An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor
is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor
housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted
to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A
transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals
received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver
are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other
structures and methods are also disclosed.