Method and apparatus for reconstructing bone surfaces during surgery

1. A method for intra-operatively presenting an approximate model of an anatomical structure, the anatomical structure being a bone, the method comprising:

applying a registration tool having a position sensing system associated therewith directly in contact against a plurality of locations on said bone;

acquiring input data using said registration tool such that the input data consists of at least a point registered for each of said locations;

processing said input data into an approximate model of said bone without using an image of the anatomical structure taken pre-operatively or intra-operatively; and

displaying said approximate model without any image of the anatomical structure taken pre-operatively or intra-operatively, and with a surgical tool having the position sensing system associated therewith on an output device during a navigation in surgery.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises processing said input data into a cloud of points forming a mosaic and representing a portion of said anatomical structure.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises smoothing over a surface represented by said input data to display a smoothed surface of a portion of said anatomical structure.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said processing comprises providing on said smoothed surface said plurality of locations where said input data was acquired.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , comprising repeating said acquiring input data after said displaying to adjust said model of said anatomical structure.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises reconstructing a three dimensional model using said input data to display a three dimensional model of a portion of said anatomical structure.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises reconstructing a three dimensional model using said input data and a known model of said anatomical structure to display a three dimensional model of said anatomical structure.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises selecting a known model from a known model database comprising a plurality of known models of varying sizes and shapes and performing an algorithm to determine a best-fit match of said input data onto said known model.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said processing comprises providing on said known model said best-fit match such that said best-fit match is displayed on said output device.

10. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said processing comprises attaching a portion of a known model of said anatomical structure to said mosaic representing a portion of said anatomical structure, said known model representing a remaining portion of said anatomical structure such that an entire model of said anatomical structure is displayed.

11. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said processing comprises attaching a portion of a known model of said anatomical structure to said smoothed surface of a portion of said anatomical structure, said known model representing a remaining portion of said anatomical structure such that an entire model of said anatomical structure is displayed.

12. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said processing comprises attaching a portion of a known model of said anatomical structure to said three dimensional model of a portion of said anatomical structure, said known model representing a remaining portion of said anatomical structure such that an entire model of said anatomical structure is displayed.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said acquiring input data comprises determining a normal to each of said plurality of locations.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said applying a registration tool comprises applying a registration tool having a flat disc surface at a first end.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said applying a registration tool comprises applying a registration tool having a flat disc surface at a second end, said flat disc surface at a second end having different dimensions than said flat disc surface at said first end.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said applying a registration tool comprises selecting one of said first end and said second end to apply to said anatomical surface.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said acquiring input data comprises acquiring data by rotating said tool to indicate to said position sensing system a location has been selected.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said acquiring input data comprises acquiring data by pressing a switch to indicate to said position sensing system a location has been selected.

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 , wherein said anatomical structure is a bone from one of a cadaver and a dummy.

20. A system for displaying an approximate model of a surface of an anatomical structure, the anatomical structure being a bone, the system comprising:

a registration tool having a first end adapted for applying directly in contact against a surface of the bone;

a position sensing system associated to said registration tool for acquiring input data representing a plurality of locations on said surface of the bone acquired at the contact between the registration tool and the bone such that a position and orientation of said registration tool is determined at each of said plurality of locations, the position sensing system associated to at least another surgical tool for tracking said surgical tool;

a storing module for receiving and storing said input data from said position sensing system;

a processing module for processing said input data into an approximate model of said surface of said bone without using an image of the anatomical structure, taken pre-operatively or intra-operatively; and

an output device for displaying said approximate model of said bone with the surgical tool during navigation in surgery, and without any image of the anatomical structure taken pre-operatively or intra-operatively.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said processing module processes said input data into a cloud of points forming a mosaic and representing a portion of said anatomical structure.

22. A system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said processing module smoothes over a surface represented by said input data into a smoothed surface of a portion of said anatomical structure.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said processing module displays on top of said smoothed surface said locations on said anatomical surface where data was acquired.

24. A system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said processing module reconstructs a three dimensional model, using said input data, into a three dimensional model of a portion of said anatomical structure.

25. A system as claimed in claim 21 , comprising a database of known models of varying dimensions, and wherein said processing module attaches a portion of said known models to a portion of said anatomical structure in order to display an entire model.

26. A system as claimed in claim 22 , comprising a database of known models of varying dimensions, and wherein said processing module attaches a portion of said known models to a portion of said anatomical structure in order to display an entire model.

27. A system as claimed in claim 24 , comprising a database of known models of varying dimensions, and wherein said processing module attaches a portion of said known models to a portion of said anatomical structure in order to display an entire model.

28. A system as claimed in claim 20 , said registration tool having a tip adapted for determining a normal associated with each of said plurality of locations on said surface of an anatomical structure, said input data representing a point and its corresponding normal.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said tip of said registration tool is a flat disc.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein said registration tool comprises a second flat disc at an opposite end of said tip, said second flat disc having a smaller radius than said flat disc at said tip.

31. A system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein said flat disc has a surface area of 1 cm 2 .