IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,642,596
Granted Patent B2
US 12,642,596 · App. 18/064,732 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Navigational and/or robotic tracking methods and systems

Inventors: Benjamin Sexson (Austin, TX); Hrisheekesh Patil (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
A61B34/20A61B8/4245A61B8/4472A61B34/32A61B34/70A61B90/361A61B90/39G06T7/0012G06T7/292G06T7/38A61B2034/2057A61B2034/2063A61B2034/2065A61B2034/2068G06T2207/30008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,642,596
App. No.
18/064,732
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Navigational and/or robotic tracking systems include one or more wireless tracking device attached to an object or to a bone of a patient. The wireless tracking device may include a camera, a pair of cameras, and/or a probe, and a wireless transmitter. Surgical methods may include wirelessly obtaining reference data, the reference data based on the camera of the wireless tracking device operably attached to the bone of the patient, the reference data is associated with a plurality of markers and using the reference data in a surgical navigation system. Surgical methods may also include wirelessly obtaining positional and orientation data, and/or surface or structural data, and using the positional and orientation data, and/or surface or structural data in the surgical navigation system.

Claims (70)

1 . A surgical method comprising:

providing a robot comprising a robotic arm having an end effector, the robotic arm having a plurality of joints and plurality of body parts;

providing a controller comprising a memory, one or more processors in communication with the memory, and program instructions executable by the one or more processors via the memory to perform a method, the method comprising:

wirelessly obtaining reference data based on at least one camera of a wireless tracking device operably attached to a bone of a patient, the reference data associated with at least one of a plurality of markers, and the wireless tracking device comprising:

the at least one camera; and

a wireless transmitter; and

using the wirelessly obtained reference data based on the at least one camera of the wireless tracking device in a surgical navigation system to perform a surgical procedure on the patient; and

wherein the plurality of markers is attached to the movable arm or joint of the robot.

2 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of markers is attached to a surgical tool attached to a robot, a base of a robot, a cart, a fixture attached to a surgical table, surgical lighting, an outside-in navigation camera, and/or one or more objects in an operating room.

3 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the using comprises updating a target position for a robot.

4 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the wirelessly obtaining reference data comprises wirelessly obtaining a starting position, and wirelessly obtaining changes in a position from the starting position.

5 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the using comprises:

using the reference data in the surgical navigation system to resect or excavate the bone of the patient based on a cut plan;

displaying an image representing the bone of the patient; and/or

displaying an image representing a tool relative to the bone of the patient.

6 . The surgical method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining or generating registrations data regarding registration of the wireless tracking device to the bone of the patient, and wherein the using comprises using the data regarding registration of the wireless tracking device to the bone of the patient and the obtained reference data in the surgical navigation system to perform the surgical procedure on the patient.

7 . The surgical method of claim 1 , further comprising generating data regarding registration of the wireless tracking device to the bone of the patient based on bone data of the bone of the patient and a secondary camera remote from the patient and the wireless tracking device.

8 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of markers is attached to a robot having a stationary base and a robotic arm having a plurality of joints and plurality of body parts with at least one of the plurality of markers attached to the stationary base and at least one of the plurality of markers attached to one of the joints or body parts; and

the reference data is associated with the stationary base and/or the at least one of the joints or body parts.

9 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of markers comprises a plurality of movable markers, and wherein the plurality of movable markers is operably attached to a robot and/or to a plurality of tools attached to the robot.

10 . The surgical method of claim 9 , further comprising;

receiving intrinsic position data of the robot; and

using the intrinsic position data to determine a position and orientation of the plurality of movable markers.

11 . The surgical method of claim 9 , further comprising;

providing a secondary camera;

tracking the robot with the secondary camera; and

using the tracked robot to determine the location of the plurality of movable markers.

12 . The surgical method of claim 1 , further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining second reference data, the second reference data based on at least one camera of a second wireless tracking device operably attached to an object attached to the patient, the second reference data associated with at least one of the plurality of markers, and the second wireless tracking device comprising:

at least one camera; and

a wireless transmitter; and

using the first and second reference data in the surgical navigation system to perform the surgical procedure on the patient.

13 . The surgical method of claim 12 , wherein the object comprises a retractor.

14 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera of the wireless tracking device is pointed towards a robot arm and/or the at least one camera of the wireless tracking device is pointed towards a robot base.

15 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope, and a magnetometer.

16 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein:

the wireless tracking device comprises;

the at least one camera;

an inertial measurement unit; and

the wireless transmitter; and further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining position and orientation data, the position and orientation data based on the inertial measurement unit of the wireless tracking device operably attached to the bone of the patient; and

the using comprises using the reference data and the position and orientation data in the surgical navigation system.

17 . The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein:

the wireless tracking device comprises:

the at least one camera comprising a plurality of cameras; and

the wireless transmitter; and

the reference data is based on the plurality of cameras of the wireless tracking device operably attached to the bone of the patient.

18 . A surgical robotic system comprising:

a robot comprising a robotic arm having an end effector, the robotic arm having a plurality of joints and plurality of body parts; and

a controller comprising a memory, one or more processors in communication with the memory, and program instructions executable by the one or more processors via the memory to perform the method of claim 1 .

19 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing the method of claim 1 .

20 . A surgical method comprising:

providing a robot comprising a robotic arm having an end effector, the robotic arm having a plurality of joints and plurality of body parts;

providing a controller comprising a memory, one or more processors in communication with the memory, and program instructions executable by the one or more processors via the memory to perform a method, the method comprising:

wirelessly obtaining surface or structural data of a bone of a patient, the surface or structural data based on a probe of a wireless tracking device operably attached to the bone of the patient, and the wireless tracking device comprising:

the probe;

a wireless transmitter;

the wireless tracking device does not include a camera; and

the probe comprises an ultrasound probe; and

using the wirelessly obtained surface or structural data in a surgical navigation system to perform the surgical procedure on the patient.

21 . The surgical method of claim 20 , wherein the probe is inserted into a cavity in the bone of the patient.

22 . The surgical method of claim 20 , further comprising obtaining or generating registration data of the probe operably attached to the bone, and wherein the using comprises using the surface or structural data and registration data in the surgical navigation system.

23 . The surgical method of claim 20 , wherein the wireless transmitter further comprises an internal measurement unit, and further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining position and orientation data, the position and orientation data based on the inertial measurement unit of the wireless tracking device operably attached to the bone of the patient; and wherein:

the using comprises using the surface or structural data and the position and orientation data in the surgical navigation system to perform the surgical procedure on the patient.

24 . The surgical method of claim 20 , wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises at least one camera, and further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining reference data based on the at least one camera of the wireless tracking device operably attached to the bone of the patient; and wherein:

the using comprises using the surface or structural data and the reference data in the surgical navigation system to perform the surgical procedure on the patient.

25 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing the method of claim 20 .

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING AND RECEIVING PARTIES AS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 74348 FRAME 613. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 23, 2026
From: MONOGRAM ORTHOPAEDICS INC.
To: MONOGRAM TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 075515/0666 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 13, 2026
From: MONOGRAM TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: MONOGRAM ORTHOPAEDICS INC.
Reel/Frame 074348/0613 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2026
From: MONOGRAM TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: ZIMMER, INC.
Reel/Frame 075391/0294 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION CHANGING COMPANY FROM INC TO LLC Recorded Apr 13, 2026
From: MONOGRAM TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: MONOGRAM TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 075384/0004 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2023
From: PATIL, HRISHEEKESH; SEXSON, BENJAMIN
To: MONOGRAM ORTHOPAEDICS INC.
Reel/Frame 064592/0534 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2021036985 · Jun 11, 2021
Provisional Application 63037699 · Jun 11, 2020
Related Publication 20230111411A1 · Apr 13, 2023
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