Abstract: The invention relates to an auxiliary instrument for insertion into vessels or lumens with small inner diameters. The auxiliary instrument has a proximal end and a distal end and has at least one localization element whose position and orientation can be determined with an electromagnetic position detection system. The localization element is located directly adjacent to or at least close to the distal end of the auxiliary instrument and is configured to capture an alternating electromagnetic field. A distal end region of the auxiliary instrument extends from the distal end of the auxiliary instrument to a proximal end of the localization element such that the localization element is located within the distal end region. In that part of the distal end region in which the localization element is located, the auxiliary instrument has a low bending stiffness of less than 10 Nmm2, at least in sections.

Abstract: A method for detecting a position and an operating state of an active surgical instrument. The active surgical instrument emits or influences/modifies at least one electromagnetic field in an active operating state. The method includes the steps of positioning a first sensor in order to detect the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument is the active operating state at a known position, detecting the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument in the active operating state by means of the first sensor, generating an output signal by means of the first sensor, the output signal indicating the detection of the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument by means of the first sensor, and ascertaining the position and operating state of the active surgical instrument on the basis of the output signal and the known position of the first sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical system comprising an instrument, a data processing and image generating apparatus and an image display and control unit. Of these, the position acquisition apparatus is embodied to acquire a position and orientation of the instrument in relation to a reference coordinate system. The data processing and image generating apparatus is embodied to generate an image of a body part from currently recorded or stored data representing a body part, which image reproduces a view of the body part together with a representation of the position, and preferably also the orientation, of the instrument in such a way that an observer can gather the position and orientation of the instrument in the body part from the image of the body part. Here, according to the invention, the image display and control unit is wirelessly connected to the data processing and image generating apparatus, and comprises a display and input unit with a closed surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical instrument with an instrument handle, an instrument shank connected to the instrument handle, an instrument tip with a work point, which instrument tip is connected to the instrument shank, and a first locator arranged on the instrument handle or the instrument shank. During a use of the surgical instrument, the instrument shank can be deflected, e.g. on account of transverse forces, at least between the first locator and the work point. A second locator is arranged at a distance from the first locator and, by comparison with the latter, closer to the work point, wherein the second locator is designed to detect five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument identification setup, comprising a sensor carrier, configured to be removably arranged in a lumen of a medical instrument. The sensor carrier has at least two localizers, the localizers each being configured for providing a sensor signal representing position and orientation of the respective localizer. The medical instrument identification setup further comprises a position detection system that is configured for determining position and orientation of the at least two localizers in a position detection system's coordinate system from received sensor signals. The medical instrument identification setup has a calibration device and a calibration unit, the calibration device being configured such that its position and orientation in the position detection system's coordinate system can be determined by the position detection system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically registering an object, the method comprising the steps of providing a preoperatively obtained model of the object, providing at least one marker carrier having a plurality of fluoroscopically detectable makers and at least one marker localization element fixed on it, wherein the at least one marker localization element being configured to provide a sensor signal representing position and orientation of the marker localization element in an electromagnetic field, and relative distance and orientation between at least one marker localization element and at least one marker of the plurality of markers are known, arranging the at least one marker carrier on an outer surface of the object, generating at least one fluoroscopic image of at least one marker carrier arranged on the outer surface together with at least one segment of the object in such a way that at least two markers of at least one marker carrier are visible in the generated fluoroscopic image tog

Abstract: The invention relates to a registration method for determining position and orientation of an object in relation to a position detection system, wherein the method comprises the steps of capturing an image of a surface of an object with an image sensor unit comprising at least one motion sensor and/or at least one position sensor, determining a capturing position of the image sensor unit in a coordinate system of the position detection system by processing motion sensor signals provided by said motion sensor and/or position signals provided by said position sensor, photogrammetrically generating a surface model of the object from the captured image, and transforming the photogrammetrically generated surface model into the coordinate system of a position detection system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for connecting a medical instrument to a position-detecting system, the device having a localization element. The medical instrument has an instrument shaft, an instrument tip and an operating point. At least one localization element for determining position information for the device within a coordinate system of the position-detecting system can be provided on the device, the device having at least one retaining means for attaching the localization element to the medical instrument.

Abstract: The invention relates to a registration method for determining position and orientation of an object in relation to a position detection system, wherein the method comprises the steps of capturing an image of a surface of an object with an image sensor unit comprising at least one motion sensor and/or at least one position sensor, determining a capturing position of the image sensor unit in a coordinate system of the position detection system by processing motion sensor signals provided by said motion sensor and/or position signals provided by said position sensor, photogrammetrically generating a surface model of the object from the captured image, and transforming the photogrammetrically generated surface model into the coordinate system of a position detection system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation unit that is configured for assisting a surgeon in navigating a medical instrument equipped with a localizer. The navigation unit comprises a housing, at least one localizer input port, a position detection unit, a state determination unit, a control unit and at least one operating state indicating light element. The at least one localizer input port is integrated in one of the housing walls to be accessible from outside the housing. The at least one localizer input port configured for receiving a localizer signal provided by a localizer operatively connected to the localizer input port. The at least one operating state indicating light element is connected to the control unit and integrated in one of the housing walls such that light emitted from the operating state indicating light element is visible from outside the housing. The housing accommodates at least the position detection unit, the state determination unit and the control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical instrument with an instrument handle, an instrument shank connected to the instrument handle, an instrument tip with a work point, which instrument tip is connected to the instrument shank, and a first locator arranged on the instrument handle or the instrument shank. During a use of the surgical instrument, the instrument shank can be deflected, e.g. on account of transverse forces, at least between the first locator and the work point. A second locator is arranged at a distance from the first locator and, by comparison with the latter, closer to the work point, wherein the second locator is designed to detect five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A medical system comprises an instrument, a position acquisition apparatus, a data processing and image generating apparatus and an image display and control unit. The position acquisition apparatus is configured to acquire a position and orientation of the instrument in relation to a reference coordinate system. The data processing and image generating apparatus is configured to generate an image of a body part from currently recorded or stored data representing a body part, which image reproduces a view of the body part together with a representation of the position, and preferably also the orientation of the instrument so that an observer can gather the position and orientation of the instrument in the body part from the image of the body part.

Abstract: A method for detecting a position. and. an operating state of an active surgical instrument. The active surgical instrument emits or influences/modifies at least one electromagnetic field in an active operating state. The method includes the steps of positioning a first sensor in order to detect the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument is the active operating state at a known position, detecting the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument in the active operating state by means of the first sensor, generating an output signal by means of the first sensor, the output signal indicating the detection of the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument by means of the first sensor, and ascertaining the position and operating state of the active surgical instrument on the basis of the output signal and the known position of the first sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical kit, for performing minimally invasive spine surgery. The surgical kit comprises a position detection system, configured for detecting position and orientation of localizers from received sensor signals in the position detection system's coordinate system. The surgical kit also comprises a sensor carrier, configured to be removably arranged in a lumen of a medical instrument, the sensor carrier having at least two localizers, the localizers each being configured for providing a sensor signal representing position and orientation of the respective localizer. Furthermore, the surgical kit comprises a plurality of medical instruments having a lumen in which the sensor carrier can be removably arranged for connecting the respective medical instrument to the position detection system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an auxiliary instrument for insertion into vessels or lumens with small inner diameters. The auxiliary instrument has a proximal end and a distal end and has at least one localization element whose position and orientation can be determined with an electromagnetic position detection system. The localization element is located directly adjacent to or at least close to the distal end of the auxiliary instrument and is configured to capture an alternating electromagnetic field. A distal end region of the auxiliary instrument extends from the distal end of the auxiliary instrument to a proximal end of the localization element such that the localization element is located within the distal end region. In that part of the distal end region in which the localization element is located, the auxiliary instrument has a low bending stiffness of less than 10 Nmm2, at least in sections.

Abstract: The invention related to a balloon dilation device having a distal end and a proximal end. The balloon dilation device comprises a handle, a shaft, an inflatable balloon and at least one sensor coil. The handle extends from the proximal end of the balloon dilation device towards the distal end of the balloon dilation device. The shaft extends from the distal end of the balloon dilation device towards the proximal end of the balloon dilation device, said shaft having an inflation lumen. The inflatable balloon is fixedly arranged at the shaft. The balloon is fluidly connected to the inflation lumen such that the balloon can be inflated and deflated by feeding a fluid through the inflation lumen into the balloon. The at least one sensor coil is arranged at the shaft. The at least one sensor coil is configured for capturing an electromagnetic field and for providing a sensor coil signal representing position and orientation of the sensor coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a registration method for determining position and orientation of an object in relation to a position detection system, wherein the method comprises the steps of capturing an image of a surface of an object with an image sensor unit comprising at least one motion sensor and/or at least one position sensor, determining a capturing position of the image sensor unit in a coordinate system of the position detection system by processing motion sensor signals provided by said motion sensor and/or position signals provided by said position sensor, photogrammetrically generating a surface model of the object from the captured image, and transforming the photogrammetrically generated surface model into the coordinate system of a position detection system.

Abstract: A method for detecting a position and an operating state of an active surgical instrument. The active surgical instrument emits or influences/modifies at least one electromagnetic field in an active operating state. The method includes the steps of positioning a first sensor in order to detect the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument in the active operating state at a known position, detecting the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument in the active operating state by means of the first sensor, generating an output signal by means of the first sensor, the output signal indicating the detection of the electromagnetic field emitted or influenced by the active surgical instrument by means of the first sensor, and ascertaining the position and operating state of the active surgical instrument on the basis of the output signal and the known position of the first sensor.

Abstract: A navigation support system for medical instruments comprises a signal processing unit with an input for real-time video image signals from an optical instrument, input for instrument position signals and access to tomography image data, and output for outputting image signals. The signal processing unit generates output image signals from the image signals, the image data and the position signals and generates the output image signals such that the real-time video image signals are displayed permanently centrally on an image display unit connected to the navigation support system in a round or oval central image display of an overall image, wherein the central image display extends at least in one direction of extension across more than half of the overall image and that the secondary images generated by tomography image data, in dependence on the instrument position signals, are displayed adjacent to or partially superimposed over the central image display.

Abstract: A method for detecting deformations and errors and/or for generating position data of an instrument (1) with at least one first section (2) with at least one first sensor (4) and at least one second section (3) with at least one second sensor (5), wherein the method encompasses metrologically determining the position of the first and second sensor (4, 5). The method encompasses mathematically determining the position of the second sensor (5) with regard to the first section (2), preferably in at least two ways. Further, an apparatus for executing the method is specified.