Method and system for calibrating a surgical tool and adapter therefor

Abstract

A method for easily calibrating both the position of the tip of a surgical tool and the orientation of that tool includes attaching a tracking device capable of communication with the surgical navigation system to the surgical tool using an adapter, where the adapter has a known relation between the tracking device and the axis of the surgical tool. The method then performs a calibration process to calculate the position of the tip of the surgical tool and the position of the tracking device and orientation data for the surgical tool from the known relation between the tracking device and the axis of the surgical tool and from the tool tip position. Lastly, the method stores the position of the tool tip for the surgical tool and the orientation data within memory of the surgical navigation system so the position and the orientation of the surgical tool can be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The adapter has a body with an interior surface that defines an opening through which a surgical tool can be inserted, the opening having an axis. The adapter also has a docking structure for a tracking device such that there is a known relation between the tracking device and the axis of the opening and the axis of a tool that is inserted in the opening.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . An adapter to attach a tracking device to a surgical tool having an axis comprising: 
 a body having an exterior surface, and an interior surface;    a docking structure for the tracking device attached to the exterior surface; and    the interior surface defining an opening having an axis, the opening having a shape to engage the surgical tool such that there is identity between the axis of the opening and the axis of the surgical tool.    
   
   
       12 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the docking structure locks the tracking device into a specified position with respect to the body.  
   
   
       13 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the tracking device is an optical tracking device.  
   
   
       14 . The adapter of  claim 13  wherein the optical tracking device includes infrared LED's.  
   
   
       15 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the body slides onto the surgical tool.  
   
   
       16 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the body fits into an attachment device on the surgical tool.  
   
   
       17 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the body snaps into an attachment device on the surgical tool.  
   
   
       18 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the adapter includes a proximity detecting device to determine the presence of a surgical tool.  
   
   
       19 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the adapter includes a communication transceiver.  
   
   
       20 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein there are two docking structures attached to the exterior surface.  
   
   
       21 .- 62 . (canceled)