Importance

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Abstract

A surgical method and apparatus for accurately aligning the trajectory of, guiding of, and introducing or withdrawal of an instrument includes a base with a movable member. The base has a tubular shape. Positioned near the first end of the base is a seat. The seat is dimensioned to receive a movable member. A positioning member is used to move the movable member. The initial position of the movable member is determined using a scanning device, such as a CT scanner, frameless stereotaxy device or an MRI device. The movable member is elevated above the patient so that a burr hole does not have to be made in the patient to do the above described procedure. The second end has an opening therein and the tubular body is positioned between the seat and the second end. A flange near the second end is used to attach the base to the patient. The flange may also engage a plastic ring such that it can rotate or swivel with respect to the ring. The ring is attached to a flexible adhesive patch so which may be attached to the body. A portion or the entire positioning stem may be doped to make the positioning stem detectable by x-radiation and by the CT scanner. Arched bails can also be attached to the base for adjusting the trajectory alignment. An adapter externalizes burr holes and eliminates the need for burr hole. The externalizer forms a substitute burr hole away from the skull or body so tools which usually work only within a burr hole can be used without having to make a burr hole.

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First Claim