 an awl, a probe, a tap, a drill, a screw driver, a scalpel and a hypodermic needle. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises at least one accelerometer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises at least one gyroscope. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the measured orientation is an orientation in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly adapted to measure the orientation of a surgical instrument, the assembly comprising:
 at least one measurement sensor adapted to be configured with the surgical instrument;   wherein the at least one measurement sensor measures the angular orientation of the surgical instrument, and outputs a signal based on the measured angular orientation.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a controller in communication with the at least one measurement sensor, wherein the controller receives the signal and provides feedback based on the measured angular orientation of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the surgical instrument is a handheld instrument. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the surgical instrument is selected from the group:
 an awl, a probe, a tap, a drill, a screw driver, a scalpel and a hypodermic needle. 
 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises at least one accelerometer. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises at least one gyroscope. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the measured angular orientation is an orientation in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         13 . A handheld surgical instrument adapted to provide feedback regarding its orientation, the surgical instrument comprising:
 at least one measurement sensor configured with the surgical instrument;   wherein the at least one measurement sensor measures the angular orientation of the surgical instrument, and outputs a signal based on the measured angular orientation.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13  further comprising a controller in communication with the at least one measurement sensor, wherein the controller receives the signal and provides feedback based on the measured angular orientation of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13  wherein the surgical instrument is selected from the group:
 an awl, a probe, a tap, a drill, a screw driver, a scalpel and a hypodermic needle. 
 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13  wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises at least one accelerometer. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13  wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises at least one gyroscope. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13  wherein the measured angular orientation is an orientation in three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         19 . A method for aligning a handheld surgical instrument comprising: 
 at least one measurement sensor; and   a controller in communication with the at least one measurement sensor;   the method comprising:
 (A) configuring the at least one measurement sensor with the surgical instrument; 
 (B) using the at least one measurement sensor to measure the angular orientation of the surgical instrument; 
 (C) providing the measured angular orientation information in (B) to the controller; and 
 (D) using the controller to provide feedback based on the angular orientation information. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 (E) aligning the surgical instrument based on the feedback provided in (D).