Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for performing precise medical procedures. Provided are methods of providing unitary positioning interfaces for stereotactic devices or medical devices. The methods include implanting emitters in a patient, scanning the patient using any suitable scanning technique, determining orientation and location data of the emitters and any suitable anatomic structures, generating a digital image, and fabricating a solid physical model from the digital image. Also provided herein are methods of verifying medical treatments and systems for performing medical procedures.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for performing precise medical procedures. Provided are methods of providing unitary positioning interfaces for stereotactic devices or medical devices. The methods include implanting emitters in a patient, scanning the patient using any suitable scanning technique, determining orientation and location data of the emitters and any suitable anatomic structures, generating a digital image, and fabricating a solid model from the digital image. Also provided herein are methods of verifying medical treatments and systems for performing medical procedures.

Abstract: A customized positioning fixture is fabricated specifically for a patient the purpose of positioning a portion, or all, of the patient's body relative to a medical apparatus. The customized positioning fixture is fabricated such that the relative position of the patent to the medical apparatus is predetermined before a procedure is performed on the patient using the apparatus. The positioning fixture is fabricated using a computer-aided or an automated computer-controlled process according to data determined for that patient, for example, using a rapid prototyping and tooling (RPT) technique. In some embodiments, the positioning fixture is designed to be repeatedly removed and reattached to the patient, thereby allowing the patient to be repeatedly precisely re-positioned in the medical device is separated sessions.

Abstract: A customized positioning fixture is fabricated specifically for a patient the purpose of positioning a portion, or all, of the patient's body relative to a medical apparatus. The customized positioning fixture is fabricated such that the relative position of the patent to the medical apparatus is predetermined before a procedure is performed on the patient using the apparatus. The positioning fixture is fabricated using a computer-aided or an automated computer-controlled process according to data determined for that patient, for example, using a rapid prototyping and tooling (RPT) technique. In some embodiments, the positioning fixture is designed to be repeatedly removed and reattached to the patient, thereby allowing the patient to be repeatedly precisely re-positioned in the medical device is separated sessions.

Abstract: A surgical fixture is formed by scanning a body to form a three-dimensional image of the body, and then identifying in the image a target point in the body, and mounting structures on the body. A model, such as a computer solid model, of the fixture is specified in accordance with the locations of the target point and mounting structures. The fixture is formed in accordance with the model of the fixture, for example using a rapid prototyping and tooling machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a surgical instrument during stereotactic surgery using a guidance fixture. The guidance fixture includes an upper portion, which includes an instrument guide for moving the surgical instrument along a constrained trajectory relative to the upper portion, and includes an adjustable base supporting the upper portion, which includes a mounting base and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustable base can include a rotating collar attached to the mounting base and a pivoting collar coupling the rotating collar to the upper portion. A remote sensing device, such as a camera array sensing LEDs on the fixture, is used to determine the orientation of the upper portion of the guidance assembly in relation to the body.

Abstract: A method for tracking an instrument during image-guided stereotactic surgery on a body, for instance during stereotactic brain surgery. The method includes attaching multiple bone anchors to the body, attaching scanning markers to each of the bone anchors, and scanning the body to form a three-dimensional image of the body. Images of the scanning markers are formed in the three-dimensional image and the locations of the images of the scanning markers in the three-dimensional image are determined, for example, by a human operator identifying the locations on a computer display of the image. The method then involves attaching a number of sensing devices, such as cameras, or microphones, to the bone anchors. For example, a mounting rod is attached to each of the bone anchors and each mounting rod supports one of the sensing devices. The mounted sensing devices are in a predetermined geometric relationship with the bone anchors.

Abstract: A marking and tracking apparatus for stereotactic surgery on a body. The apparatus includes a rigid scanning frame. The scanning frame includes a set of scanning markers for making corresponding images in a scanned image of the body, and multiple mounting points, such that when the scanning frame is attached to the body, each of the mounting points mates with a corresponding one of multiples anchors, such as threaded inserts, embedded in the body. The apparatus can also include a rigid tracking frame. The tracking frame includes a set of tracking markers for tracking a position of the frame using a remote sensing device, and multiple mounting points, such that when the tracking frame is attached to the body, each of the mounting points mates with a corresponding one of the anchors embedded in the body.