Abstract: A surgical navigation system is disclosed including a camera that is fixedly attached to a patient. The camera space merges with the patient space and thereby eliminates the need for a separate patient tracker. The surgical navigation system calculates the position of a surgical tool with a tracking device in view of the camera and shows on a display device the position of the surgical tool with respect to the patient superimposed and in correlation with a scan image of the patient.

Abstract: A surgical navigation system is disclosed including a camera that is fixedly attached to a patient. The camera space merges with the patient space and thereby eliminates the need for a separate patient tracker. The surgical navigation system calculates the position of a surgical tool with a tracking device in view of the camera and shows on a display device the position of the surgical tool with respect to the patient superimposed and in correlation with a scan image of the patient.

Abstract: Three-dimensional image data generated for an object is representative of at least a portion of the object and of reference markings associated with the object. The reference markings have a known spatial relationship with a registration tracker tracked by a navigation system. Registration tracking data/object tracking data, each representative of at least one of a spatial location and a spatial orientation of the registration tracker/object tracker respectively, are provided. The object tracker has a fixed spatial relationship with the object. The relative position between the registration tracker and the object tracker is calculated from the registration tracking data and the object tracking data for a given point in time. Registered image data is generated representative of the location or the orientation of the object, taking into account the spatial relationship between the reference markings and the registration tracker, and the relative position between the registration tracker and the object tracker.

Abstract: A surgical trajectory guide to guide a medical device to a pivot point has a base that can be attached to a patient, an axial guide member connected with the base and aligned with a pivot point along a first axis in fixed relation to the base and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The guide member has a longitudinal axis, and is connected to the base such that the longitudinal axis always passes through the pivot point, and the axial guide member is prevented from rotating around the longitudinal axis. The guide further has at least one electronic angle sensor that can automatically sense a first angle of the axial guide member relative to the local gravity vector about the first axis and a second angle of the axial guide member relative to the local gravity vector about the second axis without having to level the base.

Abstract: A medical trajectory guide includes a base a configured for alignment with a coordinate axis, a first guide member rotatably attached to the base, a guide sleeve guided by the first guide member, and a motor coupled to the first guide member and configured to rotate the first guide member in relation to the first axis. The first guide member is rotatable about a first axis.

Abstract: A medical trajectory guide includes a base a configured for alignment with a coordinate system of an imaging device, first and second guide members rotatably attached to the base, a guide sleeve in contact with the first and second guide members, and a locking mechanism attached to the guide sleeve and configured to allow separate movement of the first guide member and the second guide member. The first and second guide members are rotatable about a first and second axis, respectively. The guide sleeve includes a longitudinal axis about which the guide sleeve is prevented from rotating.

Abstract: A surgical navigation system is disclosed including a camera that is fixedly attached to a patient. The camera space merges with the patient space and thereby eliminates the need for a separate patient tracker. The surgical navigation system calculates the position of a surgical tool with a tracking device in view of the camera and shows on a display device the position of the surgical tool with respect to the patient superimposed and in correlation with a scan image of the patient.

Abstract: A technique of registering image data of an object 112 with at least one of a location and an orientation of the object 112 is provided. A method embodiment of this technique comprises the step of providing three-dimensional image data generated for the object 112, the image data being representative of at least a portion of the object 112 and of reference markings 130 associated with the object 112. The reference markings 130 have a known spatial relationship with a registration tracker 122 adapted to be tracked by a navigation system 100. The method further comprises providing registration tracking data representative of at least one of a spatial location and a spatial orientation of the registration tracker 122 and providing object tracking data representative of at least one of a spatial location and a spatial orientation of an object tracker adapted to be tracked by the navigation system. The object tracker 124 has a fixed spatial relationship with the object 112.

Abstract: An adapter can be easily used to assist a surgical navigation system to determine the effector axis or the effector plane of a surgical device. The adapter has a body with a geometrical feature, the geometrical feature has a known relation with a navigation tracker device that can be attached to the adapter. When the adapter is held against a surgical device in a non-fixed manner, the effector axis or the effector plane of the device can be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The method includes a calibration method to determine the known relation between the effector axis or the effector plane and the location of the navigation tracker.

Abstract: A trajectory guide includes a guide body defining a selected trajectory through an entry aperture or opening, engagement surfaces for insertion into the entry aperture, and a fixing mechanism coupling the guide body with the engagement surfaces. The engagement surfaces may be easily fixed within an entry aperture and the guide body positioned in a selected orientation using the fixing mechanism to provide simple mounting of the trajectory guide. In some instances, the engagement surfaces may be fixed within the entry aperture and the guide body fixed in a selected orientation with a single fixation motion.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display monitor, a CPU, and a camera, wherein the camera is mounted to a back side of the display monitor to form a monitor unit. One or more reference units are placed on a body while acquiring an image data set, and are tracked during a surgical operation by the monitor unit to register and correlate a position of a visual image of an exterior surface of the body with the image data set including information concerning internal structures of the body. The image data set is displayed on the display monitor superimposed in registration over the visible image of the exterior of the body with an angle of view and aperture in accordance with the actual position of the camera, whereby the display monitor displays the internal structures corresponding to the line-of-sight of the camera and the observer.

Abstract: An adapter can be easily used to assist a surgical navigation system to determine the effector axis or the effector plane of a surgical device. The adapter has a body with a geometrical feature, the geometrical feature has a known relation with a navigation tracker device that can be attached to the adapter. When the adapter is held against a surgical device in a non-fixed manner, the effector axis or the effector plane of the device can be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The method includes a calibration method to determine the known relation between the effector axis or the effector plane and the location of the navigation tracker.

Abstract: A trajectory guide includes a guide body defining a selected trajectory through an entry aperture or opening, engagement surfaces for insertion into the entry aperture, and a fixing mechanism coupling the guide body with the engagement surfaces. The engagement surfaces may be easily fixed within an entry aperture and the guide body positioned in a selected orientation using the fixing mechanism to provide simple mounting of the trajectory guide. In some instances, the engagement surfaces may be fixed within the entry aperture and the guide body fixed in a selected orientation with a single fixation motion.

Abstract: An adapter can be easily used to assist a surgical navigation system to determine the effector axis or the effector plane of a surgical device. The adapter has a body with a geometrical feature, the geometrical feature has a known relation with a navigation tracker device that can be attached to the adapter. When the adapter is held against a surgical device in a non-fixed manner, the effector axis or the effector plane of the device can be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The method includes a calibration method to determine the known relation between the effector axis or the effector plane and the location of the navigation tracker.