Universal attachment mechanism for attaching a surgical tracking device to an instrument

1. An attachment mechanism for attaching a component to an instrument, comprising:

a first hoop assembly having a first hoop receiving a first portion of the instrument;

a second hoop assembly having a second hoop receiving a second portion of the instrument, either one of said first hoop assembly or said second hoop assembly being configured to retain the component thereto, said first and second hoop assemblies being configured to be secured to each other such that said first and second hoops are in tension with, and secured about, the instrument; and

wherein the component is a surgical tracking device and the instrument is a surgical instrument.

2. The attachment mechanism of claim 1 , further including a fastening screw that is received in said first and second hoop assemblies to secure said first and second hoop assemblies to each other such that said first and second hoops are either pulled toward each other or moved away from each other.

3. The attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein said first hoop assembly includes a connector bar connected to said first hoop and said second hoop assembly includes a connector block connected to said second hoop, said connector block and said connector bar being configured to be secured to each other.

4. The attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein said first hoop assembly includes a connector bar connected on one side to said first hoop and connected on another side to a support beam that is connected to a carrier securably receiving the component.

5. The attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein said first hoop assembly includes a connector bar from which extends a support beam that is connected to a carrier securably receiving the component, said support beam being rotatable about said connector bar such that the relative distance between the component and a longitudinal axis of the instrument remains substantially the same.

6. The attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein said first and second hoops are adjustable such that their diameters may be varied to receive portions of instruments of varying diameter.

7. The attachment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein either or both of said first and second hoops are open ended clamps that receive the instrument.

8. An attachment system comprising:

an instrument having a body and a handle;

a tracking device; and

an attachment mechanism, said attachment mechanism having first and second hoop assemblies, said first hoop assembly having a first hoop that receives a first portion of said body proximate a first side of said handle and said second hoop assembly having a second hoop that receives a second portion of said body proximate a second side of said handle, either one of said first or second hoop assemblies being configured to retain said tracking device thereto, said first and second hoop assemblies being configured to be secured to each other such that said first and second hoops are in tension with, and secured about, said body.

9. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , further including a fastening screw that is received in said first and second hoop assemblies to secure said first and second hoop assemblies to each other such that said first and second hoops are either pulled toward each other or moved away from each other.

10. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said first hoop assembly includes a connector bar connected to said first hoop and said second hoop assembly includes a connector block connected to said second hoop, said connector block and said connector bar being configured to be secured to each other.

11. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said first hoop assembly includes a connector bar from which extends a support beam that is connected to a carrier securably receiving said tracking device, said support beam being rotatable about said connector bar such that the relative distance between the tracking device and a longitudinal axis of said instrument remains substantially the same.

12. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said first and second hoops are adjustable such that their diameters may be altered to receive portions of said body where said body has a varying diameter.

13. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , wherein either or both of said first and second hoops are open-ended clamps that receive said body of said instrument.

14. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said instrument is a surgical instrument and said tracking device is a receiver used in an electromagnetic surgical tracking system.

15. The attachment mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said tracking device is a light emitting diode used in an optical surgical tracking system.

16. An attachment mechanism for securing a component to an instrument, the instrument having a body portion with a first end, a second end, and a cross-sectional dimension that increases between the first and second ends, comprising:

a first hoop positionable around the first end of the body portion;

a second hoop positionable about the second end of the body portion;

a mechanism configured to secure the component to one of said first and second hoops; and

a connection mechanism configured to draw said first and second hoops toward each other such that the interface between said first and second hoops and the increasing cross-sectioned dimension of the body portion secures said first and second hoops relative to the body portion.

17. An attachment mechanism for securing a component to an instrument, the instrument having a body portion with a first end, a second end, and a cross-sectional dimension that decreases between the first and second ends, comprising:

a first hoop positionable around the first end of the body portion;

a second hoop positionable about the second end of the body portion;

a mechanism configured to secure the component to one of said first and second hoops; and

a connection mechanism configured to move said first and second hoops away from each other such that the interface between said first and second hoops and the decreasing cross-sectioned dimension of the body portion secures said first and second hoops relative to the body portion.

18. A method for securing a component to an instrument where the instrument has a body portion with a first end and a second end, comprising:

connecting the component to one of first and second hoops;

engaging one of said first and second hoops to the instrument along the body portion from the first end;

engaging the other of said first and second hoops to the instrument along the body portion from the second end;

securing said first and second hoops to each other such that said first and second hoops are drawn to each other and secured about the body portion; and

fastening said first and second hoops to each other with a screw.