Apparatus for orienting and guiding the application of tools.

摘要

In a method and apparatus for orienting and guiding the application of tools, e.g. a surgical tool during carrying out a surgical procedure on a patient, the patient is secured to a subject support (10). A wand (40) is inserted into a tool guide (60). The wand has a tip portion (44), a portion extending along a pointing axis (46) of the wand, an offset portion (42) which is offset from the pointing axis of the wand, and at least two wand emitters (48, 50), mountd in alignment with the pointing axis of the wand. The two emitters selectively emit signals which are received by receivers (14) mounted to a frame assembly (12). The tool guide includes a bore (76) extending along a guide axis. The bore is configured for selectively receiving a tool and the tip portion of the wand. An entry point and a trajectory are identified by the surgeon with the wand in the guide. More specifically, a trajectory and location of the wand are superimposed on a diagnostic image on a monitor (30). If the surgeon is satisfied with the entry point and trajectory shown on the monitor, a surgical tool is inserted into the bore while the tool guide is held along the designated trajectory and at the designated entry point.