The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2002
Ronald J. Franklin, Bowdoinham, ME (US);
Joel I. Franck, Durham, ME (US);
Frederick C. Haer, Brunswick, ME (US);
Neutar L.L.C., Bowdoinham, ME (US);
Abstract
A customized surgical fixture ( ) is formed by scanning a body to form a three-dimensional image of the body, and then identifying in the image a target ( ) in the body, and mounting points or structures ( ) on the body. A model, such as a computer solid model, of the fixture ( ) is specified in accordance with the locations of the target ( ) and mounting structures ( ) or points. The fixture ( ) is formed in accordance with the model of the fixture ( ), for example using a rapid prototyping and tooling machine. When attached to the body, the fixture ( ) can be used to guide a surgical instrument ( ) into the body, for example, by using a mechanical guide ( ) attached to the fixture ( ) or using a remote sensing device ( ) that tracks the relative position of the customized fixture ( ) and the surgical instrument.