Abstract: The application relates to the problem of navigating a surgical instrument (at 301, 311) towards a region-of-interest (at 312) in endoscopic surgery when an image (300) provided by the endoscope is obscured at least partly by obscuring matter (at 303), wherein the obscuring matter is a leaking body fluid, debris or smoke caused by ablation. To address this problem, a computer-implemented method is proposed, wherein, upon detecting that the image from the endoscope is at least partly obscured, a second image is determined based on a sequence of historic images and based on the current position and orientation of the endoscope. Furthermore, a virtual image (310) is generated based on the determined second image.

Abstract: The invention relates a system for implanting an implantable device in bone tissue, a processing unit for such system, a method of implanting an implantable device and a method of providing information for an implanting of an implantable device. In view of the finding that a fat content in cancellous bone is higher than a fat content in compact bone, the lipids fraction, which can be determined by optical means, e.g. spectroscopy, can be used to determine correct screw placement in healthy bone.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for investigating a tissue of a subject by way of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the tissue including a fluorescent agent adapted to absorb light in a first wavelength range and emit light in a second wavelength range, different to the first. The system includes a cannula having a distal end to be positioned adjacent the tissue and an internal cavity for providing a suction force to the tissue. The system further includes a light source adapted to generate light at the first wavelength range and a fiber optic element to be positioned adjacent the tissue. The fiber optic element is adapted to receive a light signal from the fluorescent agent, the light signal comprising light in the first and second wavelength ranges. The system further includes a processing system adapted to determine a concentration of the fluorescent agent in the tissue based on the light signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (8) for assisting a user in placing a penetrating device in tissue like a pedicle screw (7) in a vertebra’s pedicle. The system generates a virtual view (20) from a penetrating device tip perspective within the tissue in the direction of a path (21) through a model of the tissue. The virtual view is generated based on tracking information indicating a pose of the penetrating device, the model and the path, wherein the virtual view is configured such that it indicates a direction in which the user should move the penetrating device while placing it in the tissue. For instance, it can show a virtual tunnel (801) which is arranged along the path. If a user like a surgeon is provided with such a virtual view, the user can position the penetrating device along the path with a significantly increased accuracy.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: A system may generally comprise a tracking device, an ultrasound device and a processing unit. A position and orientation of the ultrasound device may be traceable by the tracking device. The processing unit may be configured (i) to receive 3D information of a region of interest in relation to a marker, with both the region of interest and the marker being located within a body, (ii) to determine the position of the marker relative to the ultrasound device based on an ultrasound image of the body including the marker, and (iii) to determine the position and orientation of the ultrasound device relative to the tracking device. The system may further comprise a visualization device and the processing unit may further be configured to generate a visualization of the region of interest in relation to an outer surface of the body.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: An orthopedic pin (100) for optically analyzing a bone region (110) includes an elongate shaft (101) and at least one optical fiber (105) The elongate shaft has a circular outer cross section with a first diameter (D1), a distal end (102) for insertion into bone, a proximal end (103), and an optical connector portion (104) disposed towards the proximal end (103). The at least one optical fiber (105) extends within the elongate shaft (101) between the optical connector portion (104), and the distal end (102) for transmitting optical radiation between the optical connector portion (104) and the bone region (110) when the distal end (102) is inserted into the bone region (110). The optical connector portion (104) comprises a reduced-diameter portion (106). The reduced-diameter portion (106) extends along at least a portion of the elongate shaft (101), and has an outer cross section comprising a width (Drd) perpendicularly with respect to the elongate shaft (101).

Abstract: A system for providing integrated guidance for positioning a biopsy device and estimating tumor size in a body has two levels of guidance: a coarse guidance and a fine guidance. The system includes a non-invasive imaging system for obtaining an image of the biopsy device in the body, for providing the coarse guidance. Furthermore, the system includes an optical element mounted on the needle for obtaining optical information discriminating tissue in the body, for providing the fine guidance.

Abstract: The application relates to the problem of navigating a surgical instrument (at 301, 311) towards a region-of-interest (at 312) in endoscopic surgery when an image (300) provided by the endoscope is obscured at least partly by obscuring matter (at 303), wherein the obscuring matter is a leaking body fluid, debris or smoke caused by ablation. To address this problem, a computer-implemented method is proposed, wherein, upon detecting that the image from the endoscope is at least partly obscured, a second image is determined based on a sequence of historic images and based on the current position and orientation of the endoscope. Furthermore, a virtual image (310) is generated based on the determined second image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intravascular device (10). The device comprises an elongate member (20), an optical fiber (30), and at least one optical interaction element (40). At least a part of the elongate member is configured to be inserted into a part of a vascular system of a patient. At least a part of the optical fiber is located within the elongate member. The optical fiber is configured to transmit optical wavelength radiation. The intravascular device is configured to emit optical wavelength radiation out of the elongate member in at least two optical radiation beams for being scattered and/or reflected by a portion of the vascular system. The emission of the at least two optical radiation beams comprises interaction of the transmitted optical wavelength radiation with the at least one optical interaction element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active marker device (100) for being introduced into a human tissue and for tracking a region of interest of a human body. The active marker device comprises a light source (101) for emitting light such that the emitted light can be detected by an optical sensor. In this way, the active marker device and/or the region of interest can be tracked by a tracking system comprising the optical sensor. The active marker device (100) further comprises a switch (102) for turning the light source on and off and for operating the light source in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: An active marker device (100) is introducible into a human tissue and for tracking a region of interest of a human body. The active marker device includes a light source (101) for emitting light such that the emitted light can be detected by an optical sensor. In this way, the active marker device and/or the region of interest can be tracked by a tracking system including the optical sensor. The active marker device (100) also includes a switch (102) for turning the light source on and off and for operating the light source in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: The invention relates a system for implanting an implantable device in bone tissue, a processing unit for such system, a method of implanting an implantable device and a method of providing information for an implanting of an implantable device. In view of the finding that a fat content in cancellous bone is higher than a fat content in compact bone, the lipids fraction, which can be determined by optical means, e.g. spectroscopy, can be used to determine correct screw placement in healthy bone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device (100) for generating an image of a patient (P), the imaging system (100) comprising: a camera arrangement (10), which is configured to provide a first image information (I1) of the patient (P) using a first wavelength band, and which is configured to provide a second image information (I2) of the patient (P) using a second wavelength band. The first wavelength band and the second set of wavelength band are different; and the first and/or second image information comprises landmark information of landmarks (M) of a patient (P). The landmark information is derived by at least one wavelength band outside the visible spectrum. Further, a data processor (30) is provided, which is configured to generate a fused image (IE) based on the first image information (I1) and the second image information (I2), and which is configured to detect the landmarks (M) in the fused image (IE).

Abstract: The invention relates a system for implanting an implantable device in bone tissue, a processing unit for such system, a method of implanting an implantable device and a method of providing information for an implanting of an implantable device. In view of the finding that a fat content in cancellous bone is higher than a fat content in compact bone, the lipids fraction, which can be determined by optical means, e.g. spectroscopy, can be used to determine correct screw placement in healthy bone.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a treatment procedure is provided, the method comprising the steps of determining a 3-D intervention vector in relation to an inner body structure of a body of interest based on a 3-D x-ray image, determining a 3-D position of an entry point on an outer surface of the body of interest based on the intervention vector, comparing the position and/or orientation of the inner body structure in the 3-D x-ray image with the position and/or orientation of the inner body structure in an additional 2-D x-ray image being generated transverse to the intervention vector, correcting the 3-D position of the entry point on the outer surface of the body of interest based on a deviation detected in the comparing step.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a tube system in particular by image processing of images of the tube system is provided by the present invention. In order to achieve a simulation of a medium flow through a calculated tube model, the present invention gathers a tube model from a specific tube data set. By defining the necessary parameters of a virtual injection of the medium by the user, the medium flows through the model. Using this displayed simulation for generating at least two images leads to an artificial image sequence that might support a person, which wants to examine a real structure, that corresponds to the calculated model. This might be seen in.

Abstract: Imaging system (100) for enabling instrument guidance in an interventional procedure, comprising: —an input (130) for obtaining an interventional path (220) for use in the interventional procedure, the interventional path being planned based on 3D image data (200) of a patient's interior, and the interventional path being indicative of an entry point (230) on the patient's exterior; —a camera (124-127) for obtaining a camera image (270) of the patient's exterior during the interventional procedure; —a processor (140) for i) establishing a spatial correspondence between the camera image and the 3D image data, ii) based on the spatial correspondence, calculating a view (280) of the interventional path that corresponds with the camera image, and iii) combining the view of the interventional path with the camera image to obtain a composite image (290); and —a display output (150) for displaying the composite image on a display (162).