Medical instrument with a touch-sensitive tip
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a medical instrument comprising an instrument body ( 8 ), an instrument tip ( 5 ) and a tracking means ( 1,2, 4 ), characterized in that said instrument tip ( 5 ) is fitted with a touch-sensor ( 3 ) which detects a contact between said tip ( 5 ) and an object, for example a patient. It is preferably realized as an indicator device or pointer, in particular as a registering pointer for instrument tracking systems.
1. A medical instrument comprising:
an instrument body;
an instrument tip; and
a tracking device arranged in a known position relative to said instrument tip. said tracking device comprising an optical tracking device or a magnetic tracking device, wherein said instrument tip includes a touch-sensor which detects a contact between said tip and an object.
2. The instrument as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a transmission device which transmits a signal when contact is detected.
3. The instrument as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said transmission device is a cable.
4. The instrument as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said transmission device is a wireless transmission device for transmitting signals wirelessly.
5. The instrument as set forth in claim 2 , wherein a control system is assigned to said transmission device and/or sensor, said control system only allowing the transmission device and/or sensor to transmit another signal after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
6. The instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tip is removable from said instrument body.
7. The instrument as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said tip is disposable.
8. The instrument as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said tracking device comprises magnetic tracking coils.
9. The instrument as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said tracking device comprises an optically detectable arrangement of markers.
10. The instrument as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said sensor is an electrical resistance sensor, a capacitance sensor, a mechanical sensor, or a combination of these types of sensors.
11. The instrument as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a registering pointer for instrument tracking systems.