Abstract: Systems and methods of associating components of a surgical instrument for navigation-assisted surgery, and controlling the surgical instruments. A first association is generated between the end effector and the navigation array from an input based on an arrangement of tracking elements of the navigation array, and an identification signal. A second association is generated between a power source and the navigation array from a battery signal wirelessly transmitted from the power source that is indicative of current being drawn on the power source. The power source may be controlled based on a position and/or an orientation of the end effector and a pose of a patient tracker. Should the position of the end effector cross a predefined virtual boundary, a control signal wirelessly transmitted to the power source may alter the current being supplied to a motor. An inertial sensor may provide a movement signal used for generating an association.

Abstract: A neurosurgery system for probing brain tissue of a patient for tumorous tissue. The system including a suction tool, an excitation source, an optical instrument, and a controller. The suction tool including a suction cannula defining a lumen, an optical fiber configured to transmit fluorescence emitted by the brain tissue; and an indicator configured to selectively emit visible light. An excitation source is configured to emit an excitation light having a wavelength to induce the fluorescence in the tumorous tissue. The optical instrument is coupled to the optical fiber. The optical instrument configured to convert the fluorescence emitted by the brain tissue and transmitted by the optical and configured to determine that the brain tissue is tumorous based on the electrical signal and activate the indicator based on the determination.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique for determining a surface registration between a first soft tissue surface defined based on mechanically acquired first surface data and a second soft tissue surface defined based on image data is provided. A method implementation of the technique includes obtaining the first surface data. The first surface data include a first set of points mechanically acquired by contacting the soft tissue with a pointing device. The method also includes applying a correction model on the first surface data to obtain corrected first surface data. The correction model is configured to shift relative positions of two or more points in the first set. Further still, the method includes determining a surface registration between the first and the second soft tissue surfaces based at least in part on the corrected first surface data.

Abstract: An endovascular management and tracking system comprises a track and at least one shuttle to which at least one elongate medical device can be respectively affixed. Each of the shuttle(s) is configured for being mechanically coupled to the track. Each of the shuttle(s) comprises a sled configured for riding on the track, an axial drive mechanism carried by the sled and configured for being actuated to axially translate the respective shuttle along the track, and a first actuator carried by the sled and configured for actuating the axial drive mechanism.

Abstract: An adapter for removably coupling a tracker to a surgical handpiece includes a proximal member having an interface configured to engage and prevent rotation of the proximal member relative to the surgical handpiece, a distal member slidably and rotatably coupled to the proximal member, a biasing member disposed between the proximal distal members and configured to urge the proximal and distal members in opposing directions, and a tracking array mount coupled to the distal member. The biasing member is configured to be compressed by a reference feature of the end effector and the surgical handpiece when the distal member is disposed on the end effector and the end effector is coupled to the surgical handpiece, the compressed biasing member creating a frictional force between the distal and proximal members that resists rotation of the distal member relative to the proximal member.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering a tubular implant to a target location in a body lumen, wherein the tubular implant has a delivery length when in a radially collapsed, delivery configuration, and a foreshortened length shorter than the delivery length when in a radially expanded, implanted configuration. Respective markers are provided on a delivery catheter and on the tubular implant which provide a visual indication of the landing location of a foreshortened length of a last proximal portion of the tubular implant prior to implanting the last proximal portion. This allows the clinician to determine if the landing location of the last proximal portion is clinically desirable prior to fully implanting the tubular implant.

Abstract: A medical device includes: an elongated tube having a wall defining a lumen for the elongated tube, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening; and a first actuating element coupled directly or indirectly to the wall of the elongated tube; wherein at least a part of the first actuating element and the first opening of the wall are located at a same longitudinal position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube; and wherein the first actuating element is configured to change size to induce stress and/or displacement at the wall of the elongated tube to cause the elongated tube to bend.

Abstract: An external fixation system may include first and second fixation rings and a plurality of adjustable length struts. Each adjustable length strut may have two joints, a rod, a tube, and an actuator configured to drive the rod axially relative to the tube to change an effective length of the strut. The system may include a plurality of controller modules each configured to couple to a corresponding strut. The external fixation system may have a manual mode of operation in which the controller modules are not coupled to the struts, and manual actuation of the actuators changes the effective lengths of the struts in discrete length increments. The external fixation system may have an automated mode of operation in which the controller modules are coupled to the struts, and automated actuation of the actuators changes the effective lengths of the struts in infinitesimally small length increments.

Abstract: A tracker, a surgical navigation system with the tracker, and a method of operating the tracker are described. The tracker comprises a first switch configured to be operated between a first switch configuration and a second switch configuration. The tracker also comprises one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation configured to selectively emit electromagnetic radiation with a first radiation characteristic or a second radiation characteristic. The tracker further comprises electrical circuitry configured to selectively control the one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation to emit electromagnetic radiation having the first radiation characteristic in the first switch configuration and to emit electromagnetic radiation having the second radiation characteristic in the second switch configuration, wherein the second radiation characteristic is different from the first radiation characteristic.

Abstract: A method for processing medical image data of a patient's body. The method includes obtaining medical image data of a patient's body, identifying a first portion of the medical image data that represents at least one predefined anatomical region of the patient's body, and determining, based on the first portion of the medical image data, a first criterion for allocating pixels or voxels of the medical image data to a first surface represented by the medical image data. A computing system, a computer program, and a carrier containing the computer program is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bone clamp including two or more clamping members configured to clampingly receive a bone therebetween. The bone clamp further includes a basis supporting at least two of the clamping members at a first distance to each other. At least one of the at least two clamping members has a body and is rotatably supported by the basis. The at least one rotatably supported clamping member has a bone engaging structure extending helically along at least a part of a length of its body. The bone engaging structure is configured to engage a side surface of the bone upon rotation of the at least one rotatably supported clamping member. Depending on the direction of the rotation, the rotatably supported clamping member advances along the side surface of the bone either in a downward direction for mounting the bone clamp or in an upward direction for dismounting the bone clamp.

Abstract: A cutting assembly in which an inner tube is rotatably disposed within an outer tube and defines as aspiration path. The inner tube may include segments, and the segments may define a flexible region associated with a bend of the outer tube. The outer tube may define irrigation channels, and further define irrigation apertures positioned proximal to a cutting window or distal to the flexible region. The irrigation channels fluidly separate the aspiration lumen from an irrigation path so as to prevent ingress of irrigation fluid into the aspiration lumen through slots defined by the segments. An inner jacket may be coaxially disposed within the inner tube and configured to provide a seal between the aspiration path and the irrigation path. A distal end of the inner jacket may be disposed in a counterbore, and the proximal end of the inner jacket may be proximal to the inner tube.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, device, and tracking system for assigning marker identities to markers of a tracker are provided. The tracker includes a reference detectable in a visible light spectrum, and the markers are detectable at least in an infrared light spectrum. The markers are arranged in a pre-determined relationship relative to the reference and the pre-determined relationship is indicative of the marker identities. A method implementation includes receiving first image data of the markers captured in the infrared spectrum. The method further includes receiving second image data of the reference captured in the visible light spectrum. The first and second image data may be captured under at least essentially the same viewing angle. The method further includes assigning the marker identities to the markers determined in the first image data based on the reference determined in the second image data and the pre-determined relationship.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique for a user-specific selection of a machine-trained model for determining an implant-related parameter. A set of different machine-trained models is provided. Each model is indicative of a dedicated implant-related parameter for a dedicated patient anatomy. The method may include receiving first patient image data indicative of a patient anatomy in which an implant is to be placed, and applying at least one first model from the set of models on the first patient image data to determine an implant-related parameter. The determined implant-related parameter is suggested to a dedicated user, and feedback is received from the user on the suggested implant-related parameter. The user feedback includes one of a confirmation of the suggested implant-related parameter and an adaptation thereof. At least one second model from the set of models that is to be applied on second patient image data may be selected, based on the user feedback.

Abstract: An electro-surgical pencil comprising: a housing forming an axially extending main suction passage from a proximal opening to a distal opening; a tube forming an extension of the main suction passage from the proximal opening to a proximal extension opening, the tube being configured for telescoping movement through the proximal opening; an electrode for cutting and/or coagulating tissue, the electrode being attached to the tube and extending axially from the proximal extension opening; and a suction tip attached to the tube and forming a further extension of the suction passage. Since both the tube and the suction tip are movable relative to the housing, a short and a long configuration can be obtained while good smoke removal capabilities are maintained.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system includes an intramedullary nail having a proximal nail hole, wherein an inner surface of the proximal nail hole has a non-circular shape in a plane perpendicular to an axis along which the proximal nail hole extends; a plate having an inner surface for placement against a surface of a bone, the plate defining a proximal plate hole adjacent a proximal end of the plate extending through the plate; and a peg extending along a peg axis and configured for insertion into the proximal nail hole, wherein a body of the peg has an outer surface defining a non-circular shape in a plane perpendicular to the peg axis, the peg further including a lateral end adjacent to the body and configured to engage the proximal plate hole, the lateral end having a reduced cross-section that is smaller than a maximum cross-section of the body of the peg.

Abstract: A fixation device for providing rotation stability to a femoral neck fracture. The device includes a bone plate having at least one opening, a compression screw housing extendable through the opening of the bone plate, a compression screw being at least partially disposed within the bore of the housing and selectively moveable through the bore, and a collapsible and expandable anchoring member coupled to the compression screw. The anchoring member is configured to transition between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition upon advancement of the anchoring member from the compression screw housing to rotationally stabilize the compression screw within a femur.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.

Abstract: An expandable implant for bone restoration. The implant includes a first end element and a second end element. A plate is expandable in a first direction, and a blade expandable in a second direction. A first interconnecting element extends between the plate and at least one of the first and second end elements. A second interconnecting element extends between the blade and at least one of the first and second end elements. When the implant is in a collapsed position, a length of the blade is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and when the blade is in an expanded position, the length of the blade is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. The blade may include a length extending from a base to a tip, and the tip of the blade is further from the longitudinal axis than the plate when the implant is in the expanded position.

Abstract: A medical device includes: an elongated tube having a wall defining a lumen for the elongated tube, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening; and a first actuating element coupled directly or indirectly to the wall of the elongated tube; wherein at least a part of the first actuating element and the first opening of the wall are located at a same longitudinal position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube; and wherein the first actuating element is configured to change size to induce stress and/or displacement at the wall of the elongated tube to cause the elongated tube to bend.