Z-Kat, Inc.

Biomet Manufacturing Corporation

Brandon D Larocque

Rony Abovitz

Rajesh Pandey

Julio J Santos-Munne

Louis K Arata

Rony A Abovitz

A registration artifact () for use in registering two or more fluoroscopic images includes a plurality of radio opaque spheres () and a plurality of trackable markers, such as optical reflectors (and), mounted to a radio transparent body (). A tracking system locates the position of registrable artifact using the trackable markers for registering the fluoroscopic images with respect to a known frame of reference.

Fluoroscopic registration artifact with optical and/or magnetic markers

A standard medical or surgical tool's axis is located by attaching to the tool a plurality of a location indicating elements or markers having a known geometric or spatial relationship, and placing the tool in a tool calibrator that supports the tool in a manner that allows tools of different diameters to be rotated while maintaining the tool's axis in a fixed or stable orientation. As the tool is rotated, a marker locating system tracks the positions of the markers on the tool and then extrapolates or determines the axis of rotation with respect to the markers clamped to the tool. The tool calibrator has a second set of position indicating elements or markers with fixed geometric or spatial relationship with one another and with respect to a stop, against which the end or tip of the tool is placed.

Tool calibrator and tracker system

Growing community of inventors

Sunrise, FL, United States of America

Brandon D Larocque