Medical instrument comprising a separate transmitter unit which can be exteriorly fastened
The invention relates to a medical instrument, comprising a signal transmitter and at least one activating device for activating the transmitter which is provided on a transmitter unit which is separate from the instrument, wherein the transmitter unit is a unit which can be fastened to the exterior of the instrument. It also relates to a method for controlling a treatment-assisting medical software by means of a signal transmitter which is arranged on a medical instrument, wherein the instrument is positionally detected by means of a medical tracking system, and wherein the software assigns a different significance to the signal output by the transmitter depending on the position of the instrument.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a medical instrument having a marker mount for receiving a detachable reference marker, wherein the medical instrument includes a positionally defined fixing portion; and
a signaling device for the medical instrument, the signaling device comprising:
a transmitter unit including a transmitter unit mount, the transmitter unit mount different from the marker mount, the transmitter unit further comprising a fastening portion which is detachably couplable to the periphery of the instrument;
a signal transmitter; and
at least one activating device for activating the transmitter, wherein the transmitter unit mount is fixed and/or secured to the instrument by the detachable reference marker;
wherein the fastening portion is configured to cooperate with the fixing portion to couple the transmitter unit to the medical instrument.
2. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a quick-release lock configured to removably couple the transmitter unit to the medical instrument, wherein the quick-release lock is arranged on the periphery of the instrument.
3. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising the detachable reference marker.
4. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit comprises an optical transmitter and an activating switch.
5. The medical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the optical transmitter is an LED.
6. The medical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the LED is an infrared LED.
7. The medical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the activating switch is a contact switch.
8. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit comprises an optical status signal emitter.
9. The medical instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the optical status signal emitter is a status signal LED.
10. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit comprises an integrated energy supply for the transmitter.
11. The medical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the integrated energy supply for the transmitter is a battery.
12. The medical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the battery is a button cell battery.
13. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit is a disposable item.
14. A system of instruments, comprising:
a plurality of instruments in accordance with claim 1 , which comprise standardized fixing portions which can fasten the same transmitter unit and/or transmitter units via identical standardized fastening portions; and
at least one separate transmitter unit.