Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use with a surgical navigation system. The apparatus comprises a tool body and tool attachment onto which emitters are fixedly mounted. At least one tool tip is removably coupled with the tool body. An electrical sensor is positioned to be operated when the tool tip is changed either by coupling the tip to or removing the tip from the tool body. A controller responsive to the operation of switch detects when the tip has been changed. An alarm responsive to the controller indicates that the tool tip has been removed or changed so that the tip can be recalibrated relative to a known position in the surgical navigation system.

Abstract: A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system generates a display representing the position of two or more body elements during the procedure based on an image data set generated by a scanner prior to the procedure. The image data set has reference points for each of the body elements, the reference points of a particular body element having a fixed spatial relation to the particular body element. The system includes an apparatus for identifying, during the procedure, the relative position of each of the reference points of each of the body elements to be displayed. The system also includes a processor for modifying the image data set according to the identified relative position of each of the reference points during the procedure, as identified by the identifying apparatus, said processor generating a displaced image data set representing the position of the body elements during the procedure.

Abstract: A system for utilizing and registering at least two surgical navigation systems during stereotactic surgery. The system comprises a first surgical navigation system defining a first patient space, a second surgical navigation system defining a second patient space, and a translation device to register the coordinates of the first patient space to the coordinates of the second patient space. The translation device comprises a rigid body, at least one component for a first navigation system placed in or on the rigid body, and at least one component for a second navigation system placed in or on the rigid body, in known relation to the at least one component for the first navigation system. The translation device is positioned in a working volume of each of the at least two navigation systems.

Abstract: A surgical instrument navigation system comprises an ultrasound machine and a computer coupled to the ultrasound machine. A memory is coupled to the computer and includes computer instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to generate an icon representing the surgical instrument with a tip and the surgical instrument's trajectory and to overlay the icon on a real-time ultrasound image having an image plane, such that when the surgical instrument crosses the ultrasound image plane the format of the surgical instrument's trajectory is changed to represent the surgical instrument's crossing of the ultrasound image's plane. The system also comprises a localizer coupled to the ultrasound machine, and a display coupled to the computer for displaying the generated icon superimposed on the real-time image.

Abstract: A method for use during a procedure on a body. The method generates a display representing relative positions of two structure during the procedure.

Abstract: A guide is disclosed for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare across a spinal disc and adjacent vertebrae an implantation space. The guide is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the guide in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide comprises a body for providing protected access to prepare across the spinal disc and into the adjacent vertebrae the implantation space. The body has a passage adapted to receive a bone removal device for forming the implantation space through the body. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the body for use in identifying the location of the guide relative to the adjacent vertebrae. A system and method for using the guide in spinal surgery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vertebral distractor is disclosed for use in performing anterior cervical spinal surgery. The vertebral distractor is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the vertebral distractor in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide comprises a shaft, a stationary first arm, and at least one movable second arm. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the shaft for use in identifying the location of the vertebral distractor relative to the vertebrae. A system for using the vertebral distractor in spinal surgery is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing composite data by a server computer involves deforming a template creating a mapping relationship between co-registered data and subject data, filtering the co-registered data, and mapping this filtered co-registered data according to the mapping data. A client computer requests the composite data from the server computer and transmits the subject data to the server computer. The client presents the received composite data to an operator and monitors the operators use of the composite data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing composite data by a server computer involves deforming a template creating a mapping relationship between co-registered data and subject data, filtering the co-registered data, and mapping this filtered co-registered data according to the mapping data. A client computer requests the composite data from the server computer and transmits the subject data to the server computer. The client presents the received composite data to an operator and monitors the operators use of the composite data.

Abstract: An apparatus and procedures for percutaneous placement of surgical implants and instruments such as, for example, screws, rods, wires and plates into various body parts using image guided surgery. The invention includes an apparatus for use with a surgical navigation system, an attaching device rigidly connected to a body part, such as the spinous process of a vertebrae, with an identification superstructure rigidly but removably connected to the attaching device. This identification superstructure, for example, is a reference arc and fiducial array which accomplishes the function of identifying the location of the superstructure, and, therefore, the body part to which it is fixed, during imaging by CAT scan or MRI, and later during medical procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use with a surgical navigation system. The apparatus comprises a universal instrument attachment device. The universal instrument attachment device preferably includes a tracking body onto which a position tracking array is fixedly mountable, and an instrument attachment body removably and adjustably mounted to the tracking body. The instrument attachment body further includes a flexible clamping band having a circumference for adaptably conforming around a variety of instruments having different circumferential shapes and clamping the instrument to the instrument attachment body itself.

Abstract: A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system generates a display representing the position of two or more body elements during the procedure based on an image data set generated by a scanner prior to the procedure. The image data set has reference points for each of the body elements, the reference points of a particular body element having a fixed spatial relation to the particular body element. The system includes an apparatus for identifying, during the procedure, the relative position of each of the reference points of each of the body elements to be displayed. The system also includes a processor for modifying the image data set according to the identified relative position of each of the reference points during the procedure, as identified by the identifying apparatus, said processor generating a displaced image data set representing the position of the body elements during the procedure.

Abstract: Image processing operations are used to improve images that include visual artifacts generated by calibration markers used in intrinsic calibration of an x-ray image. Artifacts introduced by opaque or semi-transparent calibration markers may be completely or partially removed from the image. More particularly, artifacts caused by opaque calibration markers are removed by changing the pixels corresponding to the projections of the calibration markers to blend in with pixels surrounding the calibration markers. Artifacts may also be generated with semi-transparent calibration markers. These artifacts may be eliminated from the image, while leaving intact the underlying image, by subtracting a constant offset from each marker projection.