324 results about "Intra operative" patented technology

This invention relates to orthopedic implants and to methods of treating bone defects. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention is directed to non-metallic implants and to methods for intra-operative assembly and fixation of orthopedic implants to facilitate medical treatment. The non-metallic implant assembly can be secured to underlying tissue by a fastener, such as a bone screw, that is capable of swelling on contact with fluid in the underlying tissue. Alternatively, the non-metallic implant assembly can be assembled intra-operatively using a fastener that is adhesively bonded to a bone plate or the bone plate can be deformed using heat, force, or solvents to inhibit withdrawal of the fastener. In preferred embodiments, both the fastener and the bone plate are formed of biodegradable material.

A system and method for intra-operatively providing a surgeon with visual evaluations of possible surgical outcomes ahead of time, and generating simulated data, includes a medical imaging camera, a registration device for registering data to a physical space, and to the medical imaging camera, and a fusion mechanism for fusing the data and the images to generate simulated data. The simulated data (e.g., such as augmented X-ray images) is natural and easy for a surgeon to interpret. In an exemplary implementation, the system preferably includes a data processor which receives a three-dimensional surgical plan or three-dimensional plan of therapy delivery, one or a plurality of two-dimensional intra-operative images, a three-dimensional model of pre-operative data, registration data, and image calibration data. The data processor produces one or a plurality of simulated post-operative images, by integrating a projection of a three-dimensional model of pre-operative data onto one or a plurality of two-dimensional intra-operative images.

An inertial sensor based surgical navigation system for knee replacement surgery is disclosed. Inertial sensors composed of six-degree-of-freedom inertial chips, whose measurements are processed through a series of integration, quaternion, and kalman filter algorithms, are used to track the position and orientation of bones and surgical instruments. The system registers anatomically significant geometry, calculates joint centers and the mechanical axis of the knee, develops a visualization of the lower extremity that moves in real time, assists in the intra-operative planning of surgical cuts, determines the optimal cutting planes for cut guides and the optimal prosthesis position and orientation, and finally navigates the cut guides and the prosthesis to their optimal positions and orientations using a graphical user interface.

Improved assemblies, systems, and methods provide safeguarding against tissue injury during surgical procedures and/or identify nerve damage occurring prior to surgery and/or verify range of motion or attributes of muscle contraction during reconstructive surgery. A stimulation control device may incorporate a range of low and high intensity stimulation to provide a stimulation and evaluation of both nerves and muscles. A stimulation control device is removably coupled to a surgical device or is imbedded within the medical device to provide a stimulation and treatment medical device. A disposable hand held stimulation system includes an operative element extending from the housing, the housing includes an operative element adjustment portion and a visual indication to provide feedback or status to the user.

A method and system of compensation for intra-operative organ shift of a living subject usable in image guide surgery. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of generating a first geometric surface of the organ of the living subject from intra-operatively acquired images of the organ of the living subject, constructing an atlas of organ deformations of the living subject from pre-operatively acquired organ images from the pre-operatively acquired organ images, generating a second geometric surface of the organ from the atlas of organ deformations, aligning the second geometric surface of the organ to the first geometric surface of the organ of the living subject to determine at least one difference between a point of the first geometric surface and a corresponding point of the second geometric surface of the organ of the living subject, which is related to organ shift, and compensating for the intra-operative organ shift.

Intra-operative systems for identifying surgical sharp objects are provided. Aspects of the systems include an intra-operative imaging device for obtaining intra-operative surgical sharp object image data; and a surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module configured to identify a surgical sharp object from intra-operative surgical sharp object image data. Systems of the invention may further include additional components, such as surgical instrument and/or sponge identification and tracking devices. Systems of the invention find use in a variety of methods and applications, including tracking of surgical items during a surgical procedure.

The invention provides a method and system for performing an image-guided endoscopic medical procedure. The invention may include registering image-space coordinates of a path of a medical instrument within the anatomy of a patient to patient-space coordinates of the path of the medical instrument within the anatomy of the patient. In some embodiments, the image space coordinates of the path of the medical instrument may be predicted coordinates such as, for example, a calculated centerline through a conduit-like organ, or a calculated “most likely path” of the medical instrument within the anatomy of the patient. In other embodiments, the path of the medical instrument may be an actual path determined using intra-operative images of the patient's anatomy with the medical instrument inserted therein. The registered instrument may then be navigated to one or more items of interest for performance of the endoscopic medical procedure.

A method of contouring spinal rods, and systems therefor. The surgeon uses image guided surgery instruments to identify the locations of the screw heads through which the rod will pass. These locations allow a computer to form a best fit line that corresponds to the shape of a rod that can pass through the screw heads. This best fit line is then displayed on a projection table from both its coronal and sagittal views. The surgeon then shapes the rod using these 2-D images as a template.

Arrangement for the intra-operative determination of the spatial position and angular position of a joint replacement implant, especially a hip socket or shoulder socket or an associated stem implant, or a vertebral replacement implant, especially a lumbar or cervical vertebral implant, using a computer tomography method, having: a computer tomography modeling device for generating and storing a three-dimensional image of a joint region or vertebral region to be provided with the joint replacement implant, an optical coordinate-measuring arrangement for providing real position coordinates of defined real or virtual points of the joint region or vertebral region and/or position reference vectors between such points within the joint region or vertebral region or from those points to joint-function-relevant points on an extremity outside the joint region or vertebral region, the coordinate-measuring arrangement comprising a stereocamera or stereocamera arrangement for the spatial recording of transducer signals, at least one multipoint transducer, which comprises a group of measurement points rigidly connected to one another, and an evaluation unit for evaluating sets of measurement point coordinates supplied by the multipoint transducer(s) and recorded by the stereocamera, and a matching-processing unit for real position matching of the image to the actual current spatial position of the joint region or vertebral region with reference to the real position coordinates of the defined points, the matching-processing unit being configured for calculating transformation parameters with minimalization of the normal spacings.

A robot-guided system to assist orthopaedic surgeons in performing orthopaedic surgical procedures on pre-positioned inserts, including for the fixation of bone fractures, and especially for use in long bone distal intramedullary locking procedures. The system provides a mechanical guide for drilling the holes for distal screws in intramedullary nailing surgery. The drill guide is automatically positioned by the robot relative to the distal locking nail holes, using data derived from only a small number of X-ray fluoroscopic images. The system allows the performance of the locking procedure without trial and error, thus enabling the procedure to be successfully performed by less experienced surgeons, reduces exposure of patient and operating room personnel to radiation, shortens the intra-operative time, and thus reduces post-operative complications.

The present invention discloses handheld tracking systems and devices comprising of at least one handheld tracking device for intra-operative aligning or positioning of surgical implant systems and instruments with reference to the anatomy of a patient. The handheld tracking system further comprises of at least one trackable element. The handheld device is mounted at the proposed implantation site using the holding means while trackable element(s) is/are mounted at predetermined location(s) such that data from said deployed trackable element(s) relating to the position of the patient and the surgical instruments are input continuously into the handheld devices. The handheld device then processes the data on the basis of pre-loaded preoperative scanned images in the processing means to monitor the accurate placement of said implant system onsite in sterile environment.

Method for assessing the patency of a patient's blood vessel, advantageously during or after treatment of that vessel by an invasive procedure, comprising administering a fluorescent dye to the patient; obtaining at least one angiographic image of the vessel portion; and evaluating the at least one angiographic image to assess the patency of the vessel portion. Other related methods are contemplated, including methods for assessing perfusion in selected body tissue, methods for evaluating the potential of vessels for use in creation of AV fistulas, methods for determining the diameter of a vessel, and methods for locating a vessel located below the surface of a tissue.

An imaging and display system for guiding medical interventions includes a wearable display, such as a goggle display, for viewing by a user. The display presents a composite, or combined image that includes pre-operative surgical navigation images, intraoperative images, and in-vivo microscopy images or sensing data. The pre-operative images are acquired from scanners, such as MRI and CT scanners, while the intra-operative images are acquired in real-time from a camera system carried by the goggle display for imaging the patient being treated so as to acquire intraoperative images, such as fluorescence images. A probe, such as a microscopy probe or a sensing probe, is used to acquire in-vivo imaging/sensing data from the patient. Additionally, the intra-operative and in-vivo images are acquired using tracking and registration techniques to align them with the pre-operative image and the patient to form a composite image for display by the goggle display.

A multi-axis spinal fixation device which can use a fixed head spinal or pedicle screw in combination with a multi-axial rod assembly to achieve anatomically correct fixation of vertebrae. The orthopedic fixation can be controlled by a different combination of rod elements to provide a varied range of motion between adjacent vertebrae as well as specific flexibility between the adjacent vertebrae or levels. The surgeon can make intra-operative adjustments from rigid fixation to dynamic stabilization and where desired also provide ‘soft-stabilization’ or ‘micro motion’. The unique combination of elements can provide fixed stabilization for the purpose of fusion or dynamic stabilization without fusion.

The invention includes a method and system for intra-operative navigation of a joint replacement operation, without recourse to pre-operative imagery of pre-operative computerized simulations. Trackable markers and a locating system are employed to track first and second bones. A computer receives positional information regarding the trackable markers and calculates (predicts) at least one suggested combination of components of a modular implant system to produce a desired post-operative skeletal relationship.

In one embodiment, a method for providing augmented reality in minimally invasive surgery includes capturing pre-operative image data of internal organs of a patient, capturing intra-operative image data of the internal organs with an endoscope during a surgical procedure, registering the pre-operative image data and the intra-operative data in real time during the surgical procedure, tracking the position and orientation of the endoscope during the surgical procedure, and augmenting the intra-operative image data captured by the endoscope in real time with a rendering of an internal organ of the patient.

Methods and systems achieve tissue ablation, which is carried out by inserting a probe having an ablation electrode into a body of a living subject, and while the ablation electrode is in a non-contacting relationship to a target tissue, making a pre-contact determination of a phase of an electrical current passing between the ablation electrode and another electrode. The ablation electrode is placed in contact with the target tissue, and while the ablation electrode is in the contacting relationship, a dosage of energy is applied via the ablation electrode to the target tissue for ablation thereof. Iterative intra-operative determinations of the phase of the electrical current are made. When one of the intra-operative determinations satisfies a termination criterion, the energy application is terminated.

Methods and apparatus for non-invasively assessing physiological hard of soft tissue of human and other species are described. In a preferred embodiment, tissue is vibrationally stimulated in vivo through a frequency spectrum. The tissue reacts against the stimulus and the reaction is preferably measured and recorded. Based on analytical algorithms or comparisons with previously taken measurements, changes within the tissue can be detected and used for diagnostic purposes. Further embodiments describe the usage of the device and methods for in vivo intra-operative and post-operative implant evaluations and as a therapeutic tool.

A device for generating composite images of dynamically changing surgical anatomy includes circuitry configured to receive, from an endoscopic imaging device, endoscopic image data. The circuitry is configured to receive, from a tomographic imaging device, intra-operative tomographic image data. The circuitry is configured to receive, from a tracking device, spatial tracking data corresponding to the endoscopic imaging device and the tomographic imaging device. The circuitry is configured to generate real-time dynamically changing composite image data by overlaying, based on the spatial tracking data, the intra-operative tomographic image data on the endoscopic image data. The circuitry is configured to output the composite image data to a display.

A method for intra-operative surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis by an anterior minimally invasive approach of the lumbar spine includes inserting an interbody spacer between two vertebrae, attaching an anatomically designed reduction plate to at least one of the two vertebrae, and attaching the interbody spacer to the reduction plate by a fastening means through a central borehole of the reduction plate and the interbody spacer. The interbody spacer may be attached to the anteriorly positioned vertebra by at least bone screw. The upper and lower parts may be attached to the upper and lower vertebra by at least one bone screw to stabilize the displaced vertebral segment of the spine.

Intra-operative coating of sutures with therapeutic proteins, particularly growth factors such as rhGDF-5. including contacting a suture to a device containing a therapeutic agent, methods of repairing soft tissue defects with coated sutures and composite sutures coated with therapeutic agents.