Abstract: A system including a support panel and a fixation device for use in radiation therapy is disclosed. The support panel comprises a generally planar member that is arranged to be disposed adjacent an apparatus for producing a radiation beam to support a portion of the patient to which the radiation beam will be directed. The fixation device is arranged to be releasably secured to the support panel to hold the portion of the patient's body at a desired position. The fixation device includes attachment components which enable the releasable securement of the fixation device to the support panel without creating any attenuation discontinuities of a radiation beam passing therethrough.

Abstract: An EMT system for use in ultrasound and other imaging modality guided medical procedures. The system includes a tool set of various components to which EM sensors can be releasably secured. Thus, the sensors can be reused, notwithstanding the disposal of other components of the tool set. Various components of the tool set include keying elements to facilitate their registration to the anatomy of the patient undergoing the procedure via the EM sensors.

Abstract: A ureteral stent is designed to be placed within a patient's ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient's kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and the elongated portion defines a lumen extending therethrough. A retention portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and retains the position of the ureteral stent when placed substantially within the kidney. The retention portion includes an interior space that is in communication with the lumen within the elongated portion and has at least one opening for urine drainage. A flared portion extending from the other end of the elongated portion is positioned within the patient's bladder. The flared portion curves outward and includes an elastic member that maintains the shape of the flared portion when positioned within the bladder.

Abstract: A system for positioning a patient on a treatment couchtop for SBRT is provided. The system includes a patient support panel and at least one positioning/fixation component for releasable mounting on the patient support panel at a desired position to immobilize a portion of the patient's body. The patient support panel includes a pair of longitudinally extending side rails having a series of longitudinally spaced indexing apertures for receipt of a locking bar for mounting a positioning/fixation component thereon at a discrete index position. The at least one positioning component includes a pair of clamping mechanisms for releasably securing that component to the side rails at any longitudinal position along the side rails.

Abstract: An EMT system for use in ultrasound and other imaging modality guided medical procedures. The system includes a tool set of various components to which EM sensors can be releasably secured. Thus, the sensors can be reused, notwithstanding the disposal of other components of the tool set. Various components of the tool set include keying elements to facilitate their registration to the anatomy of the patient undergoing the procedure via the EM sensors.

Abstract: A ureteral stent is designed to be placed within a patient's ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient's kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and the elongated portion defines a lumen extending therethrough. A retention portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and retains the position of the ureteral stent when placed substantially within the kidney. The retention portion includes an interior space that is in communication with the lumen within the elongated portion and has at least one opening for urine drainage. A flared portion extending from the other end of the elongated portion is positioned within the patient's bladder. The flared portion curves outward and includes an elastic member that maintains the shape of the flared portion when positioned within the bladder.

Abstract: An EMT system for use in ultrasound and other imaging modality guided medical procedures. The system includes a tool set of various components to which EM sensors can be releasably secured. Thus, the sensors can be reused, notwithstanding the disposal of other components of the tool set. Various components of the tool set include keying elements to facilitate their registration to the anatomy of the patient undergoing the procedure via the EM sensors.

Abstract: An ultrasound needle guide system for use with an ultrasound transducer and method of use of the guide system to provide predictable trajectories for puncture devices at various depths. The needle guide system basically consists of a bracket and a needle guide. The bracket is arranged to be releasably secured to the ultrasound transducer. The transducer/bracket assembly is then placed into an isolating sterile cover. The needle guide is arranged to be readily attached, e.g., snap-fit, to the transducer/bracket with the cover interposed therebetween. The needle guide can be provided in various versions for differing puncture device sizes and various entry angles in relation to the transducer. In one embodiment the needle guide is arranged to establish plural predetermined entry angles.

Abstract: A device for use in an image-guided procedure on a patient is disclosed. The device includes an EM sensor assembly, a frame assembly (e.g., a base portion from which a plurality of legs project upward to a common point) and a plurality of attachment members. Each attachment member is arranged to be releasably (e.g., adhesively) secured to the skin of a patient and to be coupled to the frame assembly to secure the frame assembly on the skin of the patient. The EM sensor assembly is arranged to be releasably secured to the frame assembly (e.g., pivotably snap-fit into a socket in the frame assembly). The device additionally includes plural visualizable elements (e.g., metal balls) that are adapted to be readily imaged to establish imaging reference points and a plurality of asymmetrically disposed apertures to enable tattooing indicia on the skin of the patient through the apertures.

Abstract: A system for positioning a laparoscopic device includes a curvilinear articulating arm and a holder. The holder has at least two rotational regions and a clamping portion for receiving the laparoscopic device, and the holder is coupled to the curvilinear articulating arm. The at least two rotational regions are permitted to articulate. In addition, a method of positioning a laparoscopic device in a skin port of a mammal includes: securing the laparoscopic device to a holder having at least two rotational joints; coupling the holder to a curvilinear articulating arm; disposing the laparoscopic device partially within the skin port; positioning the laparoscopic device by selectively articulating the curvilinear articulating arm and selectively rotating portions of the holder with respect to one another.

Abstract: A ureteral stent for assisting the movement of urine along a patient's ureter and into the patient's bladder. The stent includes an elongated tubular segment extending toward the bladder from a kidney end region for placement in the renal cavity to a bladder end region. A central lumen connects at least one opening at the first end region to at least one opening in the bladder end region. Thin flexible tail(s) are attached to the bladder end region of the tubular segment at a point outside the bladder so as to receive urine from the opening in the bladder end region of the tubular segment and to transport urine from there across the ureter/bladder junction and into the bladder. The tails include an elongated external urine-transport surface sized and configured to transport urine along the ureter. The urine transporting surface(s) are sized and configured to extend along at least part of the ureter, across the ureter/bladder junction, and from there into the bladder.

Abstract: An EMT system for use in ultrasound and other imaging modality guided medical procedures. The system includes a tool set of various components to which EM sensors can be releasably secured. Thus, the sensors can be reused, notwithstanding the disposal of other components of the tool set. Various components of the tool set include keying elements to facilitate their registration to the anatomy of the patient undergoing the procedure via the EM sensors.

Abstract: A ureteral stent for assisting the movement of urine along a patient's ureter and into the patient's bladder. The stent includes an elongated tubular segment extending toward the bladder from a kidney end region for placement in the renal cavity to a bladder end region. A central lumen connects at least one opening at the first end region to at least one opening in the bladder end region. Thin flexible tail(s) are attached to the bladder end region of the tubular segment at a point outside the bladder so as to receive urine from the opening in the bladder end region of the tubular segment and to transport urine from there across the ureter/bladder junction and into the bladder. The tails include an elongated external urine-transport surface sized and configured to transport urine along the ureter. The urine transporting surface(s) are sized and configured to extend along at least part of the ureter, across the ureter/bladder junction, and from there into the bladder.

Abstract: A system for positioning a patient on a treatment couchtop for SBRT is provided. The system includes a patient support panel and at least one positioning/fixation component for releasable mounting on the patient support panel at a desired position to immobilize a portion of the patient's body. The patient support panel includes a pair of longitudinally extending side rails having a series of longitudinally spaced indexing apertures for receipt of a locking bar for mounting a positioning/fixation component thereon at a discrete index position. The at least one positioning component includes a pair of clamping mechanisms for releasably securing that component to the side rails at any longitudinal position along the side rails.

Abstract: A patient transfer system including a patient support panel, a first base member mounted on a first support structure, e.g., a gurney, and a second base member mounted on a second support structure, e.g., a patient treatment table. The patient support panel has a pair of longitudinally extending side rails. Each base member has at least one clamp arranged to engage a rail of the patient support panel to hold it in place thereon. The clamps are releasable to enable the patient support panel to be slid off of one base member and onto the other base member. If the support structures are spaced apart at least one bridging member is provided to bridge the gap therebetween and allow the patient support member to be slid thereacross.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument holder for positioning a laparoscopic device includes a central portion having a first member operatively associated with a second member, the members selectively movable with respect to one another along a central axis, with the central portion having a proximal end defined by the first member and a distal end defined by the second member. The holder also includes at least three proximal rotational joints coupled to the first member proximate the proximal end, at least two distal rotational joints coupled to the second member proximate the distal end, a first ball and socket joint coupled to a distal rotational joint, and a second ball and socket joint coupled to the first ball and socket joint. In addition, the holder includes a clamp configured and dimensioned for retaining a laparoscopic device, with the clamp coupled to the second ball and socket joint, and a coupling portion proximate a first of the proximal rotational joints.

Abstract: An ultrasound needle guide system for use with an ultrasound transducer and method of use of the guide system to provide predictable trajectories for puncture devices at various depths. The needle guide system basically consists of a bracket and a needle guide. The bracket is arranged to be releasably secured to the ultrasound transducer. The transducer/bracket assembly is then placed into an isolating sterile cover. The needle guide is arranged to be readily attached, e.g., snap-fit, to the transducer/bracket with the cover interposed therebetween. The needle guide can be provided in various versions for differing puncture device sizes and various entry angles in relation to the transducer. In one embodiment the needle guide is arranged to establish plural predetermined entry angles.

Abstract: A system and method for providing radiation therapy to a patient is disclosed. The system includes at least one RFID tagged component, e.g., a patient positioning device, to be used when the patient is to be given radiation therapy treatment. The at least one component is specifically selected for use with the patient. The RFID tag holds information relevant to the patient. The tag is interrogated by a reader to produce a signal used by an associated computer system to verify the patient and component location and presence in the room where the treatment is to be given. The system and method enables one to determine the location of each patient, selected facility personnel and all the components for a particular patient's treatment In addition the system and method enables one to determine the time the patient and/or staff member and/or component spends at a given location for a particular treatment.

Abstract: A device in the form of an elongated articulating arm having a base for mounting it on or at the MRI apparatus. The free end of the arm is arranged to releasably mount any type of device, e.g., a clamp, a bracket, a biopsy needle guide, etc. The arm includes a plurality of interconnected segments each of which is arranged to pivot about a respective axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm, but restricted from twisting about the longitudinal axis. A flexible elongated adjustable tensioning member in the form of plural sections of a cord extend through respective ones of plural flexible sheaths within the arm between the base and the distal end portion to enable the arm to be moved or bent into a desired shape when tension is released and then held in that shape when tension is applied.

Abstract: A system is provided for supporting a patient during computed axial tomography imaging. The system includes a movable platform formed of a radiolucent material, a discrete attachment region in the platform, and a curvilinear articulating arm coupled to the platform at the discrete attachment region. A method for supporting a patient during a plurality of procedures also is provided. The method includes: disposing the patient on a movable platform formed of a radiolucent material; positioning a device with respect to the patient, the device being disposed on a curvilinear articulating arm coupled to the platform; placing the platform, positioned device, and patient in a computed axial tomography imaging system and performing an imaging procedure.