Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a region of interest are provided. A plurality of skeletal landmarks may be identified from an image received from an imaging device. A pose of a patient may be determined based on the plurality of skeletal landmarks. A region of interest may be identified on the patient based on the determined pose. Instructions may be automatically provided to the controller to adjust a pose of a surgical instrument relative to the region of interest. The plurality of skeletal landmarks may be tracked for movement. The region of interest may be updated when movement of the plurality of skeletal landmarks is detected.

Abstract: A system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an imaging source; an imaging detector; a sensor coupled to at least one of the imaging source and imaging detector; and a controller that adjusts a relative position of the imaging source and the imaging detector based on an output of the sensor.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a power tool that generates torque; a torque sensor for measuring a torque characteristic of the power tool; a user interface; at least one processor; and a memory. The memory stores instructions for execution by the at least one processor that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: receive torque data from the torque sensor, the torque data corresponding to the measured torque characteristic; evaluate the torque data; and execute a predetermined action based on the evaluation.

Abstract: A surgical tool, systems, and method for cleaning an anatomical space is provided. At least one brush is disposed on a shaft extending through a tube. The tube includes a corresponding brush slot for each brush. A motor is operable to rotate the shaft to cause the at least one brush to move from a closed position to a cleaning position. The at least one brush is positioned entirely inside of the tube when in the closed position and at least partially outside of the tube when in the cleaning position. A fluid source is operable to supply fluid to the at least one brush as the at least one brush passes through the brush slot.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for generating a corrected image are provided. A first robotic arm may be configured to orient a source at a first pose and a second robotic arm may be configured to orient a detector at a plurality of second poses. An image dataset may be received from the detector at each of the plurality of second poses to yield a plurality of image datasets. The plurality of datasets may comprise an initial image having a scatter effect. The plurality of image datasets may be saved. A scatter correction may be determined and configured to correct the scatter effect. The correction may be applied to the initial image to correct the scatter effect.

Abstract: A system and method for the minimally invasive insertion of an intervertebral rod into the vertebrae of a subject, according to a preoperative surgical plan also defining positions for the insertion of rod clamping screws into the vertebrae. The rod shape for connecting the heads of the screws is calculated, and a path planning algorithm used to determine whether the distal end of the rod can be threaded through the screw heads by longitudinal and rotational manipulation of the proximal end of the rod. If so, instructions are provided for forming that rod shape and for the robotic insertion of the screw holes and the rod. If not, either or both of the screw positions and the rod shape are adjusted, to moderate the bends in the rods, until insertion becomes possible. The insertion can be performed robotically, or, if a navigation tracking system is added, manually.

Abstract: Retraction systems, assemblies, and devices for retracting an end unit are provided. A retraction assembly may be configured to move the end unit of a robot between a first state and a second state. A first signal may be received indicating a working condition. A first instruction may be generated to move the end unit from the second state to the first state. The retraction assembly may be caused to move the end unit from the second state to the first state based on receiving the first signal and the first instruction. The end unit may be held in the first state when the first signal is being received and the retraction assembly may move the end unit from the first state to the second state when the first signal is not received.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a robotic arm guide used as a depth stop. For example, a system for positioning a surgical tool includes a surgical robotic system having a robot arm with a guide sleeve, the guide sleeve defining axial and lateral directions. The system is further configured to (i) receive a surgical plan associated with a subject, the surgical plan including three-dimensional preoperative data related to the subject, (ii) determine, based on the surgical plan, a desired trajectory of a distal end of the surgical tool as the surgical tool is inserted into the guide sleeve, and (iii) transmit one or more control signals to the surgical robotic system, causing the surgical robotic system to orient and position the guide sleeve such that the distal end of the surgical tool follows the desired trajectory when the surgical tool is inserted in the guide sleeve.

Abstract: A tool for cleaning a vertebral disc includes an elongated hollow shaft including a proximal end and a distal end; a first drum rotatably disposed in a housing secured to the proximal end of the shaft, the first drum having a first axis; a second drum rotatably disposed proximate the distal end of the shaft, the second drum having a second axis parallel to the first axis; and a belt extending through the hollow shaft and operatively coupled to the first drum and the second drum, the belt comprising a plurality of teeth configured to cut anatomical tissue, each tooth of the plurality of teeth remaining flush with an outer surface of the belt when a section of the belt comprising the tooth is substantially straight, and projecting beyond the outer surface when the section of the belt bends around the first drum or the second drum.

Abstract: A balloon dilator device, comprising an annularly shaped, cylindrical type structure having walls that are expandable from a radially collapsed state to a radially expanded state by inflation of a balloon inserted within the annular structure. Once the walls have been expanded, they remain in the expanded state even if the balloon is deflated, because the radially expanded state is a state of minimum mechanical potential energy, and in order to return to the collapsed state, the structure would have to pass a state of higher potential energy. The device walls require sufficient stiffness in their longitudinal direction to enable the device to be pushed into a minimally invasive incision made in the subject. This device stiffness can be achieved either by its mechanical material properties, or by its substantially closed wall structure, or by use of a stiff protector sheath used to protect the walls during insertion.

Abstract: A bone connection system for attaching a surgical robot having its base mounted in the vicinity of a patient, to a bone of the patient. The system incorporates a switchable bone connection unit attached between the bone and a support element of the robot. This unit has a locked state in which the bone is attached essentially rigidly to the support element, and a released state in which the bone can move relative to the support element. The unit comprises a force sensor for determining the force exerted between the bone and the support element of the robot, and a position sensor for measuring the position of the bone relative to the support element of said robot. The unit switches from its locked state to its released state when the force exceeds a predetermined level, selected to ensure that the bone can move without detaching any bone connection elements.

Abstract: A system for rod bending for use in robotic spinal surgery, enabling the correct bending of a fusion rod to match the shape required to accurately pass through the heads of the pedicle screws. The system uses data generated by information provided to the robot by the surgeon's preoperative plan, optionally augmented by feedback from the robot control system of deviations encountered intraoperatively. Such deviations could occur, for example, when the surgeon decides intraoperatively on a different trajectory or even to skip screws on one vertebra, in which case, the robot will be commanded to perform the alternative procedure, with commensurate instructions relayed to the control system of the rod-bending machine. The system is also able to thin down the rod at predetermined locations along its length, adapted to be at selected intervertebral locations, for maintaining limited flexibility between vertebrae, instead of fixating them.

Abstract: A method for verifying surgical tool placement includes attaching a guide sleeve to a surgical robot, the guide sleeve defining a guide sleeve axis; aligning the surgical robot such that the guide sleeve axis is directed at a predetermined target location; and attaching an aiming rod to the guide sleeve such that the aiming rod can rotate around the guide sleeve axis, the aiming rod having apertures along its length. The aiming rod is attached to the guide sleeve at an angle and position such that when the surgical robot is adjusted to align the guide sleeve axis with the predetermined target location, a center of each aperture of the apertures of the aiming rod and a center of the predetermined target location are collinear, independent of a rotational position of the aiming rod around the guide sleeve axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining and maintaining a center of rotation are provided. A center of rotation may be determined based on first information about a robotic region of interest of a robot and second information about a patient region of interest. An operating table having multiple degrees of freedom may be caused to rotate about the center of rotation from a first position to a second position. A control system may be caused to control the robot based on the operating table being in the second position.

Abstract: A method for determining an acceptable spinal surgical plan for a subject using pathology prediction, comprising generating a potential spinal surgical plan, obtaining clinically relevant data of the subject, obtaining pre-operative three-dimensional images of a spinal region of the subject, determining relationships between pairs of vertebrae in the images, predicting relationships between pairs of vertebrae that are expected from the surgical plan, accessing a multiple patient database, obtaining sets of data from the database for patients with similar characteristics to the subject, determining risks of pathology types for the subject, using artificial intelligence to combine the determined risks to calculate an overall risk for pathology types for the subject, and if the overall risks are unacceptable, selecting an alternative spinal surgical plan, and if the said overall risks are acceptable, determining that said surgical plan is acceptable.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for drilling an anatomical element are provided. A drill bit may comprise a coaxial hollow shaft in communication with a plurality of apertures disposed on a surface of the drill bit. A fluid inlet may be in fluid communication with the coaxial hollow shaft via a selectively openable valve. The fluid inlet may be configured to receive pressurized fluid. When the valve is opened, the pressurized fluid may be released into the coaxial hollow shaft, and when at least one of the plurality of apertures is not blocked, the pressurized fluid may be released through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A method for planning the insertion of bone cement into an orthopedic void of a vertebra. A three dimensional preoperative image of the vertebra is used and the voxels are analyzed to provide the voxel absorption levels. The absorption levels are transformed into mechanical properties of regions of the vertebra, such that a three dimensional mesh of the mechanical properties of the vertebra is generated. An entry point and an entry angle are selected on the vertebra, through which to inject bone cement into the void. Then, using the known viscosity of the bone cement, and using the entry point and entry angle, a finite elements analysis may be performed on the mesh to simulate the propagation of the bone cement into the orthopedic void. The simulation is repeated using different operational parameters until said propagation of said bone cement is deemed satisfactory.

Abstract: A surgical bone-protecting drill guide device includes a body formed of biocompatible material forming a shell. The body includes an outer surface, an interior surface being a reverse-engineering surface approximation of a protruding boney structure of one or more bones in an image of a patient and body material between the outer surface and the interior surface. The device includes implant guides. Each implant guide is configured to extend from the outer surface and through the body material and the interior surface and provide a window to a pre-planned implant location for implanting a respective one implant relative to the protruding boney structure of the patient. The window has a size and shape that is pre-calculated as a function of a size of a pre-determined tool to be inserted through the window.

Abstract: A method of positioning an imaging device relative to a patient, comprising positioning a reference marker adjacent a desired field of scan corresponding to an anatomical element of a patient; and causing an imaging device to align with the reference marker, based on tracking information received from a navigation system, the tracking information corresponding to the reference marker and a navigated tracker disposed on the imaging device.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting spinal stenosis is provided. The method may receive image data corresponding to a spine region of a patient. The method may also identify a spinal cord in the image data. The method may determine at least one compression of the spinal cord and may mark an anatomical element proximate to a location of the determined at least one compression to yield at least one marking. The method may generate a decompression plan based on the at least one marking.