Abstract: A method for updating a patient registration during a surgical procedure is disclosed. The surgical procedure uses an optical navigation system for optically tracking a patient reference object in a real world space and includes intra-operatively acquiring a first set of image data depicting a region of interest on the patient while the first registration is intact. The region of interest includes at least one anatomical landmark. The method includes: detecting that the first registration has been lost; obtaining a second set of image data depicting the region of interest; identifying a transform based on the first set of image data and the second set of image data; and applying the identified transform to data points of the first registration to obtain data points for the updated patient registration.

Abstract: A contrast system and methods for improving optical detection during a medical procedure, the system involving: a tracking marker, each tracking marker comprising a tracking marker coupling feature; and a contrast element, each contrast element comprising a contrast element coupling feature and an optically non-reflective feature, the contrast element coupling feature configured to complement the tracking marker coupling feature, each contrast element configured to respectively accommodate, by backing, each tracking marker, and contrast element configured to respectively facilitate coupling each tracking marker with a trackable object through a background object via at least one of a contrast element fastening feature and a trackable object fastening feature, whereby at least one of optical contrast and imaging in relation to the tracking marker and the background object is enhanced, false detection of the tracking marker is minimized, and optical detection of the tracking marker is improved.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with dual optical coherence tomography probes is provided comprising: an optical scope comprising a distal end; a first OCT probe; and, a second OCT probe, each of the first OCT probe and the second OCT probe mechanically attached to the optical scope, the first OCT probe and the second OCT probe being substantially paraxial and configured to focus on a same scanning area, the optical scope configured to optically image the same scanning area using the distal end, the first OCT probe having a higher resolution than the second OCT probe.

Abstract: A medical navigation system is provided having a positioning device having a positioning arm with a flange at the end of the positioning arm, a controller at least electrically coupled to the positioning device, and an end effector joystick controller for connecting to the flange of the positioning arm. The controller has a processor coupled to a memory and a display. The end effector joystick controller includes a mating component for connecting to the flange of the positioning arm, and a joystick portion extending from the mating component.

Abstract: A medical navigation system is provided, comprising a computing device having a processor coupled to a memory, a tracking camera for tracking medical devices, and a display for displaying an image; an automated arm assembly electrically coupled to the computing device and controlled by a signal provided by the computing device, the automated arm assembly including a multi-joint arm having a distal end connectable to an effector that supports a surgical camera electrically coupled to the computing device; and a medical device having a tracking marker attachable to the medical device.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided including a processor, an input device coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the processor; and a module saved in the memory. The module configures the processor to, during a procedure phase of a medical procedure, identify pieces of equipment to be used in the medical procedure using input from the input device; track the pieces of equipment being used in the medical procedure using input from the input device; and account for each of the pieces of equipment at completion of the medical procedure using input from the input device.

Abstract: Methods and image-guided surgical navigation systems for updating an existing landmark registration of one or more landmark features in a common coordinate space are provided. The image-guided surgical navigation system includes a processor, an imaging device coupled to the processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The image-guided surgical navigation system may be configured to capture a planar image of a region of interest, where the planar view image includes illustration of the one or more landmark features; generate a depth map from the planar view image; based on the depth map, identify a current location of the one or more landmark features in the common coordinate space; and transform the existing landmark registration to the current location of the one or more landmark features in the common coordinate space.

Abstract: A camera system for providing images with simultaneous high resolution and large depth of field is provided. The system includes: a camera device having a field of view, the camera device configured to automatically acquire: a first image of the field of view at a first numerical aperture; and a second image of the field of view at a second numerical aperture smaller than the first numerical aperture; an image processing unit configured to combine the first image with the second image into a single image by: extracting a higher-resolution in-focus portion of the first image; and replacing a corresponding lower-resolution portion of the second image with the higher-resolution in-focus portion of the first image; and, a display device in communication with the image processing unit, the display device configured to render the single image.

Abstract: A method of rendering medical image data includes: obtaining an image, having a plurality of voxels, of a volume of patient tissue having a plurality of tissue types; for each of the plurality of voxels: determining a first type indicator value indicating a likelihood that the voxel depicts a first one of the tissue types; storing the first type indicator value in association with the voxel; setting a first type indicator threshold for the first tissue type; rendering the image on a display and applying a first visual filter to a first subset of the voxels having type indicator values that satisfy the first type indicator threshold; and updating the rendering, responsive to receiving input data specifying a modified first type indicator threshold, to apply the first visual filter to an updated first subset of the voxels having first type indicator values that satisfy the modified first type indicator threshold.

Abstract: Simulated tissue products and methods involving an enhanced simulated tissue product, the enhanced simulated tissue product formed from a polyvinyl alcohol material having a molecular chain length in a range of at least approximately 7000 vinyl alcohol repeat units; and water, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol material has a preferred molecular chain length in a range of at least approximately 7150 vinyl alcohol repeat units; wherein the aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution involves an additive, and, wherein the additive involves a plurality of nanoparticles. The simulated tissue products and methods are further useful with multi-metric surgery simulator devices, systems, and methods, such as those for training surgical tasks.

Abstract: A method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that includes: accessing data indicating a first region for imaging a portion of a subject, the portion being placed in a main magnet of the MRI system and the main magnet generating a magnetic field; selecting, from a group of available shimming coils, a first subset of shimming coils arranged and configured such that, when the shimming coils in the first subset are driven, a homogeneity of the magnetic field at the first region is increased; and driving the shimming coils in the selected first subset of shimming coils without driving other shimming coils in the group of available shimming coils such that the homogeneity of the magnetic field at the first region increases relative to the homogeneity of the magnetic field at the first region when the shimming coils of the selected first subset are not driven.

Abstract: A system and method using a combined modality optical probe is provided. The system comprises: light source(s) providing excitation light; a first optical analysis device configured to receive light in a first range and analyze it using a first optical modality; a second optical analysis device configured to receive light in a second range and analyze it using a second optical modality slower than the first modality; an optical probe configured to: convey the excitation light to a tissue sample; receive the light in the first and second ranges from the sample; and, one or more optical conduits configured to: convey the excitation light from the light source(s) to the optical probe; convey the light in the first range from the optical probe to the first optical analysis device; and convey the light in the second range from the optical probe to the second optical analysis device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and using magnetic resonance (“MR”) visible labels, markers, or assemblies to encode information unique to the subject or object being imaged by a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system are provided. The use of such MR-visible labels, markers, or assemblies enables unique information associated with the subject or object being imaged to be encoded into the images of the subject or object. This information can be used to anonymize protected health information (“PHI”); to provide detailed information about a surgical simulation device, quality assurance phantom, or the like; to provide spatial orientation and registration information; or so on.

Abstract: Described are various embodiments of micro-optical surgical probes and micro-optical probe tips and methods of manufacture therefor. In some embodiments, multichannel micro-optical probe tip structures are directly manufactured upon respective optical channel waveguides, or again manufactured to integrally define respective optical coupling to these waveguides. In some embodiments, micro-optical probe tip structures are manufactured via a 3D laser printing process. Specific embodiments include, but are not limited to, spectroscopic or particularly Raman spectroscopy probes and their associated multichannel probe tip structures, and multichannel endoscopes.

Abstract: A medical navigation system for displaying a three dimensional (3D) surface video of a target is provided. The medical navigation system comprises a 3D imaging device, a camera, a display, and a controller electrically coupled to the 3D imaging device, the camera, and the display. The controller has a processor coupled to a memory. The controller is configured to perform calibration of input devices; acquire 3D depth data of the target from a signal generated by the 3D imaging device; construct a 3D surface contour of the target based on the 3D depth data; acquire a video stream of the target from a signal generated by the camera; generate a 3D surface video based on the 3D surface contour and the video stream; and display the 3D surface video on the display.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for correcting errors caused by non-linearities in a gradient field profile of a gradient coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes obtaining a non-linearity tensor at each voxel within the imaging space using a computer model of the gradient coil; correcting motion sensitive encoding using the non-linearity tensor; and generating a corrected image using the corrected motion sensitive encoding.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a system that includes: a main magnet including a bore and configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field in the bore; one or more gradient coils configured to perturb the substantially uniform magnetic field in the bore, wherein perturbing the substantially uniform magnetic field results in a first varying magnetic field outside of the bore; and one or more shielding units located outside of the bore and configured to generate a second varying magnetic field configured to attenuate the first varying magnetic field outside of the bore.

Abstract: An exoscope with enhanced depth of field imaging is provided. The exoscope includes first and second sets of optical devices, the first set having a fixed image plane, the second set having a variable image plane adjacent the fixed image plane of the first set. The second set includes at least one variable device configured to change the position of the variable image plane. A beamsplitter splits light from a combined optical path of the first and second set to respective image devices of the first and second set of optical devices. A controller controls the at least one variable device to change the position of the variable image plane relative to the fixed image plane, combines images acquired by the respective image devices, and controls a display device to render a combined image.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing tissue organization using polarization sensitive optical coherence (PSOCT) tomography is provided. A PSOCT device is controlled, by a computing device, to obtain PSOCT A-line scans across a sample. For each of the PSOCT A-line scans, the computing device determines a frequency characteristic of any banding present in a respective PSOCT A-line retardance scan. The computing device controls display device to render a map of the frequency characteristic.

Abstract: A spinal training simulator kit with an operable module unit for surgical training is described. The spinal training simulator kit includes an anatomical base model of at least a portion of a spinal column and at least one high-fidelity module unit, the module unit comprising intervertebral disc analogues and vertebral segment analogues, and the module unit configured to fit within the base model in an anatomically correct orientation and location. The module unit may be acted upon, i.e. surgical instruments may be passed through, thus, providing a realistic simulator for surgical training.