Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods are provided verifying the surgery is being performed in accordance with a surgical plan, wherein a surgical tool having a sensor outputs a data signal that enables the trajectory of the surgical tool to be displayed as an overlay on an image of an anatomical portion of a patient and a visual or audible signal that confirms the surgical tool is penetrating the anatomical portion in accordance with the surgical plan and/or that issues an alert indicating that the surgical tool is not being inserted into the anatomical portion according to the surgical plan.

Abstract: Adapters for surgical drilling systems, and methods of use, are provided for performing surgical procedures, such as surgical drilling into bony structures, while guided by a conductivity sensing system. The adapters may be configured to be coupled to a surgical drilling tool such as a conventional surgical drill and a drill bit having conductivity sensing capabilities, e.g., via a sensing drill bit, or a surgical hand tool having conductivity sensing capabilities. The adapters further include a controller configured to receive one or more signal indicative of measured electrical conductivity and/or penetration depth measurement, detect a condition associated with a change of measured electrical conductivity based on the signal, and arrest advancement of the surgical drilling tool responsive to detection of the condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems including a cannulated surgical drill tool with electrical conductivity sensing capabilities, and surgical techniques for using such tools in minimally invasive surgical procedures for accessing the SI joint via a posterior approach using an electrical conductivity feedback to facilitate accurate placement into or across the SI joint. For example, the cannulated surgical drill tool may include one or more pairs of electrodes at its distal penetration tip configured to measure electrical conductivity of tissue in contact with the distal tip during a drilling procedure and may emit an alert indicative of the measured electrical conductivity, and accordingly, the type of tissue in contact with the distal tip of the cannulated surgical drill tool, in real-time.

Abstract: Adapters for surgical drilling systems, and methods of use, are provided for performing surgical procedures, such as surgical drilling into bony structures, while guided by a conductivity sensing system. The adapters may be configured to be coupled to a surgical drilling tool such as a conventional surgical drill and a drill bit having conductivity sensing capabilities, or a surgical hand tool having conductivity sensing capabilities. The adapters further include a controller configured to receive one or more signal indicative of measured electrical conductivity and/or penetration depth measurement, detect a condition associated with a change of measured electrical conductivity based on the signal, and arrest advancement of the surgical drilling tool responsive to detection of the condition.

Abstract: A medical device for penetrating an anatomic structure, e.g., a bone structure, including a processing unit programmed to execute one or more statistical algorithms, e.g., Bayesian-based perforation detection algorithms, with electrical conductivity measured during penetration of an anatomic structure as an input to detect a breach condition, e.g., a spinal canal perforation, based on the measured electrical conductivity. The medical device may include a drill bit having sensing capabilities coupled to the distal end of a robot arm via a power drill unit mounted on the robot arm. The power drill unit may cease transmission of rotary motion to the drill bit upon detection of the breach condition.

Abstract: A rotating cutting instrument (20) is provided that includes a proximal electrically-conductive shank (24), configured to receive torque. An electrically-conductive outer electrode (26) includes an electrically-conductive distal end portion (28) that is shaped so as to penetrate tissue when rotated, and is in electrical contact with the proximal electrically-conductive shank (24). An electrically-conductive inner electrode (30) has a proximal end portion (32). An electrical isolation layer (34) is disposed between the electrically-conductive outer electrode (26) and the electrically-conductive inner electrode (30), so as to electrically isolate the electrically-conductive outer electrode (26) and the electrically-conductive inner electrode (30) from each other. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Adapters for surgical drilling systems, and methods of use, are provided for performing surgical procedures, such as surgical drilling into bony structures, while guided by a conductivity sensing system. The adapters may be configured to be coupled to a surgical drilling tool such as a conventional surgical drill and a drill bit having conductivity sensing capabilities, e.g., via a sensing drill bit, or a surgical hand tool having conductivity sensing capabilities. The adapters further include a controller configured to receive one or more signal indicative of measured electrical conductivity and/or penetration depth measurement, detect a condition associated with a change of measured electrical conductivity based on the signal, and arrest advancement of the surgical drilling tool responsive to detection of the condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical system comprising a tool including: a body; a location measurement device adapted to emit an ultrasound location signal and receive a reflected location signal; a location processing device adapted to compare each of the echoes of the reflected location signal to a pre-determined location threshold, emit an information signal if no target location echo corresponding to the interface between first and second anatomical structures has been identified within an analysis time window, the target location echo having an amplitude that exceeds the location threshold.

Abstract: Adapters for surgical drilling systems, and methods of use, are provided for performing surgical procedures, such as surgical drilling into bony structures, while guided by a conductivity sensing system. The adapters may be configured to be coupled to a surgical drilling tool such as a conventional surgical drill and a drill bit having conductivity sensing capabilities, or a surgical hand tool having conductivity sensing capabilities. The adapters further include a controller configured to receive one or more signal indicative of measured electrical conductivity and/or penetration depth measurement, detect a condition associated with a change of measured electrical conductivity based on the signal, and arrest advancement of the surgical drilling tool responsive to detection of the condition.

Abstract: A medical device for penetrating a bone structure including a processing unit having a transfer function that associates an electrical conductivity value S with a depth value d, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a threshold selected from amongst an absolute threshold, a relative threshold and a critical gradient, and to emit a warning signal and/or control signal responsive to detection of the threshold.

Abstract: A medical system comprising: a robotic arm, a control unit configured to issue a control signal, a medical device intended to penetrate an anatomical structure, the medical device being configured to emit a warning signal which varies as a function of a variable electrical characteristic of the anatomical structure, said medical device comprising a body with first and second electrodes, an electric generator suitable for applying at least one measurement electric current between the first and second electrodes, and a processing device suitable for determining a measurement parameter related to the electrical characteristic, based on said at least one measurement electric current, and for emitting the warning signal corresponding to the measurement parameter, wherein the control unit is configured to issue the control signal as a function of the warning signal.

Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods are provided verifying the surgery is being performed in accordance with a surgical plan, wherein a surgical tool having a sensor outputs a data signal that enables the trajectory of the surgical tool to be displayed as an overlay on an image of an anatomical portion of a patient and a visual or audible signal that confirms the surgical tool is penetrating the anatomical portion in accordance with the surgical plan and/or that issues an alert indicating that the surgical tool is not being inserted into the anatomical portion according to the surgical plan.

Abstract: A medical system including a body; a first electrode; a second electrode; an electric generator; and a processing device suitable for determining an electrical characteristic that represents the capacity of the tissue of an anatomical structure between first and second contact surfaces of the first and second electrodes to conduct the electric current, and for emitting a warning signal corresponding to the determined electrical characteristic, the warning signal being intermittent. The processing device is suitable for detecting a variation in the electrical characteristic and for varying at least one variable parameter of the warning signal after a time delay, in accordance with the variation in the electrical characteristic, has elapsed.

Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods are provided verifying that a robotic surgery is being performed in accordance with a surgical plan, wherein a surgical tool having a sensor outputs a data signal that enables the trajectory of the surgical tool to be displayed as an overlay on an image of an anatomical portion of a patient and a visual or audible signal that confirms the surgical tool is penetrating the anatomical portion in accordance with the surgical plan and/or that issues an alert indicating that the surgical tool is not being inserted into the anatomical portion according to the surgical plan.

Abstract: A medical system comprising: a robotic arm, a control unit configured to issue a control signal, a medical device intended to penetrate an anatomical structure, the medical device being configured to emit a warning signal which varies as a function of a variable electrical characteristic of the anatomical structure, said medical device comprising a body with first and second electrodes, an electric generator suitable for applying at least one measurement electric current between the first and second electrodes, and a processing device suitable for determining a measurement parameter related to the electrical characteristic, based on said at least one measurement electric current, and for emitting the warning signal corresponding to the measurement parameter, wherein the control unit is configured to issue the control signal as a function of the warning signal.

Abstract: A device to monitor penetration of an instrument in an anatomical structure including at least two electrodes, a source of current supplying the at least two electrodes, and means for measuring impedance between the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are located on the penetration instrument, wherein the first electrode has a contact surface coinciding with a distal surface of the penetration instrument and the second electrode has a contact surface coinciding with a lateral surface of the penetration instrument, and wherein the contact surfaces are dimensioned to have a coinciding and constant contact surface as a function of a degree of penetration of the penetration instrument in the anatomical structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising: a view measurement device adapted to emit an ultrasound view signal and receive a reflected view signal; a view processing device adapted to detect, in the reflected view signal, a target view echo corresponding to an interface between first and second anatomical structures, to measure a flight time between the emission of an ultrasound view signal and the detection of the target view echo, and to represent an external surface of the first anatomical structure from the measured flight times.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining the quality of a bone structure, comprising: a body adapted for drilling through the bone structure; a first electrode arranged on the body so as to come into contact with the bone structure during drilling; a second electrode arranged on the body so as to come into contact with the bone structure at a distance from the first electrode during drilling; an electric generator adapted to apply an electric current between the first and second electrodes for a pre-determined period of time; a measuring device adapted (i) to measure the electric current, continuously and over the pre-determined period, an electrical magnitude representative of the aptitude of the bone structure for allowing electric current to pass therethrough and (ii) to deliver, continuously and over the pre-determined period, a signal representative of the quality of the bone structure between the contact surfaces of the first and second electrodes, using the determined electrical magnitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the consolidation of a bone structure, comprising: a system for determining the quality of the bone structure, including a body, first and second electrodes arranged on the body, an electric generator for applying an electric current, a measurement device for measuring the electric current, and a processing device for determining an electrical magnitude representative of the aptitude of the bone structure for allowing electric current to pass therethrough and for delivering a signal representative of the quality of the bone structure, using the determined electrical magnitude; and a device selected from between an electrical stimulation device for applying an electric bone-growth stimulation and a fixation device for immobilising the bone structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining the quality of a bone structure, comprising: a body adapted for drilling through the bone structure; a first electrode arranged on the body so as to come into contact with the bone structure during drilling; a second electrode arranged on the body so as to come into contact with the bone structure at a distance from the first electrode during drilling; an electric generator adapted to apply an electric current between the first and second electrodes for a pre-determined period of time; a measuring device adapted (i) to measure the electric current, continuously and over the pre-determined period, an electrical magnitude representative of the aptitude of the bone structure for allowing electric current to pass therethrough and (ii) to deliver, continuously and over the pre-determined period, a signal representative of the quality of the bone structure between the contact surfaces of the first and second electrodes, using the determined electrical magnitude.