Abstract: The invention relates to: a method for stimulating and/or inhibiting at least one point or area of a brain using at least one stimulation device, wherein: the spatial structure of the head or brain is recorded; a three-dimensional simulation model of the surface of the brain is generated from the recording of the spatial structure of the brain; and the stimulation device is arranged relative to the head or brain using the three-dimensional simulation model of the surface of the brain, such that the at least one point or area of the brain can be stimulated using the stimulation device; a device for stimulating and/or inhibiting at least one point or area of a brain, comprising a recording device for detecting the spatial structure of the brain, a computational device for generating a simulation model of the surface of the brain and at least one stimulation or induction device, in particular a coil; a method for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, wherein at least one particular area is

Abstract: A method supplies a dynamic vector map of properties within a region or a unified suite of quantification functionality for property functions, such as density functions, conduction functions (e.g., thermal conduction, electrical conduction, atomic or subatomic mass conduction, macromolecular mass conduction), defined on, defined in or defining a three-dimensional space, which functions may optionally vary in time.

Abstract: An anthropomorphic medical robot arm includes a base end, a first arm element, a base joint coupling the base end to the first arm element, a second arm element, a middle joint coupling the second arm element to the first arm element, a distal functional end, a distal joint coupling the distal functional end to the second arm element, and at least one selectively operable movement inhibitor operable on the base joint, middle joint and/or distal joint so as to restrict the functionally possible range of movement of the robot arm to the range of movement of a human arm.

Abstract: A suction fixing device to be fixed to an organic base includes at least one low-pressure casing, at least one attachment device operative to apply a low pressure to the surface of said organic base; and a holding device operative to secure the fixing device to the organic base. The holding device engages the organic base when low pressure is applied to the surface of the organic base.

Abstract: A device for fixing a reference element with respect to a field of surgery includes a first fixing portion operable to provide a mechanical resistance against pulling and/or pushing forces, a second fixing portion provided with a surface structure operable to secure the device against an angular force, and a coupling structure. The coupling structure is operative to mechanically couple the second fixing portion to the first fixing portion, wherein said second fixing portion can be pivoted with respect to the first fixing portion.

Abstract: A fixing device for securely fixing surgical equipment to a surgical field of a human or animal body includes a first lever element including a first gripping portion and a first handling portion, and a second lever element including a second gripping portion and a second handling portion. The and second lever elements can be connected such that they can be pivoted and detached with respect to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the combined shadow-free illumination of a pre-definable area and for referencing three-dimensional spatial co-ordinates, and to an active or passive referencing system, each in particular for referencing surgical or medical instruments. The system is characterized in that at least two cameras and the light source (operation lamp) are held together such that the optical signals detected by the cameras, for referencing three-dimensional spatial co-ordinates in the area illuminated by the light source, can be evaluated. Since the field of view of the light source, in its conventional use, is not obscured or only negligibly obscured, this field of view can simultaneously be used for optical navigation by the cameras held together with the light source. In accordance with the invention, the cameras are automatically aligned optimally for optical navigation. The cameras can be rigidly or flexibly connected to the light source.

Abstract: A method for calibrating or registering a medical instrument or implant includes determining a spatial position of the instrument or implant and determining a relative position of the instrument or implant with respect to anatomical data. A spatial orientation of a multi-dimensionally formed, functional section of the instrument or implant is determined. A device for calibrating or registering a medical instrument or implant using a medical navigation system includes calibration aid, where the calibration aid includes a calibration section whose spatial orientation in said navigation system is known and on which a multi-dimensionally formed, functional section of the instrument or implant can be oriented.

Abstract: A device for visually combining patient image data from transillumination and/or tomographic imaging methods with object image data comprising video images includes an image display device and at least one video camera associated with the image display device as a portable unit. A computer-assisted navigation system can detect the spatial positions of the image display device and/or the video camera as well as the spatial positions of a part of the patient's body via tracking means. An input device can be provided on the image display device, which enables inputs for image-assisted treatment or treatment planning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for computer-assisted medical navigation and/or pre-operative treatment planning, wherein the current position of a patient or a part of a patient's body and the positions of medical treatment devices or treatment-assisting devices are detected by means of a position detection unit, and wherein said detected positional data are assigned to body structure data, in order to jointly use said body structure data in assignment with said positional data, within the context of assisting the treatment, wherein body structure data are used which are obtained based on a generic model which has been adapted by linking it with patient-characteristic detection data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for projecting patient image data from radioscopic imaging methods and/or tomographic imaging methods onto video images, comprising an image display device (10), at least one video camera (14) and a computer-assisted navigation system which can detect the spatial positions of the image display device (10) and/or the video camera (14) and the spatial positions of a part of a patient's body (1) via tracking means (12, 3) attached to it, wherein the image display device (10) and the video camera (14) are assigned to each other and are realized as a portable unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stimulating specific areas of a brain using an induction device, comprising the following steps: recording the spatial structure of the head, in particular the brain; generating a simulation model of the induction device; and arranging the induction device relative to the head such that a specific area of the brain determined by means of the simulation model of the induction device is stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device, as well as to a method for stimulating specific areas of a brain using an induction device, comprising the following steps: recording the spatial structure of the head, in particular the brain; generating a simulation model of the head; and arranging the induction device relative to the head such that a specific area of the brain determined by means of the simulation model of the head is stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device, as well as to a device for stimulating specific areas of a brain using an induction device co

Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus for positioning medical treatment devices or treatment supporting devices (2) by a transportation means (1) to move said devices (2) to a predetermined position, said transportation means (1) including an automatically guided transport system (3, 7), and to a corresponding method and the use of an automatically guided transport system to perform said positioning tasks.

Abstract: A system for applying an element to a body, wherein the position of a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said body and said element relative to the position of said body is detected, it also relating to a system for applying an element to a body comprising a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body and a position detection device for detecting the position of said device, for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body, and for detecting said position of said body.

Abstract: A method of detecting the shape of an object comprises the following steps: a) producing a camera image of the object; b) mapping an outline of the object, which appears sharp in the camera image, in a first plane by means of an analyzer connected to the camera; c) altering the focusing distance of the camera; d) mapping a sharp outline of the object in a second plane by means of the analyzer; e) repeating steps b) to d) until a sufficient number of outlines has been mapped so that the three-dimensional shape of the object can be established. Also disclosed is an apparatus for implementing the method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the filling of a lung, wherein the movement of an anatomical structure which moves with breathing, or one or more points on the moving anatomical structure whose movement trajectory is highly correlated with lung filling, is detected with respect to the location of at least one anatomical structure which is not spatially affected by breathing, and wherein each distance between the structures is assigned a particular lung filling value.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a body volume, and a computer program product and a system for carrying out the method, wherein the method includes the steps of establishing a criterion for each pixel of a selected data set for whether or not the pixel is assigned to an image background; calculating a synthesized representation from at least two selected diagnostic data sets which are not identical, excluding the pixels assigned to an image background, the selected diagnostic data sets having a predefined spatial allocation with respect to each other; calculating each of the data values of the synthesized representation as a mathematical function of at least one data value of each of the selected data set; and displaying the synthesized representation of a data set whose data values represent the body volume two- or three-dimensionally on a display unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of smoothing the staircasing which results from discretisation in two-dimensional images, or in a series of two-dimensional images forming a three-dimensional data set. To start with, a first two- or three-dimensional continuum data model of the images is generated in which adjacent or juxtaposed pixels form squares or cubes respectively which are in turn further divided into triangles or tetrahedrons. The corner points are assigned the chromatic or monochrome values of the pixels in the image. Chromatic or monochrome values at any intermediate values in the interior of the triangles or tetrahedrons can then be obtained, e.g. by linear interpolation. Smoothing the edges of the image is done by shifting the supporting points, preferably by not more than half a pixel.

Abstract: A method for referencing a body part in a camera-assisted, medical navigation system including the following steps: manually manipulating a light beamer to sequentially produce a plurality of light marks on a surface of the body part; using a plurality of cameras to scan the surface of the body part, wherein the plurality of cameras detect the plurality of light marks; determining three-dimensional spatial positions for respective sequential light marks; and referencing or registering the body part based on the three dimensional spatial positions of light marks.

Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilized patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.