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.

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 comprises 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 includes 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 method, system and apparatus for surface rendering using medical imaging data is provided. A display device is controlled to render a first model of imaging data showing depth positions corresponding to a given surface threshold value, and further controlled to replace the first model with a second model of the imaging data showing respective depth positions corresponding to the given surface threshold value, the second model being faster to compute than the first model. The given surface threshold value is changed to an updated surface threshold value, for example using a slider input. The display device updates rendering of the second model to show updated respective depth positions corresponding to the updated surface threshold value. When an acceptance is received, the display device is controlled to replace the second model with the first model showing updated depth positions corresponding to the updated surface threshold value.

Abstract: A medical navigation system is provided for detecting movement of a subject, the system having an optical tracking system including a camera, a display, and a controller electrically coupled with the optical tracking system and the display. The controller has a processor coupled with a memory and is configured to receive a data signal from the optical tracking system and recognize and continuously monitor optical tracking markers on the subject within a field of view of the camera, and provide an alert on the display when movement of the optical tracking markers on the subject falls within predefined parameters.

Abstract: A medical navigation system is provided for detecting movement of a subject, the system having an optical tracking system including a camera, a display, and a controller electrically coupled to the optical tracking system and the display. The controller has a processor coupled to a memory and is configured to receive a data signal from the optical tracking system and recognize and continuously monitor optical tracking markers on the subject within a field of view of the camera, and provide an alert on the display when movement of the optical tracking markers on the subject falls within predefined parameters.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for reducing inhomogeneity in an imaging magnetic field during magnetic resonance imaging is described. The method includes generating a corrective magnetic field during imaging, the corrective magnetic field having a first magnetic field component and a second magnetic field component with a phase separation therebetween. The first and second components are generated according to a stability parameter decomposed from a stability field that correct an instability identified within the imaging magnetic field.

Abstract: An OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) handheld device is provided comprising: a housing configured for handheld OCT scanning during a surgical procedure, the housing comprising an OCT scanning end and a proximal end opposite the OCT scanning end; an OCT scanning device inside the housing, the OCT scanning device configured for one or more of OCT polarized scanning and Doppler OCT scanning from the OCT scanning end, the OCT scanning device further configured to receive and convey OCT light between the proximal end and an OCT analysing system; and a tip extending from the OCT scanning end, the tip being removably attached to the OCT scanning end, the tip configured to receive and collect the OCT light therethrough. The OCT handheld device is configured to be removably draped around the tip, for use in the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A monitoring method and system for providing visual enhancements during a medical procedure is described. The method includes capturing current visual information of a site during the medical procedure in real time, storing at least a portion of the captured visual information as stored visual information, identifying a feature of interest in at least one of the current visual information and the stored visual information; generating feedback data associated with the feature of interest, and displaying a virtual representation of the feedback data overlaid on the current visual information.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for a trackable suction tool for surgical use. The tracked suction tool includes 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 connected to the main tube distal end and a tracking mechanism connected to a handle proximal end. A method is provided for tracking the position of a tracked suction device including 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: Systems and methods are provided in which local tissue diagnostic measurements are correlated with archival local tissue diagnostic data from prior tissue analyses to supplement diagnostic measurements with tissue analysis data from prior tissue analyses having similar local tissue diagnostic data. The tissue analysis data may include information such as pathology data, outcome data, and diagnosis data. The archived local tissue diagnostic data and the tissue analysis data may be stored in a database, and employed for a wide variety of methods, involving preoperative, intraoperative, and/or postoperative phases of a medical procedure. Methods and systems are also provided for displaying, on a medical image shown in a user interface, hyperlinked reference markers associated with tissue analyses, where the reference markers are shown at locations corresponding to local tissue analyses, and where associated diagnostic data and/or tissue analysis may be viewed by selecting a given reference marker.

Abstract: A forward-imaging optical coherence tomography probe is provided, comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing comprising: a longitudinal axis; an interior side; a distal end that is optically transparent; and a mirror located at the interior side, adjacent the distal end; an optical fiber located inside the cylindrical housing along the longitudinal axis; a wedge lens located inside the cylindrical housing, adjacent the distal end, the wedge lens configured to receive light from the fiber, and direct the light towards the mirror; and, at least one motor configured to both: rotate the fiber and the wedge lens about the longitudinal axis and inside the cylindrical housing; and, linearly displace the fiber and the wedge lens along the longitudinal axis and inside the cylindrical housing; the mirror configured to: receive light from the wedge lens and reflect the light out of the distal end as the wedge lens moves linearly and rotationally.

Abstract: A multispectral synchronized imaging system is provided. A multispectral light source of the system includes: 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 includes 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: A motion-assisted positioning arm for a medical procedure. The positioning arm includes a base, an arm coupled to the base, and an end effector coupled to the arm. The arm includes a plurality of arm segments. The arm includes a plurality of joints for connecting the arm segments. The end effector may be manipulable with six degrees of freedom in a task-coordinate space based on motion by at least one joint in the plurality of joints. The positioning arm includes a processor to: detect manipulation of and determine forces or torques acting on the end effector; determine a surgical mode for constraining movement of the end effector in the task-coordinate space; determine an end effector velocity based on the determined forces or torques and the surgical mode for moving end effector; and apply at least one joint space movement based on the end effector velocity.

Abstract: Trackable apparatuses and methods involving at least one arrangement of at least one trackable feature configured for disposition in relation to at least one substrate, each arrangement of the at least one arrangement having a distinct pattern of trackable features configured to facilitate determining at least one of: an identity of at least one object and at least one subject, a disposition of at least one object and at least one subject, a disposition between at least one object and at least one subject, and a disposition among at least one object and at least one subject, and each arrangement of the at least one arrangement configured to optimize tracking by a navigation tracking system, whereby at least one spatial relationship among the at least one object and the at least one subject is optimizable. The navigation tracking system is optionally multi-modal.

Abstract: A method is provided for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging near metal, including acquiring an image at a first magnetic field from a subject that includes a metal object, acquiring an image at a second magnetic field, and combining the images to provide a corrected image with reduced metal distortion. An MR imaging system for measuring near metal is also provided including a superconducting magnet to provide a magnetic field, a power supply for a current to ramp the magnetic field, a cryocooler in contact with the superconducting magnet, a magnetic field controller programmed to ramp the main magnetic field by adjusting the current generated by the power supply, a radio frequency system for transmitting and receiving signals, and a data acquisition and processing system to receive the MR signals, generate image data sets and combine the image data sets to provide a corrected image having a reduced metal distortion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a surgical microscope. Moveable optics of the surgical microscope are controlled using two sets of control parameters, to reduce jitter and image instability. Shifts in the image due to changes in temperature or due to the use of optical filter can also be compensated. Misalignment between the mechanical axis and the optical axis of the surgical microscope can also be corrected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic field-dependent relaxometry using magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”] are provided. Relaxation parameters, including longitudinal relaxation time (“T1”) and transverse relaxation time (“T2”), are estimated from magnetic resonance signal data acquired at multiple different magnetic field strengths using the same MRI system. By measuring these relaxation parameters as a function of magnetic field strength, T1 dispersion data, T2 dispersion data, or both, are generated. Based on this dispersion data, quantitative physiological parameters can be estimated. As one example, iron content can be estimated from T2 dispersion data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which local tissue diagnostic measurements are correlated with archival local tissue diagnostic data from prior tissue analyses to supplement diagnostic measurements with tissue analysis data from prior tissue analyses having similar local tissue diagnostic data. The tissue analysis data may include information such as pathology data, outcome data, and diagnosis data. The archived local tissue diagnostic data and the tissue analysis data may be stored in a database, and employed for a wide variety of methods, involving preoperative, intraoperative, and/or postoperative phases of a medical procedure. Methods and systems are also provided for displaying, on a medical image shown in a user interface, hyperlinked reference markers associated with tissue analyses, where the reference markers are shown at locations corresponding to local tissue analyses, and where associated diagnostic data and/or tissue analysis may be viewed by selecting a given reference marker.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for a suction tool combined with an optical probe. A suction device is provided having a tip with a hollow tubular body, a plurality of optical fibers embedded in the tip and a concentric ring attached to the tip, wherein the ring end has an inner beveled reflective surface opposing the optical fibers. A method is provided for optically measuring tissue in a medical procedure comprising suctioning a tissue using a suction device, sending optical signals along optical fibers through the suction device; directing the signals from the optical fibers onto the tissue using a beveled surface; receiving optical signals from the tissue in optical fibers via the beveled reflective surface; measuring the received optical signals in a spectrometer or detector; and releasing, resecting or ablating the tissue through the suction device.