Abstract: A system and method for determining the spatial position and the shape of a surgical instrument (1) having a deformable body (2) by: providing an elasticity model of the surgical instrument (1); defining at least one parameter which influences the shape of the instrument (1); determining the spatial position and/or orientation of at least one tracking sensor (3) of the surgical instrument (1); determining the value of the at least one parameter; calculating the position and/or orientation of at least one part of the surgical instrument (1) with the aid of the elasticity model together with the determined value of the at least one parameter and the determined spatial position and/or orientation of the at least one tracking sensor (3).

Abstract: The invention is in particular directed to a data processing method for use in computer-assisted surgery, comprising the following steps: a) providing marker data which describe a spatial arrangement of at least one marker device and/or a change in a relative spatial arrangement of at least two marker devices (5, 6, 7); b) providing condition data which describe a condition for the spatial arrangement of at least one marker device and/or a condition for the change in the relative spatial arrangement of the at least two marker devices (5, 6, 7); and c) controlling a control flow of the data processing method on the basis of the marker data and the condition data.

Abstract: The invention is in particular directed to a data processing method for use in computer-assisted surgery, comprising the following steps: a) providing marker data which describe a spatial arrangement of at least one marker device and/or a change in a relative spatial arrangement of at least two marker devices (5, 6, 7); b) providing condition data which describe a condition for the spatial arrangement of at least one marker device and/or a condition for the change in the relative spatial arrangement of the at least two marker devices (5, 6, 7); and c) controlling a control flow of the data processing method on the basis of the marker data and the condition data.

Abstract: A data processing method for generating a compensation information for hacking or for determining the position and/or orientation of an object in space, the method comprising the following steps performed by a computer: a) acquiring a predetermined constraint information defining one or more relative or absolute positions and/or orientations of the object in space; b) acquiring position and/or orientation data of the object while the object is positioned or moved while fulfilling the predetermined constraint; and c) determining the compensation information based on the predetermined constraint information and the acquired position and/or orientation data of the object.

Abstract: A method of determining the position of a medical device to be localized, comprising: a) acquiring main position data comprising reference structure position information which describes the position of a reference structure in a global coordinate system, the main position data having been gathered by a main detection device; b) acquiring supplement position data comprising relative position information which describes the position of the medical device relative to the position of the reference structure in a reference coordinate system, the supplement position data having been gathered by a supplement detection device; c) determining, based on the relative position information and the reference structure position information, medical device position data comprising medical device position information which describes the position of the medical device in the global coordinate system.

Abstract: A patient positioning system associated with an electromagnetic field generator includes a patient fixation unit for fixing a patient or a part of the patient's body so as to be immobile with respect to the patient positioning system. The patient fixation unit and the electromagnetic field generator are installed so as to retain their position with respect to each other. A method for navigating a patient or a part of the patient's body by means of a medical navigation system is provided, wherein the patient or part of the patient's body is positioned by such a patient positioning system.

Abstract: A system, in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices; a position determinator for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.

Abstract: A system, in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices; a position determinator for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.

Abstract: A data processing method performed by a computer for detecting reflections of light pulses, comprising the steps: acquiring a camera signal representing a series of camera images of a camera viewing field; detecting whether the camera signal includes one or more light mark portions within the camera viewing field possibly representing a light pulse reflection; relating the detected light mark portions in the series of camera images to a pre-defined emission pattern of the light pulses; and determining that a light mark portion is a reflected light pulse, if the light mark portion in the series of camera images matches to the pre-defined emission pattern of the light pulses.

Abstract: A system, in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices; a position determinator for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.

Abstract: A system, in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices; a position determinator for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.

Abstract: A system, in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices; a position determinator for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.

Abstract: A system, in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices; a position determinator for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.

Abstract: A data processing method for generating a compensation information for hacking or for determining the position and/or orientation of an object in space, the method comprising the following steps performed by a computer: a) acquiring a predetermined constraint information defining one or more relative or absolute positions and/or orientations of the object in space; b) acquiring position and/or orientation data of the object while the object is positioned or moved while fulfilling the predetermined constraint; and c) determining the compensation information based on the predetermined constraint information and the acquired position and/or orientation data of the object.

Abstract: A method for tracking trackable objects using a medical tracking device, the tracking device being a camera or an EM transmitter, during a medical workflow comprising a plurality of workflow steps, wherein each trackable object has at least one marker and the method comprises the steps of: —acquiring a set of camera positions, wherein each tracking device position is associated with at least one workflow step; —identifying a workflow; —sequentially and automatically moving the tracking device to the camera positions associated with the workflow steps; and—performing a tracking step only when the tracking device is in a fixed position.

Abstract: A marker for a navigation system includes a reflective surface, and a light-absorbing, non-reflective or low-reflective object arranged at a defined distance from the reflective surface.

Abstract: A method of determining the position of a medical device to be localized, comprising: a) acquiring main position data comprising reference structure position information which describes the position of a reference structure in a global coordinate system, the main position data having been gathered by a main detection device; b) acquiring supplement position data comprising relative position information which describes the position of the medical device relative to the position of the reference structure in a reference coordinate system, the supplement position data having been gathered by a supplement detection device; c) determining, based on the relative position information and the reference structure position information, medical device position data comprising medical device position information which describes the position of the medical device in the global coordinate system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the spatial position and the shape of a surgical instrument (1) having a deformable body (2), said method comprising the steps of: providing an elasticity model of the surgical instrument (1); defining at least one parameter which influences the shape of the instrument (1); determining the spatial position and/or orientation of at least one tracking sensor (3) of the surgical instrument (1); determining the value of the at least one parameter; calculating the position and/or orientation of at least one part of the surgical instrument (1) with the aid of the elasticity model together with the determined value of the at least one parameter and the determined spatial position and/or orientation of the at least one tracking sensor (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a patient positioning system (10) associated with an electromagnetic field generator (1) of an electromagnetic tracking system, wherein: the system comprises a patient fixation unit (3, 5) for fixing a patient or a part of the patient's body so as to be immobile with respect to the patient positioning system; and the fixation unit (3,5) and the field generator (1) are installed so as to retain their position with respect to each other. It also relates to a method for navigating a patient or a part of the patient's body by means of a medical navigation system using an electromagnetic tracking system, wherein the patient or part of the patient's body is positioned by such a patient positioning system (10).

Abstract: A system (1), in particular for image-guided surgery, comprising: at least two display devices (2, 3); a position de-terminator (8) for determining the relative position of the display devices; and an image generator (9) for generating images, which are to be displayed by the display devices, in accordance with the determined relative position.