Granted Patent B2

US 12,471,995 · App. 17/538,186 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Inventors: Thomas Scholl (San Diego, CA); Mark Peterson (San Diego, CA); Robert Isaacs (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.

A61B34/10A61B5/0086A61B5/4566A61B17/7002A61B17/7083A61B17/7086A61B17/86A61B17/8863A61B34/20A61B34/25A61B17/808A61B2034/104A61B2034/105A61B2034/107A61B2034/108A61B2034/2055A61B2034/254A61B2090/3983

Abstract

Claims (64)

1 . A system comprising:

a digitizer pointer including:

a first fiducial; and

at least one shutter configured to selectively obscure the first fiducial such that the first fiducial is obscured while the at least one shutter is in a closed position and the first fiducial is exposed while the at least one shutter is in an open position.

2 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one shutter includes a first shutter and a second shutter; and

wherein the first shutter and the second shutter cooperate to obscure the first fiducial when first shutter and the second shutter are in the closed position.

3 . The system of claim 2 ,

wherein the first shutter comprises:

a first shutter cover; and

a first shutter handle coupled to the first shutter cover and manipulatable to transition the first shutter to the open position; and

wherein the second shutter comprises:

a second shutter cover; and

a second shutter handle coupled to the second shutter cover and manipulatable to transition the second shutter to the open position.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the digitizer pointer further comprises a spring extending between the first shutter and the second shutter that biases the first shutter and the second shutter into the closed position.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a default position of the at least one shutter is the closed position.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first fiducial is configured to reflect infrared light.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the digitizer further comprises:

a tracking array comprising a tracking array distal end, the first fiducial, the at least one shutter, and at least one additional fiducial; and

a stylus having:

a stylus proximal end mated with the tracking array distal end; and

a stylus distal end configured to engage with a screw head.

8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a bone screw having a tulip head,

wherein the stylus distal end is mated with the tulip head.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a control unit in communication with a spatial tracking system and being configured to: recognize the digitizer only when the first fiducial is visible to the spatial tracking system.

10 . An apparatus comprising:

a tracking array including:

a housing;

a plurality of IR-reflective spheres; and

one or more shutters,

wherein the housing comprises a top housing, bottom housing, and a distal end; and wherein the distal end is configured to couple with a stylus, and

wherein the top housing includes an upper portion, an underside, and one or more sides; wherein the upper portion and the underside cooperate to define a plurality of sphere apertures; and wherein each of the plurality of IR-reflective spheres is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of sphere apertures.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the bottom housing includes a first face and a second face; and wherein the first face includes nesting platforms and posts.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each shutter of the one or more shutters includes:

a handle;

a cover;

a tongue;

one or more gear teeth; and

a channel for receiving one of the posts.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a spring extending between the shutters biasing the shutters into a closed position that covers at least one of the plurality of IR-reflective spheres.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sides each define at least one cutout configured to receive the tongue of one of the shutters.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a bone screw,

wherein a stylus is mated with the bone screw.

16 . An apparatus comprising:

a tracking array comprising:

a first fiducial;

one or more additional fiducials;

at least one shutter in an open position exposing the first fiducial; and

a compressed spring resisting the at least one shutter being in the open position;

a bone screw having a bone screw head; and

a stylet having a proximal end coupled to the tracking array and a distal end in contact with the bone screw head.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 ,

wherein at least one shutter includes:

a first shutter comprising:

a first shutter cover;

a first shutter handle coupled to the first shutter cover and manipulatable to transition the first shutter to an open position; and

a second shutter comprising:

a second shutter cover;

a second shutter handle coupled to the second shutter cover and manipulatable to transition the second shutter to the open position; and

wherein a spring extends between the first shutter handle and the second shutter handle.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (400)