Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program for determining a visualization of content to be displayed to a surgeon on a display of a portable display device are provided. First pose data indicative a first pose of an anatomical feature of a patient in an operating room and second pose data indicative of a second pose of a portable display device in the operating room are obtained. Based on the first pose data and the second pose data, a third pose of a surgeon relative to the patient is estimated. Based on the estimated third pose, a visualization of content to be displayed to the surgeon on a display of the portable display device is determined.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique of determining a trajectory defined by a guide wire or other elongated member is presented. A method implementation of the technique in one variant comprises obtaining image data representative of a guide wire placed in a bone, processing the image data to determine an extension of the guide wire, and selecting a portion of the guide wire extension. The method further comprises determining, from the selected portion of the guide wire extension, trajectory data indicative of a guide wire-defined trajectory.

Abstract: A technique for determining a need for a re-registration of a patient tracker with medical image data of a patient is presented. The patient tracker comprises an acceleration sensor configured to generate inertial data indicative of an acceleration of the patient tracker. A method implementation of the technique comprises the following steps performed by a processor: receiving inertial data acquired by the acceleration sensor, analyzing the received inertial data, or data derived therefrom, with respect to at least one first predetermined condition indicative of a drift of the tracker or an impact on the tracker, and generating, when the at least one first predetermined condition is fulfilled, at least a first re-registration signal.

Abstract: A tracker, a surgical tool system, a surgical navigation system, and a method for operating a surgical navigation system are provided. The tracker is configured to be associated with a patient or a surgical tool that is to be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The tracker comprises an optical fibre having a longitudinal extension and configured to be optically coupled to a light source such that the optical fibre transmits light emitted by the light source. The optical fibre has a lateral surface along its longitudinal extension and is configured to emit light via at least a portion of the lateral surface.

Abstract: Techniques for co-registration of extended reality and surgical navigation systems involve detection of a spatial relationship between a virtual registration object and a physical registration object (e.g., tool). The physical registration object is observed on, or through, the display of the head-mounted device (HMD). In one implementation, biomechanical control input (e.g., hand/finger or eye tracking) from the HMD user is sensed to command acquisition of the virtual registration object relative to the physical registration object. In another implementation, the virtual registration object is presented on the HMD display for alignment with the physical registration object. In some instances, a virtual guide object is presented on the HMD display to dynamically guide the user to align the physical and virtual registration objects.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing awake brain surgery include a navigation system to track a pose of a surgical instrument relative to a pose of the target anatomy of a patient. A head-mounted device (HMD) is worn by the patient during surgery. A control system is in communication with the navigation system and the HMD. The control system registers one or more images with the target anatomy. The control system identifies a structure of the target anatomy based on the one or more images of the target anatomy. The control system detects the pose of the surgical instrument being proximate to the identified structure of target anatomy, and based on such, the control system controls the HMD to generate an output to provoke a response of the patient.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for image data registration is provided. The method includes receiving first image data. The first image data are indicative of bone and of at least one bone marker placed therein, the bone marker having a longitudinal axis. The method includes determining a first orientation of the longitudinal axis of the at least one bone marker based on the first image data, receiving second image data indicative of the bone and of the at least one bone marker placed therein, and determining a second orientation of the longitudinal axis of the at least one bone marker based on the second image data. Further, the method includes registering, based at least one the first and second orientation of the longitudinal axis of the at least one bone marker, a first local coordinate system associated with at least a segment of the first image data within a global coordinate system.

Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for setting a cleaning operation of an apparatus for filling containers with a filling material. The apparatus has several filling stations, each having a filling material path, a filling material path valve arranged in the corresponding filling material path, and a flow meter arranged to measure a flow rate through the corresponding filling material path. A cleaning medium is passed through at least some of the filling material paths by releasing at least some of the filling material paths by opening the corresponding filling material path valves. Cleaning medium flow rates through the released filling material paths are measured by the corresponding flow meters. At least one valve actuation parameter of the cleaning operation of the apparatus is set depending on the measured cleaning medium flow rates.

Abstract: A tracker for a surgical navigation system, a tracker system, and a surgical navigation system are provided. The tracker comprises a carrier and an electrical circuit disposed on the carrier. The electrical circuit comprises at least one infrared light emitting diode, IR-LED, and a battery or a wireless power reception device configured to receive power wirelessly, wherein the battery or the wireless power reception device is configured to provide power to operate the at least one IR-LED. The electrical circuit is configured to limit a current for at least one of the at least one IR-LED to not exceed 15 mA.

Abstract: Techniques for generating surgical information from intra-operatively acquired image data of vertebrae and pre-operatively acquired image data of the vertebrae are provided. One method includes accessing a first image from the pre-operatively acquired image data and a second image from the intra-operatively acquired image data, processing the images to obtain first image segments and to determine image regions, determining a first transformation that registers the first image segment to the first image region, and determining a second transformation that is different from the first transformation and registers the second image segment to the second image region. The method further includes generating surgical information by blending the image segments of the first image with the image regions of the second image based on the transformation and causing an output device to show a visualization of the surgical information.

Abstract: A head-mounted device HMD for use in the surgical environment includes an exterior-facing display that is configured to present content. Such content can include human-readable, visual, graphical, or video content. The content can be presented to inform others of surgically relevant content. In some cases, the content includes a trackable graphic that is detectable by a remote camera source, e.g., for tracking the HMD. The content displayed on the exterior-facing display can be dynamically generated or modified based on numerous sources or detected events.

Abstract: Systems, methods, non-transitory computer-readable mediums, and techniques involve a tracker system including a tracker device and a controller. The tracker device is attached or attachable to a surgical object. The tracker device includes a digital display screen. The controller is coupled to the tracker device and is configured to present, on the digital display screen, a computer-generated content, such as surgical information and/or a trackable graphic that is detectable by a tracking system to facilitate tracking of a pose of the surgical object.

Abstract: A method for operating an ultrasonic fluid meter, preferably an ultrasonic water meter, in a fluid distribution network, includes using an ultrasonic transducer to generate an ultrasonic signal which passes through a measurement path, and determining a flow volume by using evaluation electronics on the basis of a transit time and/or a transit time difference of the ultrasonic signal. A hydraulic force change acting on the ultrasonic transducer through the fluid generates a voltage signal waveform on the ultrasonic transducer and the voltage signal waveform is tapped by the evaluation electronics. An ultrasonic fluid meter, preferably ultrasonic water meter, is also provided.

Abstract: A technique of generating surgical information from intra-operatively acquired image data of vertebrae and pre-operatively acquired image data of the vertebrae is presented. A method implementation includes obtaining first image segments each containing a different vertebra, and second image segments each containing a different vertebra. The first image segments have been derived by processing the pre-operatively acquired image data, and the second image segments have been derived by processing the inter-operatively acquired image data. The method includes identifying one of the second image segments and one of the first image segments that contain the same vertebra, and determining a transformation that registers the identified first image segment and the identified second image segment. The method includes generating surgical information based on the transformation and the identified first image segment.

Abstract: A field generator assembly for surgical navigation is provided. The field generator assembly comprises a field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field, an attachment member configured to attach the field generator to a body of a patient, at least one first arm comprising a first portion configured to be in contact with a surface of the body of the patient when the field generator is attached to the body, and a second portion movably attached relative to the field generator, and at least one sensor configured to measure a spatial relationship between the at least one arm and the field generator. Also provided is a method of obtaining a relative pose between a surface of the body and a field generator.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining a respective position of one or more markers in a 3D image coordinate system are provided. A plurality of image data sets taken from a 3D volume in which an object and one or more markers are disposed. The 3D volume comprises a central volume containing at least a portion of the object and further comprises a peripheral volume adjacent to the central volume and containing the one or more markers. The image data sets have been taken from at least one of different positions and different orientations relative to the object. A first subset comprises image data sets that each includes at least one dedicated marker of the one or more markers and a second subset comprises at least one image data set that does not include the at least one dedicated marker. The method further comprises determining, from the image data sets, a position of the at least one dedicated marker in a 3D image coordinate system of a 3D reconstruction of the central volume with the object portion.

Abstract: The disclosure generally provides for a surgical system comprising an imaging device including a gantry supported for translation between a first position and a second position to obtain imaging data of a target site of a patient over a scan period, and a position sensor to generate gantry data representing a position of the gantry relative to the base between the first position and the second position; trackers including a gantry tracker operatively attached to the gantry; a navigation system including a localizer to track states of the trackers in a navigation reference frame; a controller operatively connected to the imaging device and the navigation system, and configured to register the imaging data to the navigation reference frame by synchronizing the gantry data generated by the position sensor with changes in tracked states of the gantry tracker occurring over the scan period representing movement between the first and second position.

Abstract: An optical tracker and a surgical device. The surgical device includes a shaft defining a longitudinal axis. The shaft has a first shaft portion configured to be inserted into a patient, and a second shaft portion configured to be located outside the patient when the first shaft portion is inserted in the patient. The surgical device further includes an actuation member actuatable relative to the first shaft portion, and an operation member operable relative to the second shaft portion. The operation member is configured to actuate the actuation member when being operated. Further, the surgical device includes a tracker coupled with the operation member so that operation of the operation member causes the tracker to move relative to the shaft, such as to rotate around the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A tracker for a surgical navigation system, a tracker system, and a surgical navigation system are provided. The tracker comprises a carrier and an electrical circuit disposed on the carrier. The electrical circuit comprises at least one infrared light emitting diode, IR-LED, and a battery or a wireless power reception device configured to receive power wirelessly, wherein the battery or the wireless power reception device is configured to provide power to operate the at least one IR-LED. The electrical circuit is configured to limit a current for at least one of the at least one IR-LED to not exceed 15 mA.

Abstract: A method for operating an ultrasonic fluid meter, preferably an ultrasonic water meter, in a fluid line network, at a measuring rate with one measuring interval, includes generating an ultrasonic signal at specific time points by an ultrasonic converter, the ultrasonic signal passing through a measuring section, and the fluid flow volume being ascertained by an electronic analysis unit based on propagation time and/or a propagation time difference of the ultrasonic signal. The hydraulic force exerted onto the ultrasonic converter by a flow event via the fluid or a change in the hydraulic force is detected by the ultrasonic converter and evaluated in the electronic analysis unit. As a result, the measuring rate is adaptively modified to ascertain the flow volume of fluid and/or the flow volume ascertained over a measuring interval is corrected based on the temporal position of the flow event relative to the measuring interval.