A GUIDE SYSTEM AND A PROBE THEREFOR

摘要

A probe to be held by a surgeon who performs an operation within a defined region is proposed. The surgeon employs an image-based guide system having a head-mounted semi-transparent display for displaying computer-generated images of the patient overlying real images of the patient. The position of the probe is tracked by the system and is visible to the surgeon. The computer-generated image includes a line extending from the probe along its longitudinal axis. The surgeon can control the extension of the line, to signal to the system a distance into the patient. The images seen by the user are modified accordingly, to facilitate navigation or simulate an operation.