Abstract: A system for skive avoidance includes a sensor configured to measure a force exerted on a surgical tool; at least one processor; and a memory. The memory stores instructions for execution by the at least one processor that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: project a tool trajectory onto a three-dimensional (3D) model of bone tissue; and estimate an expected normal force direction and magnitude upon contact of the surgical tool with the bone tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a pose of a target and/or tracking the target is provided. A first robotic arm may be configured to orient a first imaging device and a second robotic arm may be configured to orient a second imaging device. The first robotic arm and the second robotic arm may operate in a shared or common coordinate space. A first image may be received from the first imaging device and a second image may be received from the second imaging device. The first image and the second image may depict at least one target. A pose of the at least one target may be determined in the coordinate space based on the first image, a corresponding first pose, the second image, and a corresponding second pose.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inserting a rod is provided. At least one tower extending from a head of a corresponding implanted pedicle screw may be tracked to identify a tower movement. An insertion point and a path from the insertion point to the at least one tower may be calculated. The rod may be inserted at the insertion point and along the rod and the path may be adjusted during insertion of the rod based on identified tower movement.

Abstract: A method for verifying a bone entry point includes receiving a surgical plan that defines a target bone entry point and a first portion of a bone surface at least partially surrounding the target bone entry point; positioning an imaging device near an identified bone entry point; receiving, from the imaging device, an image of a second portion of the bone surface surrounding the identified bone entry point; comparing at least one feature of the first portion to at least one feature of the second portion to quantify a degree of similarity therebetween; and generating, when the quantified degree of similarity between the first portion and the second portion exceeds a threshold, a confirmation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating an insertion point and a path for a rod are provided. A surgical plan having at least one image and information about a position of at least one tower may be received. The at least one image may depict a surgical region. A soft tissue portion and at least one anatomical element may be identified in the at least one image. An insertion point and a path from the insertion point to the at least one tower may be calculated based on the identified soft tissue portion and at least one anatomical element. The rod may be inserted at the insertion point and along the path.

Abstract: A robotic navigation system includes a robot base; a robotic arm with a proximal end secured to the robot base, a distal end movable relative to the proximal end, and one or more arm segments between the proximal end and the distal end; a base set of tracking markers secured to the robot base; and at least one additional set of tracking markers secured to the robotic arm.

Abstract: A system for robotic spinal manipulation includes a first robotic arm comprising an end effector; a second robotic arm configured to hold a spinal rod; at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one processor. The instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to control the first robotic arm to link the end effector with at least one vertebral screw implanted in a vertebra of a spine of a patient; control the second robotic arm to hold the spinal rod in a predetermined pose; and cause the first robotic arm to move the at least one implanted vertebral screw into engagement with the spinal rod.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a safety mechanism for a robotically controlled surgical tool. Embodiments of the methods use sensors to detect parameters that vary by the tissue traversed by a surgical tool. The sensors detect signals arising from the interaction of the surgical tool with the tissue and provide this information to a robotic controller. For example, during drilling, the sensors may measure power, vibration, sound frequency, mechanical load, electrical impedance, and distance traversed according to preoperative measurements on a three-dimensional image set used for planning the tool trajectory. By comparing the detected output with that expected for the tool position based on the planned trajectory, identified discrepancies in output would indicate that the tool has veered from the planned trajectory. The robotic controller may then alter the tool trajectory, change the speed of the tool, or discontinue power to the tool, thereby preventing damage to underlying tissue.

Abstract: A method including receiving information about a pose of each of a plurality of fiducials positioned on or within a patient; causing an imaging device to generate a single image of a portion of the patient, the single image depicting at least a portion of each of the plurality of fiducials; determining, based on the information and the single image, a pose of one or more anatomical elements represented in the single image; and comparing the determined pose of the one or more anatomical elements to a predetermined pose of the one or more anatomical elements.

Abstract: A method for robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery involves calculating, based on a surgical plan, an insertion vector for an MIS port; causing a robotic arm to hold the MIS port in a pose that corresponds to the insertion vector; detecting, with a sensor on the robotic arm, a force applied to the robotic arm via the MIS port; maintaining the MIS port in the pose when the detected force is lower than a predetermined threshold; and generating an alert when the detected force exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for determining a work volume includes receiving image information from an imaging device corresponding to an array of tracking markers fixed to a flexible mesh, the mesh placed over a patient and over at least one surgical instrument adjacent to or connected to the patient; determining a position of each tracking marker in the array of tracking markers based on the image information; defining a boundary for movement of a robotic arm based on determined tracking marker positions, such that the robotic arm does not contact the patient or the at least one surgical instrument during movement of the robotic arm; and controlling the robotic arm based on the defined boundary.

Abstract: A method and system for improving spinal alignment parameters of a subject, by planning the shape of an intervertebral rod for attaching to previously implanted hardware whose positions and orientations are known from intraoperative images. Once the planned shape of the rod has been prepared, determining if, when attached to the inserted hardware, a spine configuration is achieved having acceptable values of selected spinal alignment parameters. If not, the shape of the rod is amended iteratively, until the selected spinal alignment parameters have acceptable values with attachability to the implanted hardware. If, after a predetermined number of iterations, the amended shape of the rod still does not achieve acceptable values of spinal alignment parameters, while maintaining attachability to the implanted hardware, performing a spinal manipulation procedure on at least one vertebra of the spine to increase the attachability of the rod to the implanted hardware.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a corrected image is provided. A plurality of poses for an imaging device may be calculated based on information about an object within a patient's anatomy. An image may be received from the imaging device at each pose of the plurality of poses to yield an image set. Each image may depict at least a portion of an anatomical element of the patient and an object. A set of saturated areas in which the object has caused saturated attenuation, and a set of unsaturated areas in which the object has not caused saturated attenuation may be identified in the images of the image set. A corrected image may be generated by combining data from the set of unsaturated areas, the corrected image depicting the anatomical feature with fewer than all of the saturated areas in the set of saturated areas.

Abstract: A spinal stabilization system includes a plurality of anchors and at least one bridge. Each anchor includes a clamp configured to engage an anatomical element, the clamp movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; a locking screw configured to selectively prevent the clamp from being moved into the fully open position; and a bridge interface. The at least one bridge is a rigid member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, each of the first end and the second end having an anchor interface. The bridge interface is configured to receive the anchor interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for assisting in guiding and performing a procedure on a subject. The subject may be any appropriate subject such as inanimate object and/or an animate object. The guide and system may include various manipulable or movable members, such as robotic systems, and may be registered to selected coordinate systems.

Abstract: A method of aligning an imaging device in connection with robotic surgery includes causing a robot to position a reference target over a body of a patient; receiving image data from an imaging device; identifying, with an image processing algorithm, at least a first portion of an anatomical element in the image data; identifying, with a target detection algorithm, at least a first portion of a reference target in the image data; comparing a determined location of the imaging device, the reference target, and the anatomical element to yield a location determination and causing at least one of the robot to re-position the reference target or the imaging device to re-position.

Abstract: A method of positioning an imaging device relative to a patient, comprising positioning a reference marker adjacent a desired field of scan corresponding to an anatomical element of a patient; and causing an imaging device to align with the reference marker, based on tracking information received from a navigation system, the tracking information corresponding to the reference marker and a navigated tracker disposed on the imaging device.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting spinal stenosis is provided. The method may receive image data corresponding to a spine region of a patient. The method may also identify a spinal cord in the image data. The method may determine at least one compression of the spinal cord and may mark an anatomical element proximate to a location of the determined at least one compression to yield at least one marking. The method may generate a decompression plan based on the at least one marking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for assisting in guiding and performing a procedure on a subject. The subject may be any appropriate subject such as inanimate object and/or an animate object. The guide and system may include various manipulable or movable members, such as robotic systems, and may be registered to selected coordinate systems.

Abstract: A low radiation, intra-operative method using two-dimensional imaging to register the positions of surgical implants relative to their pre-operative planned positions. Intraoperatively, a pair of two-dimensional fluoroscope images in different planes or a single three-dimensional image is acquired and compared to a set of three-dimensional pre-operative images, to allow registration of the implant region anatomy. A second set of intraoperative fluoroscope images is acquired of the surgical area with implants in place. The second set of images is compared with the first set of intraoperative images to ascertain alignment of the implants. Registration between first and second intraoperative image sets is accomplished using the implants themselves as fiducial markers, and the process repeated until an acceptable configuration of the implants is obtained. The method is particularly advantageous for spinal surgery.