Abstract: A computer-assisted imaging and localization system assists the physician in positioning surgical effecters, such as implants, tools and instruments, within a surgical site in a patient's body. An image-guided intramedullary nail arrangement includes an intramedullary nail connected to a U-shaped drill guide. The body of the guide defines a plurality of thru-holes that are aligned with a plurality of openings in the nail, with the thru-holes acting as guides for conventional fasteners for engagement within the nail openings. The drill guide includes a tracking element fixed to the body of the guide that allows the position of the drill guide to be determined by a tracking system. The position of the intramedullary nail, and the plurality of openings, is determined by software based on the fixed geometry between the tracking element and the nail fastened to the drill guide.

Abstract: A surgical effecter, such as a tool, implant or instrument, or a tracking element mounted to the surgical effecter, includes an elongated shaft with a marker affixed thereon that is detectable by cameras or detectors of a localizer or tracking system configured to track the position and orientation of the effecter during a surgical procedure. The marker is wrapped around the circumference of the shaft and presents a top edge and a bottom edge that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a visible spiral edge extending from the top edge to the bottom edge.

Abstract: A computer-assisted imaging and localization system assists the physician in positioning surgical effecters, such as implants, tools and instruments, within a surgical site in a patient's body. The system displays overlapping images—one image of the surgical site with the patient's anatomy and another image showing the surgical effecter(s). The overlapping image of the surgical effecter(s) is moved over the static image of the anatomy as the implant/instrument is moved. The movement of the surgical effecter(s) is determined in a three-dimensional coordinate system at a home base location in the patient's anatomy, which home base can be moved during the procedure without interrupting the displays of the overlapping images.

Abstract: A computer-assisted imaging and localization system assists the physician in positioning surgical effecters, such as implants, tools and instruments, within a surgical site in a patient's body. The system displays overlapping images—one image of the surgical site with the patient's anatomy and another image showing the surgical effecter(s). The overlapping image of the surgical effecter(s) is moved over the static image of the anatomy as the implant/instrument is moved. The movement of the surgical effecter(s) is determined in a three-dimensional coordinate system at a home base location in the patient's anatomy, which home base can be moved during the procedure without interrupting the displays of the overlapping images.