Abstract: The application relates to the problem of navigating a surgical instrument (at 301, 311) towards a region-of-interest (at 312) in endoscopic surgery when an image (300) provided by the endoscope is obscured at least partly by obscuring matter (at 303), wherein the obscuring matter is a leaking body fluid, debris or smoke caused by ablation. To address this problem, a computer-implemented method is proposed, wherein, upon detecting that the image from the endoscope is at least partly obscured, a second image is determined based on a sequence of historic images and based on the current position and orientation of the endoscope. Furthermore, a virtual image (310) is generated based on the determined second image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (8) for assisting a user in placing a penetrating device in tissue like a pedicle screw (7) in a vertebra’s pedicle. The system generates a virtual view (20) from a penetrating device tip perspective within the tissue in the direction of a path (21) through a model of the tissue. The virtual view is generated based on tracking information indicating a pose of the penetrating device, the model and the path, wherein the virtual view is configured such that it indicates a direction in which the user should move the penetrating device while placing it in the tissue. For instance, it can show a virtual tunnel (801) which is arranged along the path. If a user like a surgeon is provided with such a virtual view, the user can position the penetrating device along the path with a significantly increased accuracy.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: An orthopedic pin (100) for optically analyzing a bone region (110) includes an elongate shaft (101) and at least one optical fiber (105) The elongate shaft has a circular outer cross section with a first diameter (D1), a distal end (102) for insertion into bone, a proximal end (103), and an optical connector portion (104) disposed towards the proximal end (103). The at least one optical fiber (105) extends within the elongate shaft (101) between the optical connector portion (104), and the distal end (102) for transmitting optical radiation between the optical connector portion (104) and the bone region (110) when the distal end (102) is inserted into the bone region (110). The optical connector portion (104) comprises a reduced-diameter portion (106). The reduced-diameter portion (106) extends along at least a portion of the elongate shaft (101), and has an outer cross section comprising a width (Drd) perpendicularly with respect to the elongate shaft (101).

Abstract: The application relates to the problem of navigating a surgical instrument (at 301, 311) towards a region-of-interest (at 312) in endoscopic surgery when an image (300) provided by the endoscope is obscured at least partly by obscuring matter (at 303), wherein the obscuring matter is a leaking body fluid, debris or smoke caused by ablation. To address this problem, a computer-implemented method is proposed, wherein, upon detecting that the image from the endoscope is at least partly obscured, a second image is determined based on a sequence of historic images and based on the current position and orientation of the endoscope. Furthermore, a virtual image (310) is generated based on the determined second image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to positioning of an X-ray imaging system. In order to provide an improved relative positioning of the X-ray imaging system for spine interventions, a device (10) for positioning of an X-ray imaging system is provided. The device comprises a data storage unit (12), a processing unit (14) and an output unit (16). The data storage unit is configured to store and provide 3D image data (18) of a spine region of interest of a subject comprising a part of a spine structure, the spine structure comprising at least one vertebra.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device (100) for generating an image of a patient (P), the imaging system (100) comprising: a camera arrangement (10), which is configured to provide a first image information (I1) of the patient (P) using a first wavelength band, and which is configured to provide a second image information (I2) of the patient (P) using a second wavelength band. The first wavelength band and the second set of wavelength band are different; and the first and/or second image information comprises landmark information of landmarks (M) of a patient (P). The landmark information is derived by at least one wavelength band outside the visible spectrum. Further, a data processor (30) is provided, which is configured to generate a fused image (IE) based on the first image information (I1) and the second image information (I2), and which is configured to detect the landmarks (M) in the fused image (IE).

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical instrument tracking. In order to facilitate tracking a medical instrument, a system (100) is provided for tracking a medical instrument. The system comprises an instrument marker (14), a tracking arrangement (16), and a processing unit (18). The instrument marker is attached to the medical instrument on a marker position (20). The tracking system is configured to detect line segments (22) in the 5 field of interest and to detect the attached instrument marker. The processing unit is configured to identify a line segment (24) on which the attached instrument marker is detected as the medical instrument, and to determine an offset (26) between a position of a medical instrument tip (28) and the marker (14) by touching a reference marker (34) on the subject with the medical instrument (10).

Abstract: A system is suggested comprises a main tracking device and a processing unit. The main tracking device includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light detectors. On the basis of light pulses, the main tracking device is configured to determine a current 3D position of a plurality of objects in a room. The processing unit is configured to process image information of each of the objects together with the position information so as to generate a visualization of the image information of the objects in spatial relation to each other.

Abstract: A system for supporting operation of an X-ray imaging apparatus (IA) capable of assuming different imaging geometries. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving a specification of a path extending at least partly into an object. A camera sampler (CS) configured to compute, for a plurality of non-ionizing radiation based cameras (OC) of the X-ray imaging apparatus (IM), a respective imaging geometry for achieving a plan view on the object along said path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical instrument tracking. In order to facilitate tracking a medical instrument, a system (100) is provided for tracking a medical instrument. The system comprises an instrument marker (14), a tracking arrangement (16), and a processing unit (18). The instrument marker is attached to the medical instrument on a marker position (20). The tracking system is configured to detect line segments (22) in the 5 field of interest and to detect the attached instrument marker. The processing unit is configured to identify a line segment (24) on which the attached instrument marker is detected as the medical instrument, and to determine an offset (26) between a position of a medical instrument tip (28) and the marker (14) by touching a reference marker (34) on the subject with the medical instrument (10).

Abstract: Imaging system (100) for enabling instrument guidance in an interventional procedure, comprising: —an input (130) for obtaining an interventional path (220) for use in the interventional procedure, the interventional path being planned based on 3D image data (200) of a patient's interior, and the interventional path being indicative of an entry point (230) on the patient's exterior; —a camera (124-127) for obtaining a camera image (270) of the patient's exterior during the interventional procedure; —a processor (140) for i) establishing a spatial correspondence between the camera image and the 3D image data, ii) based on the spatial correspondence, calculating a view (280) of the interventional path that corresponds with the camera image, and iii) combining the view of the interventional path with the camera image to obtain a composite image (290); and —a display output (150) for displaying the composite image on a display (162).

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: An object tracking device for a medical imaging system tracks a predetermined movable object such as a medical instrument and/or a patient. The object tracking device includes primary and secondary imagers. The primary imager is configured to provide first image data of a patient's body including the interior of a patient's body. The primary imager is movable between imaging and parking modes. The secondary imager is configured to provide second image data of a patient's body including the exterior of a patient's body. The object tracking device further includes a position monitoring arrangement configured to monitor a position of the secondary imager relative to the position of a reference point. As a result, the medical instrument and/or the patient is traceable in the imaging mode based on the image data of the primary imager, and in the parking mode based on the image data of the secondary imager.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for guiding an instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) in a body (14). The system (10) records an image where the instrument (12, 100, 100A,100B, 112) is identifiable and the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) records signals indicative of the type of tissue at the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) determines the tissue type based on a signal from the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) displays an image being a combined image of the body (14) and instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) and an indication of tissue type at a position where the tissue type was determined. The present invention further relates to a method of displaying an image comprising tissue-type and instrument position in a body. The present invention further relates to an instrument and a software implemented method for being executed on a digital processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tracking an interventional device. In order to provide a facilitated and simplified real-time tracking of an interventional device, a medical imaging system (10) for tracking an interventional device is provided, that comprises an interface unit (12), and a processing unit (14). The interface unit is configured to provide first image data (18) of a first part of an interventional device, which first part is arranged outside an object. The first image data comprises 3D image data. The interface unit is configured to provide second image data (20) of a second part of the interventional device, which second part is a continuation of the first part, and which second part is arranged inside the object. The second image data comprises 2D image data.

Abstract: A system for supporting operation of an X-ray imaging apparatus (IA) capable of assuming different imaging geometries. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving a specification of a path extending at least partly into an object. A camera sampler (CS) configured to compute, for a plurality of non-ionizing radiation based cameras (OC) of the X-ray imaging apparatus (IM), a respective imaging geometry for achieving a plan view on the object along said path.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus (1). First and second image providing units (2, 9) provide a first image showing a region of an object, which includes a resection part to be resected, and a second image showing the region of the object, after the resection procedure has been performed, or showing a resected part, which has been resected. A smallest margin determination unit (13) determines a smallest margin region being a region where a margin between the resection part and the resected part is smallest based on the first and second images. The smallest margin region is the region which most likely contains a part of the object, which should have been resected, like a cancerous part. An optionally following investigation of the resected part or of the remaining object can be more focused by considering this region, thereby allowing for faster corresponding assessing procedures.