Abstract: Described are various embodiments of a mobile surgical imaging sensor and display unit, and surgical navigation system associated therewith, in which the mobile unit may be disposed to provide line-of-sight or near line-of-sight imaging and display capabilities to an operator thereof during a surgical procedure, while a position and/or orientation of the mobile unit is tracked relative to a surgical site to associate a surgical site location with images captured and rendered by the mobile unit.

Abstract: A conductor-less, shape-able, surgical lighting system and methods for use in surgical applications in which a medical clinician, once having established a surgical site, can shape the lighting system to selectively illuminate desired volumes of the surgical site. The system includes preselected lengths of an elongate light emitting member formed of a transparent elastomer matrix material having a glass transition temperature of lower than or substantially equal to room temperature to render the elongate light emitting member bendable and shape-able. Embedded in the transparent elastomer matrix material are particles of a transparent material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the matrix material dispersed in the elastomer matrix material so that light coupled into the elongate light emitting member is scattered and refracted out of the elongate light emitting member along its length. One end of the elongate light emitting member is coupled with a light source.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for performing tissue removal and analysis based on the in-situ optical analysis of tissue and liquid collected from a tissue region. A tissue removal and analysis probe involves an elongate tissue removal device, an optical fiber, and a fluid fillable conduit, wherein distal ends of the optical fiber and the conduit are in communication with an external region that is adjacent to a distal functional portion of the tissue removal device. The optical analysis results of at least one of external tissue and collected fluid is employed to determine whether tissue removal is to be performed. Various devices are interfaced with the conduit for optical analysis of the collected fluid. The tissue removal device is movable relative to the optical fiber and conduit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus is provided for use in a medical procedure for image acquisition using a high-resolution imaging system, a three dimensional imaging system and a navigation system. A 3D imaging scan of an imaged portion of the surface of the patient is acquired using the three dimensional imaging system. Then, a first high-resolution imaging scan covering a first sub-portion of the imaged portion is acquired using the high-resolution imaging system, which is tracked by the navigation system. The 3D imaging scan and the first high-resolution imaging scan are combined to create an enhanced three dimensional image having contour lines to provide a visual representation of depth derived from depth information acquired from both the three dimensional imaging system and the high-resolution imaging system. Subsequent high resolution scans may then be stitched into the image and the updated image displayed in real-time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive, multi-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”), in which an MRI scan prescription is adaptively changed to acquire high-quality data from select regions-of-interest (“ROI”) in a larger field-of-view (“FOV”), are provided. The higher quality data can include data representing higher spatial resolution, higher signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”), increased diffusion encoding via repeated acquisition with a larger number of diffusion-encoding directions, and so on. A composite image can be generated that displays the higher quality images of the ROIs overlaid on the larger FOV.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided including a processor, a communications interface coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a module saved in the memory. The module configures the processor to receive a first communications packet from a remote device via the communications interface including information useful for estimating a clock offset of the remote device, and determine an upper bound of the clock offset of the remote device with respect to the electronic device based on the information.

Abstract: System and methods are provided for adaptively and intraoperatively configuring an automated arm used during a medical procedure. The automated arm is configured to position and orient an end effector on the automated arm a desired distance and orientation from a target. The end effector may be an external video scope and the target may be a surgical port. The positions and orientations of the end effector and the target may be continuously updated. The position of the arm may be moved to new locations responsive to user commands. The automated arm may include a multi-joint arm attached to a weighted frame. The weighted frame may include a tower and a supporting beam.

Abstract: A method and device for tracking objects by surgical navigation systems. The method includes: capturing an image of the tracked object; determining whether a unique identifiable feature associated with at least one totem pattern is discernible in the image; when the unique identifiable feature is discernible: determining a position or an orientation of the tracked object based on the at least one totem pattern; and registering the at least one totem pattern in the surgical coordinate space; and when the unique identifiable feature is indiscernible: determining a position of each totem pattern relative to other totem patterns such that a combination of totem patterns within the captured image is a marker group detectable as a composite totem pattern; determining a position or an orientation of the tracked object based on the composite totem pattern associated with the tracked object; and registering the composite totem pattern in the surgical coordinate space.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is visible by both a three dimensional (3D) scanner system of a medical navigation system and a camera of the medical navigation system. The apparatus involves a rigid member and a plurality of markers attached to the rigid member. Each of the plurality of markers includes a reflective surface portion visible by the camera and a distinct identifiable portion visible by the 3D scanner system. The apparatus further involves a connector mechanism to connect the apparatus to a reference location. The apparatus is in a field of view of the 3D scanner system and the camera within a timeframe of the 3D scan.

Abstract: A device and methods for maintaining patient registration in surgical navigation, involving: obtaining a patient position in a tracking system frame of reference, based on a fiducial marker array affixed in a first position relative to the patient; receiving an initial surface scan depicting the patient and the fiducial array; responsive to receiving an intraoperative image depicting the patient: obtaining a position, in the tracking system frame of reference, of the fiducial array affixed in a second position relative to the patient; receiving a secondary surface scan depicting the patient and the fiducial array; detecting a deviation in a position of the fiducial marker array relative to the patient between the initial and secondary surface scans; and applying the deviation to the position of the patient to generate an updated position of the patient in the tracking system frame of reference, based on the fiducial array affixed in the second position.

Abstract: A device and method for a trackable suction tool in surgical use. A trackable suction tool involves a tubular handle with a main tube and an entrance tube extending from the main tube, a flattened section of the main tube with a suction-regulating orifice, a tip coupled with the main tube distal end and a tracking mechanism coupled with a handle proximal end. A method of tracking position of a trackable suction device involves attaching a tip to a handle in one of a plurality of fixed positions, attaching a tracking mechanism to the handle in one of a plurality of fixed positions, calibrating the position of the tip with a positional tracking system using the tracking mechanism, positioning the tracking markers in view of the positional tracking system, and tracking a position of the distal end of the tip of the suction device.

Abstract: A head coil assembly includes a housing with a lower portion, an upper portion, a left portion, and a right portion, wherein each portion includes two or more radio-frequency (RF) coils, wherein the portions are sized and shaped to adjustably conform to a curvature of the subject's head for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the subject's head placed inside the housing, wherein the portions are operable to transition from an open position where the portions are sufficiently apart from each other to a closed position where the portions are adjusted to tighten a wrap around the subject's head along the curvature, and wherein the two or more RF coils in each portion are disposed in such manner that when the portions are operated to transition from the open position to the closed position, the RF coils of each portion remain decoupled to each other even along edges of each portion.

Abstract: A multispectral synchronized imaging system is provided. A multispectral light source of the system comprises: blue, green and red LEDs, and one or more non-visible light sources, each being independently addressable and configured to emit, in a sequence: at least visible white light, and non-visible light in one or more given non-visible frequency ranges. The system further comprises a camera and an optical filter arranged to filter light received at the camera, by: transmitting visible light from the LEDs; filter out non-visible light from the non-visible light sources; and otherwise transmit excited light emitted by a tissue sample excited by non-visible light. Images acquired by the camera are output to a display device. A control unit synchronizes acquisition of respective images at the camera for each of blue light, green light, visible white light, and excited light received at the camera, as reflected by the tissue sample.

Abstract: A cognitive optical system for dynamically refining imaging during a medical procedure, involving a processor operable by a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a non-transitory memory device. The processor is configured to automatically adjust an image by automatically compensating for at least one external factor affecting an anatomical area being viewed, automatically adjusting at least one imaging parameter, and automatically adjusting at least one internal control of an optical chain, whereby a quality of the image is improvable in real time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conductor-less, shape-able surgical lighting system for use in surgical applications in which a medical clinician, once having established a surgical site, can shape the lighting system to selectively illuminate desired volumes of the surgical site. The system includes one or more preselected lengths of an elongate light emitting member formed of a transparent elastomer matrix material having a glass transition temperature of lower than or substantially equal to room temperature to render the elongate light emitting member bendable and shape-able. Embedded in the transparent elastomer matrix material are particles of a transparent material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the matrix material dispersed in the elastomer matrix material so that light coupled into the elongate light emitting member is scattered and refracted out of the elongate light emitting member along its length.

Abstract: A coil assembly includes: a radio frequency (RF) coil operable to be placed over a portion of a subject; a quarter-wave transformer coupled to the RF coil and configured to transform a characteristic impedance of the RF coil; and a diode placed behind the quarter-wave transformer and away from the RF coil, wherein the diode is operable to: (i) when the diode is forward biased, the diode turns the quarter-wave transformer into an open circuit such that the power amplifier drives the RF coil with sufficient electrical power for the RF coil to transmit an RF pulse into the portion of the subject; and (ii) when the diode is provided zero or reverse bias, the diode turns the quarter-wave transformer into a short circuit such that the RF coil is detuned from a Lamor frequency of nuclei of interest immersed in the main magnet.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing feedback during a medical procedure. The 3D position and orientation of a tracked tool are determined, relative to a site of the medical procedure, based on tracking information received from a tracking system. The 3D position and orientation are mapped to a common coordinate space, to determine the 3D position and orientation relative to a field-of-view (FOV) of an optical camera that is capturing an optical image of the site. Navigational information associated with the 3D position and orientation is determined. A virtual representation of the navigational information overlaid on the FOV and displayed. The displayed virtual representation is updated when the 3D position and orientation of the tracked tool changes or when the FOV changes, in accordance with the change.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for performing tissue removal and analysis based on the in-situ optical analysis of tissue and of liquid collected from the tissue region. In one example embodiment, a tissue removal and analysis probe includes an elongate tissue removal device, an optical fiber, and a fluid fillable conduit, where distal ends of the optical fiber and the conduit are in communication with an external region that is adjacent to a distal functional portion of the tissue removal device. The results of optical analysis one of both of external tissue and collected fluid may be employed to determine whether or not tissue removal is to be carried out. Various devices may be interfaced with the conduit for optical analysis of the collected fluid. In one example embodiment, the tissue removal device may be movable relative to the optical fiber and conduit.

Abstract: An optical imaging system for imaging a target during a medical procedure is disclosed. The optical imaging system includes: a first camera for capturing a first image of the target; a second wide-field camera for capturing a second image of the target; at least one path folding mirror disposed in an optical path between the target and a lens of the second camera; and a processing unit for receiving the first image and the second image, the processor being configured to: apply an image transform to one of the first image and the second wide-field image; and combine the transformed image with the other one of the images to produce a stereoscopic image of the target.

Abstract: A fat saturation method for a magnetic resonance imaging system having a main magnet providing a magnetic field B0 The method includes: driving a shim coil assembly with a first set of shimming currents to sufficiently alter a B0 field inhomogeneity of the magnetic field B0 within a region that includes a first imaging volume of interest such that water saturation inside the region is reduced from before the first set of shimming currents are applied; applying a fat saturation pulse to the region; identifying the first imaging volume of interest from the region; driving the shim coil assembly with a second set of shimming currents to alter the B0 field inhomogeneity of the magnetic field B0 within the first imaging volume of interest such that the B0 field inhomogeneity within the first imaging volume of interest is reduced; and obtaining magnetic resonance signals from the first imaging volume of interest.