Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Wald

Andrew J. Wald has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230009455
    Abstract: A surgical navigation and planning system is disclosed. The system may include at least one processor, and a storage medium storing programming instructions. The programming instructions may cause the processor to receive patient-specific vertebrae information include at least one image which may be acquired by an X-ray. The system may perform segmentation of objects in the at least one image and automatically select a set of objects for planning an optimal trajectory to a location proximal the vertebrae level. The system may determine boundary dimensions of an interbody implant, a first entry incision location and a first path for the interbody implant from the first entry incision location to the location proximal the vertebrae level. The system may calculate a plurality of clearance distances between the boundary dimensions and the set of objects. The set of objects may include the psoas muscle, Aorta, and/or Vena Cava.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rowena O. Vigh, Nikhil Mahendra, Andrew J. Wald
  • Publication number: 20220296310
    Abstract: Tracking a pose of a portion of an anatomical structure using an electromagnetic navigation system may comprise generating a signal. The generated signal is configured to cause bi-directional micro coils of a bi-directional coil array to generate an electromagnetic field at each bi-directional micro coil in response to receiving the generated signal. Each of the bi-directional micro coils is also coupled to a portion of a tracked structure. At least one of the generated electromagnetic fields is configured to be detected by at least one neighboring bi-directional micro coil and at least one receiving coil of a receiving coil array. A pose of a particular bi-directional micro coil of the bi-directional micro coils associated with the at least one generated magnetic field is determined based on detecting the at least one generated magnetic field at the at least one neighboring bi-directional micro coil and the at least one receiving coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley W. Jacobsen, Andrew J. Wald
  • Publication number: 20220241025
    Abstract: Tracking a pose of a portion of an anatomical structure using a bi-directional electromagnetic navigation system may include generating a signal comprising a plurality of frequencies. The signal may be received at a bi-directional coil array that comprises a plurality of bi-directional micro coils configured to both generate electromagnetic fields and detect electromagnetic fields generated by neighboring bi-directional micro coils. Each of the plurality of bi-directional micro coils may be coupled to a portion of a structure. In response to receiving the signal, an electromagnetic field may be generated at each of the plurality of bi-directional micro coils. At least one of the generated electromagnetic fields may be detected at a neighboring bi-directional micro coil of a bi-directional micro coil that is generating the at least one detected electromagnetic field. A pose of the bi-directional micro coil that is generating the at least one detected electromagnetic field may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley W. Jacobsen, Andrew J. Wald
  • Publication number: 20220198665
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring one or more anatomical elements are provided. An image depicting one or more anatomical elements and a plurality of annotations may be received. The image may comprise a plurality of image elements. Each annotation may correspond to one of the one or more anatomical elements and may be associated with one of the plurality of image elements. Movement information about movement of at least a portion of a particular anatomical element may be received. Image elements corresponding to the particular anatomical element may be identified to yield a set of image elements. The set of image elements may be adjusted based on the movement information to yield an updated image reflecting changes to affected anatomical elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Nikhil Mahendra, Shai Ronen, Victor D. Snyder, Andrew J. Wald, Steven Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20220183765
    Abstract: Tracking a pose of a portion of an anatomical structure using an inverted-direction electromagnetic navigation system may comprise generating a signal comprising a plurality of frequencies. The signal comprising the plurality of frequencies may be received at a transmitter coil array. The transmitter coil array comprises a plurality of transmitting micro coils. Each of the plurality of transmitting micro coils is coupled to a portion of an anatomical structure of a patient. In response to receiving the signal comprising the plurality of frequencies, an electromagnetic field may be generated at each of the plurality of transmitting micro coils based on the received signal. Each of the generated electromagnetic fields may be detected at a receiver coil array comprising at least one receiving coil. A pose of at least one of the plurality of transmitting micro coils may then be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley W. Jacobsen, Andrew J. Wald
  • Publication number: 20220183764
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting experienced EM fields measured at each of one or more EM trackers of an EM tracking system as such measurements are influenced by a known distorter are disclosed herein. An EM emitter may transmit an EM field such that it contains the one or more EM trackers. The system then determines a pose of a distorter within the EM field. The system receives, from each EM tracker, data representing experienced EM fields as distorted by a distortion field caused by the distorter. The system proceeds to determine the distortion field using the pose and a model comprising one or more characteristics of the distorter. The system may first optimize the model. The system calculates data representing corresponding corrected experienced EM fields based on each respective experienced EM field and the determined distortion field at the same location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley W. Jacobsen, Victor D. Snyder, Robert Pahl, Andrew J. Wald, Steven Hartmann, Dominic M. Graziani
  • Publication number: 20220125526
    Abstract: A segmental tracking method includes receiving first image data corresponding to a surgical site comprising at least one anatomical object, the first image data generated using a first imaging modality; receiving second image data corresponding to the surgical site, the second image data generating using a second imaging modality different than the first imaging modality; correlating a representation of the at least one anatomical object in the second image data to a representation of the at least one anatomical object in the first image data; and updating a digital model of the at least one anatomical object based on the correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew J. Wald, Victor D. Snyder, Shai Ronen, Nikhil Mahendra, Shiva R. Sinha, Bradley W. Jacobsen, Steven Hartmann, Jeetendra S. Bharadwaj
  • Publication number: 20220039906
    Abstract: A tracker system for use in image guided surgery is disclosed. The tracker system may couple to wet tissue and may include a navigation tracker and a base pad that couple to each other. The base pad may be fabricated from a plurality of nonwoven nanofibers. The base pad is configured to couple to body tissue of a patient via at least one of adsorption, hydration equilibrium, and macromolecular interpenetration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley W. Jacobsen, Andrew J. Wald, Kristen H. Temnyk