SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SURGICAL NAVIGATION WITH A TRACKER INSTRUMENT

Abstract

There is provided a surgical instrument for navigated surgeries and systems and methods using such a surgical instrument. The surgical tool comprises a tip; a tool interface, separate from the tip; and an optically trackable target. The tip is configured to probe positions in a space and identify the positions using optical information from the optically trackable target. The tool interface is configured to mate with a surgical tool such that the optical trackable target then provides optical information with which to determine positional information for the surgical tool in the space. In one example, the system provides navigational information during surgery using the surgical instrument, namely, a single integrated tracker instrument with two or more mechanical interfaces for coupling the tracker instrument with anatomical features and/or surgical tools.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising: a probe tip for probing positions in a space; a tool interface, separate from the tip; and an optically trackable target; wherein the optically trackable target is configured to provide optical information with which to determine the positions; and wherein the tool interface is configured to mate with a surgical tool such that the optical trackable target then provides optical information with which to determine positional information for the surgical tool in the space.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the tip and the tool interface are located at opposite ends of the instrument.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the optically trackable target is located between the opposite ends.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein: the instrument defines a rigid body between the opposite ends; and the probe tip is positioned at one of the opposite ends, along a longitudinal axis of the rigid body, extended away from the tool interface.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the rigid body comprises a rigid rod, the probe tip located at a free end of the rigid rod, the free end defining one of the opposite ends of the instrument.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein: the instrument defines a rigid body between the opposite ends; and the tool interface is positioned at a free end of an extension member of the rigid body, away from the probe tip.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the tool interface is one of: a V-channel mounting interface; a kinematic mount; a planar feature without a magnet; and a planar feature with a magnet.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the tool interface comprises channel surfaces defining a channel having a V-shape, the channel surfaces configured to receive a shaft of a tool for coupling the instrument to the surgical tool.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the tool interface comprises a planar surface oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the instrument for coupling the instrument to the surgical tool.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the tool interface comprises a magnet for coupling the instrument at the planar surface to the surgical tool.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument is pre-sterilized, single-use and disposable.

12. A method comprising: probing a position in a space using a surgical instrument, the instrument comprising: a probe tip for probing positions in the space; a tool interface configured to mate with a surgical tool, the tool interface separate from the tip; and an optically trackable target configured to provide optical information with which to determine the positions by a system to provide navigational information; coupling the surgical instrument via the tool interface to the surgical tool; and using the tool with the surgical instrument coupled thereto to provide the optical information to the system to determine the positional information for the surgical tool in the space.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising: receiving from the system first navigational information based on at least one position probed by the probe tip.

14. The method of claim 12 comprising: receiving from the system second navigational information associated with a pose of the tool interface, the pose determined from the optical information received when the tool is coupled to the tool interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the instrument is pre-sterilized, single-use and disposable; and wherein the method comprises disposing the instrument once use with a single patient is completed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the system to provide navigational information is free from any components requiring reprocessing for sterility.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step or probing and the step of using the tool each provide respective optical information to a camera of the system, the camera having a drape that provides a sterile barrier around the camera, the drape further comprising an optical window to enable the camera to receive the optical information from within the sterile barrier.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein: the surgical tool comprises an acetabular implant inserter tool; using the tool comprises performing acetabular implant alignment during an arthroplasty; the step of probing defines a first probing, the first probing comprising positioning the probe tip in contact with a landmark on a patient's femur, prior to the arthroplasty; and the method comprises: prior to the arthroplasty, causing the system to calculate a first position of the tip when in contact with the landmark; during the arthroplasty when the surgical instrument is coupled to the acetabular implant inserter tool, causing the system to calculate a pose of the tool interface during acetabular implant alignment; receiving acetabular implant alignment information from the system; after the arthroplasty, performing a second probing comprising positioning the probe tip in contact with the landmark on a patient's femur; causing the system to calculate a second position of the tip when in contact with the landmark after to the arthroplasty; and receiving a change in leg position information from the system based on at least the first position and second position.

19. The method of claim 12 comprising orienting the surgical instrument to trigger the system to switch between navigation contexts, wherein each navigation context provides different navigational information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: a first one of the navigation contexts provides navigation information based on a position of the probe tip; and a second one of the navigation contexts provides navigation information based on a position of the surgical tool when coupled to the surgical instrument.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is an annotated CAD illustration of components of a surgical navigational system according to the prior art.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an annotated CAD illustration of a tracker instrument in accordance with an example having a V-Channel mount as one mechanical interface.

[0026] FIG. 3 is an annotated CAD illustration of components of a surgical navigation system including a tracker instrument in accordance with FIG. 2.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an annotated CAD illustration of the surgical navigation system of FIG. 3 with the tracker instrument coupled to an acetabular inserter.

[0028] FIG. 5 is an annotated CAD illustration of a tracker instrument in accordance with an example having a planar feature as one mechanical interface.

[0029] FIG. 6 is an annotated CAD illustration of the tracker instrument of FIG. 5 coupled to a femur to point to an anatomical landmark thereon, for example, to perform a femur registration.

[0030] FIG. 7 is an annotated CAD illustration showing the planar feature of the tracker instrument of FIG. 5 in an alignment with the femur for example for a femur cut.

[0031] FIG. 8 is an annotated CAD illustration of a tracker instrument in accordance with an example having a kinematic mount as one mechanical interface.

[0032] FIG. 9 is an annotated CAD illustration of details of the kinematic mount of FIG. 8.

[0033] FIG. 10 is an annotated CAD illustration of a tracker instrument in accordance with an example having a planar feature, cylindrical in shape, as one mechanical interface.

[0034] FIG. 11 is an illustration showing an enlarged perspective view from an end of the tracker instrument of FIG. 9 showing the planar feature.

[0035] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a method to perform a navigated surgical procedure according to an example.

[0036] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a computer implemented method to perform a navigated surgical procedure according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] A system for providing navigational information during surgery may provide a single integrated tracker instrument with two or more mechanical interfaces for coupling the tracker instrument with anatomical features and/or surgical tools. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a tracker instrument 200 has one mechanical interface that is a probe tip 112 similar to FIG. 1 at a first end 202 used for contacting points in space, such as anatomical landmarks, and another mechanical interface that is a tool interface. In the present example the tool interface is a V-channel 204 (e.g. a V-channel mounting interface) at a second end 206 for coupling to the main shaft of a surgical tool (not shown), such as an acetabular cup inserter used in hip arthroplasty. The tracker instrument provides an optically trackable target 110 similar to FIG. 1 in the form of a pattern of reflective spheres. The tracker instrument is a rigid body, meaning that under expected forces during use, storage or processing, the tracker instrument does not deflect mechanically. That is, it does not deflect sufficiently that the trackable target remains accurate for tracking relative to the two or more interfaces.

[0038] The tracker instrument 200 as shown in FIG. 2 may have mechanical interfaces at opposite ends with the interfaces pointing approximately 180° (plus or minus 25°) away from each other. For example, the probe tip 112 may be at a first end 202 of the tracker instrument 200, and a V-channel tool interface 204 may be at a second end 206 of the tracker instrument 200. The optically trackable target may be located between both ends. The advantage of having mechanical interfaces at opposite ends of the tracker instrument is that there is a lower likelihood that the other interface will interfere with the interface being used for coupling.

[0039] FIG. 3 is an illustration of components of a surgical navigation system 220 including a tracker instrument 200 in accordance with FIG. 2. A computing unit (not shown) may determine the pose (in up to 6 degrees of freedom) of the two or more mechanical interfaces by receiving tracking signals of the tracker instrument, calculating pose information of the tracker instrument based on the tracking signals, and determining the pose of the two or more mechanical interfaces based on the pose information. The computing unit may access calibration data defining the positional relationship between the trackable element of the tracker instrument and the respective mechanical interfaces to determine the mechanical interfaces' respective pose(s). These poses may be computed simultaneously or successively.

[0040] In the context of an optical localization system, the computing unit may determine the pose (in up to 6 degrees of freedom) of the two or more mechanical interfaces by receiving optical information of the optically trackable target of the tracker instrument from a camera, calculating pose information of the tracker instrument based on the optical information, and determine the pose of the two or more mechanical interfaces based on the pose information. The computing unit may access calibration data defining the positional relationship between the optically trackable target and the mechanical interfaces to determine the mechanical interfaces' respective pose(s).

[0041] Calibration data defines the positional relationship between the trackable element (e.g. the optically trackable target of an optical localization system, or an electromagnetic probe of an electromagnetic localization system) and the mechanical interfaces. The calibration data may be pre-loaded onto memory of the computing unit based on the manufacturing specifications of the tracker instrument (i.e. each tracker instrument is consistently manufactured). Alternatively, a calibration routine may be required before use, in which calibration pose data is received by a computing unit, and calibration computations are performed. For example, to determine calibration data of the tip of a probe, the tracker instrument may be pivoted about the tip, while the computing unit receives tracking signals, determines calibration pose data representing various poses during the pivoting, and computes calibration data by executing a center-of-rotation calculation based on calibration pose data.

[0042] The same tracker instrument may be used for spatial measurements of two or more features (e.g. an anatomical landmark and a surgical tool). The computing unit may determine navigation context information that represents usage of the tracker instrument at a given point during the surgery. The navigation context information identifies which mechanical interface is relevant at that moment. For example, with reference to the tracker instrument of FIG. 2 when probing anatomical landmarks, it is the probe tip that is relevant, while the tool interface (e.g. V-channel) is not relevant. The navigation context information indicates which mechanical interface is relevant at a given moment. The navigation context information may be determined in part by the pose of the tracker instrument. If the tracker instrument is oriented with the probe tip pointing downwards (and consequently the V-channel pointing upwards), the computing unit may implement a heuristic to determine that the probe tip is the currently active mechanical interface (the heuristic being based on the fact that it is unfeasible to have the V-channel pointing upwards during use).

[0043] If the computing unit is executing a software workflow, the navigation context information may be determined by the computing unit based on what step is being executed within the workflow. For example, when the current step of the software workflow corresponds to a surgical step involving the alignment of a surgical tool, the navigation context information would identify the V-channel (as opposed to the probe tip) as the relevant mechanical interface.

[0044] The computing unit may use the navigation context information to determine what to do with the navigational information. For example, certain navigational information may be stored in memory of the computing unit, while other navigational information may be provided to a display unit for display to a user. The navigation context information defines the behaviour of the computing unit with regard to how the navigational information is provided.

[0045] The surgical localization system 220 comprising a tracker instrument 200 may be used by a surgeon performing total hip arthroplasty in accordance with the following exemplary method: [0046] A reference element of the localization system is attached to the patient's pelvis, the reference element being rigidly coupled to the pelvis, the localization system being configured to measure relative pose between the tracker instrument and the reference element (e.g. the reference element may be a camera attached to the pelvis as shown in FIG. 3). [0047] The patient's pelvis may be registered to the localization system by performing an anatomical registration method including contacting multiple prescribed anatomical landmarks on the pelvis using the probe tip of the tracker instrument. A computing unit of the localization system determines the position of the tip of the tracker instrument when in contact with each respective landmark, and performs registration computations to determine the registration between the reference element and the patient's pelvis. [0048] The hip joint is exposed. [0049] Prior to dislocation of the femoral head, the baseline (i.e. prior to arthroplasty) position of a landmark on the femur is determined by the computing unit when the surgeon contacts the landmark with the probe tip of the tracker instrument. [0050] After dislocation and acetabular preparation, the acetabular cup is coupled to an acetabular cup inserter for insertion into the prepared acetabulum. [0051] The surgeon couples the tracker instrument to the acetabular inserter 400 (as illustrated in FIG. 4) so that the V-channel is axially aligned with the axis of the acetabular inserter. When coupled, the computing unit of the localization system determines the orientation of the acetabular cup and provides this information to a display unit; the surgeon views the display unit and uses the information to adjust, select and/or fine tune the orientation of the acetabular cup prior to impacting it in place. [0052] The surgeon prepares the femur and reduces the prosthetic joint. [0053] The post-reduction (i.e. after arthroplasty) position of the landmark on the femur is determined by the computing unit when the surgeon contacts the landmark with the probe tip of the tracker instrument. The computing unit further determines change in leg position based on the spatial difference between pre-dislocation and post-reduction femur landmark positions.

[0054] In general, the surgeon (or any other user) may invoke the computing unit to receive tracking data (e.g. from reference element 102) when the probe (or any mechanical interface) is coupled to its respective object (e.g. anatomical landmark, surgical tool), via button presses, voice commands, foot pedals, etc. Reference element 102 may comprise one or more buttons 402.

[0055] The mechanical interfaces of the tracker instrument depend on the type of surgery, including the type of existing surgical tools to which the tracker instrument must interface to facilitate clinically relevant navigational information. A V-channel is well suited for measuring orientation of an axis. In total knee arthroplasty, navigational information about the alignment of planes is important, and knee instrumentation provides planar cutting slots that guide planar bone cuts by an oscillating saw. A tracker instrument 500, as shown in FIG. 5, provides two mechanical interfaces: a probe tip 112 and, separately, a planar feature 502 comprising the tool interface. The planar feature comprises at least one planar surface and in the present example, two opposing planar surfaces, for example, to interface with a cut slot of a knee cutting jig (not shown) used for TKA. The tool interface may include a magnet (not shown) configured to engage the planar feature with a portion of a tool. For example, when the planar feature is engaged with the (ferrous) cut slot, a magnetic force keeps the tool and slot engaged without the need for a user to hold them together. Furthermore, as the planar feature may not be sized for a perfect fit within the slot, the magnetic force may ensure that a plane of the planar feature is fully seated on the desired surface of the cut slot.

[0056] A surgical localization system such as system 220 comprising such a tracker instrument 500 may be used by a surgeon performing total knee arthroplasty in accordance with the following exemplary method: [0057] A reference element of the localization system is attached to the patient's femur, the reference element being rigidly coupled to the femur, the localization system being configured to measure relative pose between the tracker instrument and the reference element (e.g. the reference element may be another tracker rigidly fixed to the femur). [0058] The knee joint is exposed. [0059] The patient's femur may be registered to the localization system by performing an anatomical registration method defining at least one anatomical axis including contacting multiple prescribed anatomical landmarks on the femur 600 using the probe tip 112 of the tracker instrument 500 (as illustrated in FIG. 6, where the probe tip is shown contacting the femoral epicondyle 602) and/or articulating the hip joint about its hip center of rotation 604 while the reference element is tracked by the localization system. A computing unit of the localization system performs registration computations based on probe tip and/or center of rotation data to determine the registration between the reference element and the patient's femur. The femur registration may be navigational information that is saved in computer memory. [0060] The patient's tibia may be registered to the localization system by performing an anatomical registration method defining at least one anatomical axis including contacting multiple prescribed anatomical landmarks on the femur using the probe tip of the tracker instrument. A computing unit of the localization system performs registration computations based on probe tip data to determine the registration between the reference element and the patient's tibia. The tibia registration may be navigational information that is saved in computer memory. [0061] The planar feature of the tracker instrument is coupled with the cutting slot of a femoral cutting jig. FIG. 7 is a CAD illustration showing the planar feature in an alignment with the femur (note: the cutting jig is not shown for clarity). [0062] The cutting jig is fixed into alignment with the femur based on navigational information provided on a display comprising the orientation of the cutting plane relative to the femur as defined by the femur registration, the navigational information based on the calculated pose of the planar feature. [0063] The femur is cut, and the cutting jig is removed. [0064] The planar feature of the tracker instrument is coupled with the cutting slot of a tibial cutting jig. [0065] The cutting jig is fixed into alignment with the tibia based on navigational information provided on a display comprising the orientation of the cutting plane relative to the tibia as defined by the tibia registration, the navigational information based on the calculated pose of the planar feature. [0066] The tibia is cut, and the cutting jig is removed. [0067] The tibia and femur are fitted with implants, and the joint is reduced.

[0068] FIG. 8 is an annotated CAD illustration of a tracker instrument 800, in which one mechanical interface is a kinematic mount 802 that is repeatable in 6 degrees of freedom (i.e. when coupled to a mating kinematic mount, the position and orientation of the tracker instrument is fully constrained). The other mechanical interface is the tip of a probe 112. FIG. 9 is an annotated CAD illustration showing details of exemplary kinematic mount 802, in which three partly spherical features 902 and three magnet locations 904 are shown (note: magnets not shown). A mating kinematic mount has three slots and three magnets corresponding to the kinematic mount shown, such that the magnets impart a holding force keeping both sides of the mount engaged with the three partly spherical features contacting the three slots.

[0069] FIG. 10 is an annotated CAD illustration of a tracker instrument 1000, in which one mechanical interface is a planar feature 1002, having a planar surface 1004 cylindrical in shape, which is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tracker instrument. FIG. 11 shows a partial enlarged perspective view of tracker instrument 1000 from the end having the planar feature 1002, similar to the orientation of FIG. 9 showing the details of the kinematic mount 802. Planar feature 1002 may also be or include a magnetic base so that the instrument may be magnetically attached to an instrument, etc. The magnetic base may be the entire aspect of the planar feature or there may be a magnet positioned in a center thereof.

[0070] Determining calibration data for a tracker instrument 200 having a probe tip is described earlier herein where one method describes receiving previously stored calibration data and a second method describes generating such data by pivoting the instrument about the probe tip during a calibration routine. In a similar manner, calibration data may be received for a tracker instrument having a planar feature. There may be an analogous calibration routine by which to determine calibration data of the planar feature. For example, a user may “paint” a flat surface with the planar feature.

[0071] The complexity of a system for performing a navigated surgical procedure comprising a tracker instrument as described herein may be greatly reduced. For example, the number of components required to perform surgical navigation may be reduced to: one tracker instrument; one tracking system (comprising a computing unit in communication with a tracking sensor such as a camera); and one reference element. Additionally, system components may have a simplified use, since the system may require fewer steps for assembly and interfacing (e.g. no need for dedicated adaptors).

[0072] In particular, the usage of the components within the sterile field may be simplified (i.e. the reference element and the tracker instrument). In one implementation, the tracker instrument is pre-sterilized and single-use (disposable). Tracker instruments may be packaged in multiple layers of protective packaging to ensure sterility, shelf life and physical integrity. A new tracker instrument may be used for each surgical procedure, and the tracker instrument not require any pre-operative assembly, such as attachment of reflective spheres onto a reusable tracker.

[0073] Hospital reprocessing/sterilization (e.g. autoclaving) is costly and introduces logistical complexities when multiple surgical procedures are occurring in a single day, since there is limited time to reprocess tools/instruments/equipment. Additionally, when new equipment is brought into the hospital, it must be brought in before surgery, to allow for ample time for reprocessing, which typically occurs overnight. Eliminating the need for hospital reprocessing is desirable. In one implementation, the navigation system described herein does not require the reprocessing of any components: [0074] the tracker instrument is pre-sterilized, single-use and disposable, [0075] the reference element is either pre-sterilized, single-use and disposable or is reusable and enclosed within a sterile barrier that is itself a pre-sterilized, single-use and disposable (such as a camera drape providing a clear window for transmission of optical signals, where the reference element is a reusable camera), [0076] the reference element fixation components (e.g. bone screws, camera clamp) are pre-sterilized single-use and disposable.

[0077] The elimination of the need for hospital reprocessing is enabled by the reduction in number and simplification of system components within the sterile field. Without the reduction in number of sterile components, disposal would be prohibitively costly and raise significant environmental concerns. Many hospitals have strict disposal and waste policies, such that only a small quantity of waste may be tolerated per procedure. Therefore, a requirement for a navigation system based on pre-sterilized, single-use and disposable components (instead of hospital-based reprocessing) is low waste generation.

[0078] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1200 to perform a navigated surgical procedure. At step 1202, the method comprises contacting at least one anatomical landmark with a tip of an instrument comprising an optically trackable target, a tool interface and the tip. At step 1204, a computing unit is invoked to execute instructions to: receive from a camera first optical information of the optically trackable target when the tip is in contact with the anatomical landmark; calculate a first pose of the instrument based on the first optical information; determine a position of the tip based on the first pose of the instrument; and determine first navigational information based on the position of the tip. At step 1206, the method 1200 comprises coupling the instrument with a surgical tool via the tool interface.

[0079] At step 1208, the method 1200 comprises invoking the computing unit to execute instructions to: with the instrument coupled to the surgical tool, receive second optical information from the camera of the optically trackable target; calculate a second pose of the instrument based on the second optical information; determine a pose of the tool interface based on the second pose of the instrument; and determine second navigational information based on the pose of the tool interface. The method 1200 comprises, at step 1210, receiving by viewing a display screen the first and/or second navigational information. The first and/or second navigational information may be provided to the display screen by the computing unit based on navigation context information. The computing unit may determine the navigation context information, for example, at least in part based on a pose of the tool interface and/or a pose of the tip.

[0080] The method 1200 may further comprise a step (not shown) of adjusting or confirming spatial attributes related to the surgical procedure based on the received navigational information.

[0081] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a computer implemented method 1300 to perform a navigated surgical procedure. The method 1300 comprises, at step 1302: receiving, by a computing unit from a camera, first optical information of the optically trackable target, the optically trackable target comprising a component of an instrument, the instrument further comprising, separately, a tool interface and a tip, and wherein the first optical information are received when the tip is in contact with an anatomical landmark. At step 1304, the method 1300 comprises calculating by the computing unit a first pose of the instrument based on the first optical information and, at step 1306, determining by the computing unit a position of the tip based on the pose of the instrument. At step 1308, the method 1300 comprises determining first navigational information based on the position of the tip. At step 1310, the method comprises receiving, by the computing unit from the camera, second optical information of the optically trackable target when the instrument is coupled to a surgical tool via the tool interface, and, at step 1312, calculating by the computing unit a second pose of the instrument based on the second optical information. There is determined, by the computing unit, a pose of the tool interface based on the second pose of the instrument at step 1314; and, at step 1316, second navigational information based on the pose of the tool interface. At step 1318 the method 1300 comprises providing by the computing unit to a display screen the first and/or second navigational information.

[0082] In method 1300, the first and/or second navigational information may be provided to the display screen by the computing unit based on navigation context information. It will be understood that first navigational information may be determined and provided before any second navigational information is determined and/or provided and vice versa. The reference to “first” and “second” is disambiguate the navigation information and not a reference to an order of operations. The reference to receiving optical information from the camera should not be limited to only receiving a single instance of such information. For example, first optical information may be received at one instance in time and used to determine the first navigational information based on the position of the tip at that instance in time. Some optical information may be received at a second instance of time and used to determine the second navigational information. Again, the first and second instances do not require an order of occurrence in real time.

[0083] The computing unit described herein may comprise a laptop, workstation or other computer having one or more processors (e.g. microprocessors), storage devices (e.g. RAM, ROM or other memory device, removable devices), communication devices, buses, input devices, output devices and/or I/O devices such as keyboard, buttons, foot pedal, pointing device, microphone, speaker, lights, bell, display screen (which may be touch or gesture enabled), etc. and these may be on-board or coupled thereto via communication interfaces and/or buses. Communication interfaces and communication devices may couple the computing unit in a wired or wireless manner to one or more networks or to input, output and/or I/O devices. Software (e.g. instructions stored in memory) may provide components for configuring the computing unit when the software is executed by the one or more processors. The various clinical applications and tracking modalities referred to in this description are meant to be exemplary and non-limiting.