Abstract: System and methods for image guided surgery is provided. The surgical tracking system can include at least one sensor configured to acquire a marker signal associated with a first location of a marker within a body and to output a first signal indicative of the first location, and also further configured to acquire a device signal associated with a second location of a movable imaging device and to output a second signal indicative of the second location. The movable imaging device can be configured to generate a plurality of sequential images. The surgical tracking system can further include at least one processor configured to receive the first signal, the second signal, and the plurality of sequential images, and to generate a plurality of composite images where at least one of the plurality of composite images include a visual indication of the first location on at least one of the plurality of sequential images.

Abstract: A hybrid radioactive and impedance tracking system for tracking a target in a human or animal body, comprising: a) a radioactive tracking subsystem for tracking the target; b) an impedance tracking subsystem for tracking the target; and c) a processor that uses data from the radioactive tracking subsystem in combination with data from the impedance tracking system to estimate a position of the target.

Abstract: A detector system adapted for monitoring a radiation treatment system comprising a pulsed beam radiation source for treating a body with a given beam intensity and beam configuration, with pulse times and intervals between pulses less than 100 milliseconds, using at least one monitoring radiation source located inside or outside the body, the detector system comprising; a) a detector designed to detect radiation from the monitoring source, and subject to interference radiation from the beam source; and b) control circuitry that creates a data record of radiation received by the detector, to provide information about the body; wherein, when the detector detects radiation in real time during operation of the beam, the data record selectively excludes data for radiation received by the detector during the pulses, as opposed to data for radiation received by the detector between pulses.

Abstract: A device for inserting into body tissue an implant with a medical function, with a channel passing at least partly through the implant, the device comprising: a) a cannulus with a distal end, and with a channel sized to hold the implant; b) a pusher with a channel passing through it, the pusher sized to be situated inside the channel of the cannulus behind the implant, and adapted to push the implant through the distal end of the cannulus into the tissue; and c) a restraining element that extends through the channel of the pusher and at least partly through the channel of the implant when they are so situated in the channel of the canulus, which restrains the implant from accidentally exiting the cannulus, but allows the implant to exit the distal end of the cannulus when it is pushed with a force small enough so as not to damage the function of the implant in the tissue.

Abstract: An angle-responsive sensor, comprising: a radiation detector adapted to detect ionizing radiation; at least one radiation absorbing element arranged to block radiation from reaching said detector in a manner dependent on a relative orientation of a radiation source, said detector and said element, said detector and said element defining an aim for said sensor; and circuitry coupled to said detector and which generates an output signal which varies as a function of said relative orientation, wherein said detector and said element are arranged to have a working volume of at least 10 cm in depth and having an angular width, such that said signal defines an accuracy of better than 3 mm within one standard deviation, over said working volume.

Abstract: An implantable medical marker, the marker comprising a marker body adapted for insertion via a needle and adapted to define a volume with a smallest dimension larger than an inner diameter of the needle; and a radiation source—characterized by gamma emissions sufficient to exit the human body.

Abstract: A method of guiding a tool, the method comprising: (a) implanting a source of radioactivity at a position having a geometric relationship to a target tissue; (b) determining at least an indication of a location of said source using at least one radioactivity detecting position sensor; and (c) positioning a tool at a desired relative location with respect to said target tissue based on said determined location.

Abstract: A method of generating display signals for the presentation of patient image data for a caregiver includes receiving caregiver location data representing the location of a caregiver's head, receiving patient image data representing a subject region of a patient, and generating display signals based on the patient image data and the caregiver location data.

Abstract: A method of generating display signals for the presentation of patient image data for a caregiver includes receiving caregiver location data representing the location of a caregiver's head, receiving patient image data representing a subject region of a patient, and generating display signals based on the patient image data and the caregiver location data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus capable of interactively identifying and tracking the movement and orientation of a freely moving structure of interest is disclosed herein. The MR imaging system includes an operator interface for displaying three MR images that are oriented to and with each other in any pre-determined orientation including an intersecting orthogonal orientation and an intersecting radial orientation. The three MR images are continuously updated in real-time and acquired interleaved. The MR imaging system further includes interactive controls to prescribe a scan plane of at least one of the subsequent three MR images, to store at least one of the MR image, and to retrieve at least one of the stored MR image.