Abstract: Variations of integral navigation controls may be used in conjunction with a medical instrument to provide navigation functions for an image guided surgery (IGS) system that is in communication with the integral navigation controls. In some variations, a medical instrument with integrated navigation wheels allows movement of a cursor of the IGS system along the x and y axis by scrolling the wheel, or allows selection, zooming, or other controls by combined clicking and/or scrolling of wheels, and may be sterilized or discarded along with the device. In some other variations, a control overlay may be temporarily attached to the medical instrument to provide additional controls, such as buttons or a pointing stick, and then removed and sterilized or discarded after a procedure. In each variation, inputs may be communicated via wire or wirelessly to an IGS system to provide navigation of images during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: Variations of integral navigation controls may be used in conjunction with a medical instrument to provide navigation functions for an image guided surgery (IGS) system that is in communication with the integral navigation controls. In some variations, a medical instrument with integrated navigation wheels allows movement of a cursor of the IGS system along the x and y axis by scrolling the wheel, or allows selection, zooming, or other controls by combined clicking and/or scrolling of wheels, and may be sterilized or discarded along with the device. In some other variations, a control overlay may be temporarily attached to the medical instrument to provide additional controls, such as buttons or a pointing stick, and then removed and sterilized or discarded after a procedure. In each variation, inputs may be communicated via wire or wirelessly to an IGS system to provide navigation of images during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: An array of sensors may be used to perform touchless registration of landmarks of a patient's face before an ENT procedure in order to associate those landmarks with pre-operative images in three-dimensional space, which is required for image guided surgery features such as navigation. Touchless or light-touch registration may improve accuracy by avoiding the need for substantial pressing against a patient's skin, which may deform and thereby introduce erroneous registration data. A sensor may also be implemented in forms other than an array such as handheld probe having a single sensor as opposed to an array.

Abstract: A dilation instrument and method dilating an ostium includes a body, a guidewire, a dilation catheter, and a force measurement system. The guidewire is operatively connected to the body to body relative thereto. The dilation catheter has an expandable dilator operatively connected to the body and is configured to movably receive the guidewire therein for guiding movement of the expandable dilator along the guidewire. The guide member extends distally from the body along a longitudinal axis and is configured to guide movement of the expandable dilator and the guidewire. The force measurement system is operatively connected to the guide member and is configured to measure a force received against the guide member for monitoring engagement with an anatomy of a patient for dilating the ostium along a passageway within the patient.

Abstract: A dilation instrument includes a body, a dilation catheter, a guide member, and a force sensor. The dilation catheter has an expandable dilator. The guide member extends distally from the body and is configured to guide movement of the expandable dilator. The force sensor is operatively connected to the guide member and is configured to sense a force imparted against the guide member for monitoring engagement with an anatomy of a patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method of tracking the surgical instrument includes a shaft, a cutting member, and navigation system. The shaft has a shaft lumen, a shaft window, and a shaft edge. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft lumen and is configured to cyclically move from a first position to a second position relative to the shaft. The cutting member includes a cutting window opening, a cutting edge, and a suction lumen to cut the tissue portion with the cutting member in the first position. The navigation system includes a navigation sensor positioned on at least one of the shaft or the cutting member that is configured to be tracked within a patient for identifying a positional movement of the shaft or the cutting member within the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a guide member, an elongate translating member, an actuator, and a force measuring feature. The guide member is coupled to and extends distally from the body, and defines a longitudinal axis. The elongate translating member is operatively coupled with the body and is slidably disposed relative to the guide member. The elongate translating member is configured to translate relative to the body between a retracted position and an extended position for accessing an anatomical passageway. The actuator is coupled to the elongate translating member, and is selectively movable relative to the body to actuate the elongate translating member between the retracted and extended positions. The force measuring feature is operatively coupled with the actuator, and is configured to detect and measure an axial force exerted on the elongate translating member by the actuator when the elongate translating member moves between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A dilation instrument and method of imaging an anatomy within a patient includes a dilation catheter having a catheter body, a fluid conduit extending along the catheter body, a dilator, and at least one ultrasonic transducer. The catheter body is configured to distally extend from an instrument body and move relative to the instrument body. The dilator is connected to the catheter body in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and configured to receive a fluid from the fluid conduit and thereby inflate from a contracted state to an expanded state. The at least one ultrasonic transducer positioned on the catheter body and configured to electrically connect to an ultrasonic generator. The at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to emit a source ultrasonic signal toward an anatomy within a patient for producing a diagnostic or a therapeutic effect.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cannula assembly and a sensor assembly. The cannula assembly includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The cannula is formed of a rigid material. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and a communication wire. The sensor is fixed to the cannula assembly. The communication wire is in electrical communication with the sensor. The communication wire extends along a length of the cannula assembly exterior to the first lumen.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus, which includes a catheter configured for insertion into a body of a subject, the catheter comprising a flexible distal portion configured to flex in response to a mechanical force applied to the catheter, a conducting element, held by the flexible distal portion of the catheter such that a position of the conducting element changes as the flexible distal portion flexes, at least one transmitting coil, disposed within the catheter proximally to the conducting element, configured to generate an alternating magnetic field that induces, in the conducting element, eddy currents that vary with the position of the conducting element, and one or more receiving coils, disposed within the catheter proximally to the conducting element, configured to output respective signals responsively to a superposition of (i) the magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil, and (ii) a secondary magnetic field generated by the eddy currents.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for monitoring the level of a feed material layer in a metallurgical furnace are described. At least one non-contact sensor is used to sense a distance between the feed layer and a reference position. A process controller linked to the sensor provides a control signal based upon the sensed distance. The control signal may be used to control various factors in the operation of the metallurgical furnace.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for monitoring the level of a feed material layer in a metallurgical furnace are described. At least one non-contact sensor is used to sense a distance between the feed layer and a reference position. A process controller linked to the sensor provides a control signal based upon the sensed distance. The control signal may be used to control various factors in the operation of the metallurgical furnace.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the level of a plurality of phases of a conductive or semi-conductive mixture in a vessel. The systems and method include a vessel configured to hold the mixture, a plurality of antennas configured to transmit electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals into the mixture to impinge upon the plurality of phases and to receive corresponding signals reflected from the plurality of phases, a transmitter module configured to generate electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a receiver module configured to receive electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a control module in communication with the transmitter module and the receiver module configured to control their operation, and a signal analysis module in communication with the receiver module configured to process the reflected signals to determine the levels of the plurality of phases within the vessel.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for monitoring the level of a feed material layer in a metallurgical furnace are described. At least one non-contact sensor is used to sense a distance between the feed layer and a reference position. A process controller linked to the sensor provides a control signal based upon the sensed distance. The control signal may be used to control various factors in the operation of the metallurgical furnace.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for monitoring the level of a feed material layer in a metallurgical furnace are described. At least one non-contact sensor is used to sense a distance between the feed layer and a reference position. A process controller linked to the sensor provides a control signal based upon the sensed distance. The control signal may be used to control various factors in the operation of the metallurgical furnace.

Abstract: In a first aspect, some embodiments of the invention provide a system for measuring the level of a plurality of phases of a conductive or semi-conductive mixture in a vessel, the system comprising: a vessel configured to hold a conductive or semi-conductive mixture including a plurality of phases, the vessel comprising a sidewall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a plurality of antennas configured to transmit electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals into the sidewall of the vessel to impinge upon the plurality of phases in the conductive or semi-conductive mixture and to receive corresponding signals reflected from the plurality of phases in the conductive or semi-conductive mixture, the antennas situated at a plurality of different levels along the exterior surface of the vessel sidewall, wherein reflected signals are received, a transmitter module configured to generate electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a receiver module configure