Patents by Inventor Brandon Merkl

Brandon Merkl 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).

  • Patent number: 11707234
    Abstract: A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Merkl, Rasool Khadem
  • Publication number: 20220254040
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing registration between a patient space and an image space are disclosed herein. Systems using such methods may identify a pose of a registration frame having one or more apertures within the patient space using a tracking system. Image data corresponding to the image space having an image of the registration frame is taken. A plurality of aperture locations within the image data (corresponding to the apertures of the registration frame) are identified in the image data. Aperture representations from a model of the registration frame are matched to these aperture locations to determine a pose of the registration frame within the image space. A transform between the patient space and the image space is generated based on the pose of the registration frame within the patient space and the pose of the registration frame within the image space. Optimization methods for this transform are discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan D. Datteri, Ganesh Saiprasad, Steven Hartmann, Matthew F. Dicorleto, Brandon Merkl
  • Patent number: 10939053
    Abstract: A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Simon, Andrew Bzostek, Steven L. Hartmann, Brandon Merkl
  • Publication number: 20190380658
    Abstract: A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Brandon MERKL, Rasool Khadem
  • Patent number: 10398387
    Abstract: A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Merkl, Rasool Khadem
  • Patent number: 9226689
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed having an elongated body portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The body portion is formed from a plastically deformable material such that the body portion can be bent between the proximal and distal ends from a first configuration to a second bent configuration and maintains the bent configuration. A flexible circuit having at least a pair of lead wires disposed around the body portion. The pair of lead wires are configured to conform to the bent configuration of the body portion such that they do not break during bending of the body portion. A tracking device adapted to cooperate with a navigation system to track the distal end of the instrument is coupled to the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC XOMED, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Jacobsen, Bruce M. Burg, Orey G. Block, Andrew Bzostek, Vince J. Doerr, Abhishek Jain, Brandon Merkl, Joseph Thomas Cilke
  • Publication number: 20150216617
    Abstract: A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Brandon Merkl, Rasool Khadem
  • Patent number: 9008414
    Abstract: A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Merkl, Rasool Khadem
  • Publication number: 20140240481
    Abstract: A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. SIMON, Andrew BZOSTEK, Steven L. HARTMANN, Brandon MERKL
  • Patent number: 8737708
    Abstract: A patient defines a patient space in which an instrument can be tracked and navigated. An image space is defined by image data that can be registered to the patient space. A tracking device can be connected to a member in a known manner that includes imageable portions that generate image points in the image data. Selected image slices or portions can be used to register reconstructed image data to the patient space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Hartmann, Bradley A. Jascob, Brandon Merkl, Matthew F. Dicorleto
  • Patent number: 8717430
    Abstract: A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Simon, Andrew Bzostek, Steven L. Hartmann, Brandon Merkl
  • Publication number: 20140012130
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed having an elongated body portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The body portion is formed from a plastically deformable material such that the body portion can be bent between the proximal and distal ends from a first configuration to a second bent configuration and maintains the bent configuration. A flexible circuit having at least a pair of lead wires disposed around the body portion. The pair of lead wires are configured to conform to the bent configuration of the body portion such that they do not break during bending of the body portion. A tracking device adapted to cooperate with a navigation system to track the distal end of the instrument is coupled to the flexible circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Jacobsen, Bruce M. Burg, Orey G. Block, Andrew Bzostek, Vince J. Doerr, Abhishek Jain, Brandon Merkl, Joseph Thomas Cilke
  • Publication number: 20130085344
    Abstract: A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Merkl, Rasool Khadem
  • Publication number: 20120201421
    Abstract: A patient defines a patient space in which an instrument can be tracked and navigated. An image space is defined by image data that can be registered to the patient space. A tracking device can be connected to a member in a known manner that includes imageable portions that generate image points in the image data. Selected image slices or portions can be used to register reconstructed image data to the patient space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Hartmann, Bradley A. Jascob, Brandon Merkl, Matthew F. Dicorleto
  • Publication number: 20110261180
    Abstract: A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Simon, Andrew Bzostek, Steven L. Hartmann, Brandon Merkl