Abstract: In a method for geometrically correct association of at least two 3D image data of a patient, a marker field that defines a reference and is dimensionally stable and can be imaged in an x-ray image, is fixed in a stationary position relative to the patient. An x-ray apparatus is brought into first and second 3D acquisition positions. In each of the 3D acquisition positions, the x-ray apparatus acquires first 2D x-ray images for the associated 3D image data in various positions. The first and second 3D acquisition positions are selected such that a second 2D x-ray image that includes an image of at least a portion of the marker field is acquired in at least one respective position. The respective attitudes of the 3D acquisition position and the 3D image data in the reference system are determined from the image of the marker field in the second 2D x-ray image. First and second image data are geometrically correctly associated with one another according to their respective attitude.

Abstract: A method for determining the location, in a coordinate system, of a target position for an invasive medical procedure on a patient. An entry mark that defines the coordinate system and indicates an entry position for the procedure is affixed to the patient. A site marker, which can be identified in a radioscopy image, is fixed in a known relative location in the coordinate system. At least two 2D radioscopy images of the patient, which both depict the respective site marker and the target position, are recorded from different recording directions. The location of the target position in the coordinate system is determined from the representation of the target position and from the representation of the site marker in the 2D radioscopy images and from the relative location of the site marker in the coordinate system.

Abstract: A method for determining a distance between a first point and a second point on an object under examination inside the body of a person under examination by way of x-ray imaging by an x-ray device. The method includes the recording of x-ray images at different relative positionings of the x-ray device, which contain the first and the second point respectively. The relative positionings are substantially shifted in relation to one another in parallel to a central beam. Stereo reconstruction is carried out to define a 3D position of the first point and of the second point. The distance between the first point and the second point is determined from the 3D position of the first point and the 3D position of the second point.

Abstract: A supporting device is provided for a radiation source and a radiation detector, as well as an imaging device having a supporting device. The supporting device contains a base unit, a guidance device with a first segment and a second segment, and a first support arm. The first segment is rotatably arranged at a first rotation connection at the first support arm. The first support arm is pivotably arranged at the base unit of the supporting device such that, by a pivot movement of the first support arm, the first segment can be moved from a first position in which the segments make contact with one another, into a second position in which the segments are separated from one another.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating fused-image visualization for surgery evaluation. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, at least one pre-operative image and at least one intra-operative image of an anatomical structure are received. A region of interest may be identified in the intra-operative image. The pre-operative image may be straightened, and a symmetric region may be identified in the straightened pre-operative image. The symmetric region is substantially symmetrical to a target region in the straightened pre-operative region. The target region corresponds to the region of interest in the intra-operative image. The symmetric region may be extracted and reflected to generate a reference image. The intra-operative image may be rigidly registered with the reference image to generate registered intra-operative image, which is overlaid on the target region in the straightened pre-operative image to generate a fused image.

Abstract: The pose of an implant represented in a medical image is determined from the medical image. The x-ray image of the implant is compared to a database of the implant viewed at different poses (e.g., viewed from different directions). The implant pose associated with the best match indicates the pose of the implant in the x-ray image.

Abstract: The device enables the detection of positions of the navigation marking elements on a reference star by way of at least two projection images taken by an X-ray system at different pivoting angles of a C-arm. The positions of the navigation marking elements on the reference star are also calculated by a navigation system tracking camera. The transformation from the coordinate system of the navigation system into the coordinate system of the X-ray system is calculated from the position of the reference star detected by the X-ray system and the position of the reference star detected by the tracking camera. The navigation marking elements are located outside of the volume which is reconstructed by way of the imaging process in order to prepare tomographic images. The positions of the navigation marking elements are determined from two-dimensional projections. All the navigation marking elements need only be detected by at least two projection images.

Abstract: A method for localization and identification of a structure in a projection image with a system having a known system geometry, includes acquiring a preoperative computer-tomography or CT image of a structure, preprocessing the CT-image to a volume image, acquiring an intraoperative two dimensional or 2D X-ray image, preprocessing the 2D X-ray image to a fix image, estimating an approximate pose of the structure, calculating a digitally reconstructed radiograph or DRR using the volume image, the estimated pose and the system geometry, and calculating a correlation between the generated DRR and the fix image, with a correlation value representing matching between the generated DRR and the fix image. The method significantly decreases the number of wrong-level surgeries and is independent of the surgeon's ability to localize and/or identify a target level in a body.

Abstract: A medical imaging system and a method electromagnetically track a position of structures with the medical imaging system and a C-arm arrangement. The medical imaging system contains a C-arm, a gantry, and at least one electromagnetic field generator assembly with at least one electromagnetic field generator which interacts with an electromagnetic sensor from receiving the electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, the electromagnetic sensor is positioned within a region of surgical interest in a patient. The electromagnetic field generator is directly embedded into the C-arm.

Abstract: In a method for geometrically correct association of at least two 3D image data of a patient, a marker field that defines a reference and is dimensionally stable and can be imaged in an x-ray image, is fixed in a stationary position relative to the patient. An x-ray apparatus is brought into first and second 3D acquisition positions. In each of the 3D acquisition positions, the x-ray apparatus acquires first 2D x-ray images for the associated 3D image data in various positions. The first and second 3D acquisition positions are selected such that a second 2D x-ray image that includes an image of at least a portion of the marker field is acquired in at least one respective position. The respective attitudes of the 3D acquisition position and the 3D image data in the reference system are determined from the image of the marker field in the second 2D x-ray image. First and second image data are geometrically correctly associated with one another according to their respective attitude.

Abstract: A vertebral spreading instrument for moving apart two vertebrae of a spine includes a plurality of spreading fingers and a spreading mechanism for adjusting a distance between the spreading fingers. The spreading mechanism includes a first and a second part, the first and second parts each including a respective marker trackable by a navigation system. Relative positions of the first and second parts change when the distance between the spreading fingers is adjusted, and different relative positions are unequivocally assigned to different distances of the spreading fingers.

Abstract: A fixing system and method for fixing a navigational reference array for image-assisted medical treatment with respect to a patient, wherein the reference array is arranged the patient's body with the assistance of an immobilizing device, and wherein the immobilizing device is a vacuum mattress or a vacuum mattress patient jacket, and at least one anchoring for the reference array is provided on or in the vacuum mattress or a vacuum mattress patient jacket.

Abstract: A method for verifying the position of at least two bone structures relative to each other, comprising the method steps of: recording a three-dimensional dataset which represents the bone structures; segmenting the three-dimensional dataset into segments, wherein each segment represents a bone structure and the segments exhibit a known relative position in the three-dimensional dataset; changing the virtual relative position of the segments, such that the virtual relative position of the segments matches the actual relative position of the bone structures; verifying whether the virtual relative position of the segments matches a target position of the bone structures.

Abstract: A vertebral spreading instrument for moving apart two vertebrae of a spine includes a plurality of spreading fingers and a spreading mechanism for adjusting a distance between the spreading fingers. The spreading mechanism includes a first and a second part, the first and second parts each including a respective marker trackable by a navigation system. Relative positions of the first and second parts change when the distance between the spreading fingers is adjusted, and different relative positions are unequivocally assigned to different distances of the spreading fingers.

Abstract: A fixing system and method for fixing a navigational reference array for image-assisted medical treatment with respect to a patient, wherein the reference array is arranged the patient's body with the assistance of an immobilizing device, and wherein the immobilizing device is a vacuum mattress or a vacuum mattress patient jacket, and at least one anchoring for the reference array is provided on or in the vacuum mattress or a vacuum mattress patient jacket.