US 12,329,461 B2
System and method for aligning a tool with an axis to perform a medical procedure
Kyle Kuznik, Livermore, CA (US); Micah Forstein, Topeka, KS (US); and Daniel Bonny, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to THINK Surgical, Inc., Fremont, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/782,031
Filed by THINK Surgical, Inc., Fremont, CA (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 1, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/062686
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 2, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/113227, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/942,341, filed on Dec. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0000558 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 34/10 (2016.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 34/10 (2016.02) [A61B 34/20 (2016.02); A61B 34/70 (2016.02); A61B 34/30 (2016.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for aligning a tool with a targeted axis in tissue to perform a medical procedure, the system comprising:
a hand-held device comprising:
a working portion movably connected to a hand-held portion, wherein the working portion is configured to (i) couple with a reference marker, and (ii) couple with a tool;
and
an actuator for moving the working portion relative to the hand-held portion in response to control signals; and
a computing system comprising one or more processors configured to:
determine a location of a first virtual plane, a second virtual plane, and a targeted axis, wherein the targeted axis has a pre-determined location coincident with an intersection axis of the first virtual plane and the second virtual plane;
generate first control signals to maintain alignment of an axis of the reference marker, when coupled to the working portion, coincident with the first virtual plane for inserting the reference marker in the tissue coincident with the first virtual plane; and
generate second control signals to maintain alignment of an axis of the tool, when coupled to the working portion, coincident with the second virtual plane; and wherein the reference marker and the alignment of the tool coincident with the second virtual plane are used to align the tool along the targeted axis.