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: 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: A surgical tracker assembly for use with a navigation system. The tracker assembly includes a tracker body defining a chamber configured to receive a printed circuit board (PCB) including a plurality of markers that are actively energizable through the PCB. A plurality of openings formed in the tracker body and at least one channel formed in the tracker body extending between the chamber and one of the defined by the tracker body. Each of the markers are visible through one of the plurality of openings of the tracker body. The tracker body is configured to be sterilizable, with the PCB being located within the chamber of the tracker body, and the at least one channel is configured to enable sterilization fluid to enter into and drain from the chamber of the tracker body during sterilization. The PCB may also include a sterilization resistant protective coating.

Abstract: Systems and methods to track an object within an operating room with a camera unit. The camera unit includes a first optical sensor with sensing elements to sense light in a near-infrared spectrum and a second optical sensor to sense light in a visible light spectrum. A controller is in communication with the first and second optical sensors. The controller obtains, from the second optical sensor, data related to the object within the operating room. The controller modifies control of the sensing elements of the first optical sensor based on the data of the object obtained by the second optical sensor.

Abstract: Surgical robotic systems and navigation systems employ a robotic arm including a plurality of links. A link tracker assembly is located on the surface of one or more of the links to enable the link to be tracked by a localizer. The link tracker assemblies can utilize a plurality of tracker elements that can be removably coupled to the link. A photosensor assembly is located on the surface of one or more of the links to receive signals from the localizer for controlling the link tracker assembly. The robotic arm can be coupled to a base and the systems can be used in collaboration with a base tracker that is coupled to the base. The robotic arm can also include a mounting interface for receiving an end effector and the systems can be used in collaboration with an end effector tracker that is coupled to the end effector.

Abstract: Systems and methods to track objects within an operating room with a navigation system that includes an optical sensor including sensing elements and a controller in communication with the optical sensor. The controller controls the optical sensor to process a first quantity of the sensing elements to view a first region of interest. The object is tracked within the first region of interest with the optical sensor. The controller obtains data related to the object within the operating room. The data may include a type of the object and/or prior pose data of the object being tracked. Based on the data, the controller controls the optical sensor to process a second quantity of the sensing elements, different from the first quantity, to view a second region of interest different from the first region of interest. The object is tracked within the second region of interest with the optical sensor.

Abstract: Navigation system and method for tracking movement of a patient during surgery. Image data is acquired by imaging the patient with a base layer of a skin-based patient tracking apparatus secured to the patient's skin. The skin-based patient tracking apparatus includes a plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. A computer processor arrangement is adapted to implement a navigation routine. The patient position is registered to the image data. The movement of the patient is tracked based on movement of the plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. The movement of the patient's skin is tracked by determining positions of the optical surgical tracking elements both before and after a deformation of the skin-based patient tracking apparatus. Movement of the patient's skin results in corresponding movement of the surgical tracking elements to provide a dynamic reference frame for use in continuously tracking movement of a patient's skin during surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods to track objects within an operating room with a navigation system that includes an optical sensor including sensing elements and a controller in communication with the optical sensor. The controller controls the optical sensor to process a first quantity of the sensing elements to view a first region of interest. The object is tracked within the first region of interest with the optical sensor. The controller obtains data related to the object within the operating room. The data may include a type of the object and/or prior pose data of the object being tracked. Based on the data, the controller controls the optical sensor to process a second quantity of the sensing elements, different from the first quantity, to view a second region of interest different from the first region of interest. The object is tracked within the second region of interest with the optical sensor.

Abstract: Navigation system and method for tracking movement of a patient during surgery. Image data is acquired by imaging the patient with a base layer of a skin-based patient tracking apparatus secured to the patient's skin. The skin-based patient tracking apparatus includes a plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. A computer processor arrangement is adapted to implement a navigation routine. The patient position is registered to the image data. The movement of the patient is tracked based on movement of the plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. The movement of the patient's skin is tracked by determining positions of the optical surgical tracking elements both before and after a deformation of the skin-based patient tracking apparatus. Movement of the patient's skin results in corresponding movement of the surgical tracking elements to provide a dynamic reference frame for use in continuously tracking movement of a patient's skin during surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods track objects within an operating room. A machine vision system includes a camera and a controller. A navigation system includes a camera unit including a sensor array. The sensor array includes a plurality of sensing elements. The controller system identifies a first subset of the plurality of sensing elements to be active based on the position of the object. The controller is also configured to track a movement of the object within the operating room using the first subset of the plurality of sensing elements while preventing the use of the second subset of the plurality of sensing elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods track objects within an operating room. A machine vision system includes a camera and a controller. A navigation system includes a camera unit including a sensor array. The sensor array includes a plurality of sensing elements. The controller system identifies a first subset of the plurality of sensing elements to be active based on the position of the object. The controller is also configured to track a movement of the object within the operating room using the first subset of the plurality of sensing elements while preventing the use of the second subset of the plurality of sensing elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods track objects within an operating room. A machine vision system includes at least one camera and a machine vision controller. A navigation system includes a camera unit including a plurality of sensor arrays. The sensor arrays include a plurality of sensing elements. For each of the plurality of sensor arrays, the navigation system identifies a first subset of the plurality of sensing elements to be active based on the position of the object and a second subset of the plurality of sensing elements to be inactive based on the position of the object. The navigation processor is also configured to track a movement of the object within the operating room using the first subset of the plurality of sensing elements while preventing the use of the second subset of the plurality of sensing elements.

Abstract: An optical tracking device, a surgical navigation system and a surgical navigation method are disclosed. The optical tracking device comprises a body having at least two optically distinguishable lines, wherein at least one of the lines is an edge of the body. The lines are configured to be detected by an optical detection system simultaneously. They have a fixed spatial relationship between each other. The method comprises providing the optical tracking device, acquiring data describing the fixed spatial relationship, detecting the lines and determining the spatial position and/or orientation of the optical tracking device based on the detected lines and the fixed spatial relationship.

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: A navigation system for and method of tracking the position of the work target is provided. The navigation system can detect distortions of a trackable device during the navigation procedure and compensate for such deformation in a way that reduces or eliminates navigational error and/or avoids or reduces the need to re-set the navigation system during a navigation procedure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique for calculating a position of a surgical device relative to a patient region imaged by an imaging device is described. One of the surgical device and the imaging device has a predetermined first positional relationship to a marking, and a first camera having a field of view that includes the marking has a predetermined second positional relationship to the other device. The positional relationships may be stored as calibration data. A method realization of the technique comprises the steps of receiving, from the imaging device, intra-operatively taken first image data representative of the imaged patient region, receiving, from the first camera, intra-operatively taken second image data representative of the marking, and intra-operatively calculating, based on the first and second image data and the calibration data, the position of at least a part of the surgical device relative to the imaged patient region.

Abstract: Navigation system and method for tracking movement of a patient during surgery. Image data is acquired by imaging the patient with a base layer of a skin-based patient tracking apparatus secured to the patient's skin. The skin-based patient tracking apparatus includes a plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. A computer processor arrangement is adapted to implement a navigation routine. The patient position is registered to the image data. The movement of the patient is tracked based on movement of the plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. The movement of the patient's skin is tracked by determining positions of the optical surgical tracking elements both before and after a deformation of the skin-based patient tracking apparatus. Movement of the patient's skin results in corresponding movement of the surgical tracking elements to provide a dynamic reference frame for use in continuously tracking movement of a patient's skin during surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods track objects within an operating room. A machine vision system includes at least one camera and a machine vision controller. A navigation system includes a camera unit including a plurality of sensor arrays. The sensor arrays include a plurality of sensing elements. For each of the plurality of sensor arrays, the navigation system identifies a first subset of the plurality of sensing elements to be active based on the position of the object and a second subset of the plurality of sensing elements to be inactive based on the position of the object. The navigation processor is also configured to track a movement of the object within the operating room using the first subset of the plurality of sensing elements while preventing the use of the second subset of the plurality of sensing elements.

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 system for reconstructing a trajectory of an optical fiber is described. The system comprises an optical fiber to be inserted into an object, wherein the optical fiber has a length and at least one bending sensor unit arranged along its length. The system also comprises a measurement device configured to measure insertion length increments of the optical fiber and an interrogation device configured to detect optical feedback signals from the at least one bending sensor unit. The system further comprises a processor device configured to reconstruct the trajectory of the optical fiber along its inserted length using data pairs which are based on measured insertion length increments and detected optical feedback signals assigned thereto. Furthermore, a method for reconstructing the trajectory of the optical fiber and a computer program product for executing the method are described.