Abstract: Surgical systems involve a robotic manipulator that moves a surgical tool to remove material from a workpiece and a navigation system to track a pose of the surgical tool relative to the workpiece. A control system determines a non-homogenous density distribution of the workpiece. The control system generates a tool path based on the density distribution. The control system controls the robotic manipulator to move the surgical tool along the tool path to remove the material from the workpiece while accounting for the density distribution. As the surgical tool moves along the tool path, the control system adjusts one or more operating parameters of the surgical tool to account for the density distribution, such as by adjusting the feed rate of the surgical tool, the cutting speed of the surgical tool, and/or the cutting depth of the surgical tool.

Abstract: A tracking device for a navigation system that includes a localizer. The tracking device has a tracking body. At least one tracking element is supported by the tracking body and configured to transmit a tracking signal for the localizer. A visual indicator is supported by the tracking body and has an emitter configured to generate a visible light. A tracker controller supported by the tracking body is configured to receive a signal from the navigation system indicative of the tracking signal being received by the localizer, and in response, control the visual indicator to activate the emitter to generate the visible light to produce a color to indicate to a user that the tracking signal is being received by the localizer.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods for manipulating an anatomy includes a surgical tool, a robotic manipulator configured to support and move the surgical tool, and controller(s) that generate a virtual boundaries delineating a portions of the anatomy allowed to be removed by the surgical tool. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator to autonomously move the surgical tool in relation to a first virtual boundary and according to a first feed rate or first frequency of path oscillations to remove a first portion. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator to autonomously move the surgical tool in relation to a second virtual boundary that is spaced from the first virtual boundary, and according to a different feed rate or different frequency of path oscillations, to remove a second portion.

Abstract: Surgical systems, computer-implemented methods, and software programs for generating a milling path for a bone. The implementations involve obtaining a virtual model of the bone, a resection volume defined relative to the virtual model of the bone, and a reference guide defined with respect to the resection volume. Section planes are successively arranged along the reference guide, and each section plane intersects the reference guide and intersects the resection volume. A section path is generated within each section plane and is defined relative to the resection volume. Transition segments are generated to connect section paths of section planes. The milling path is then generated by combining the section paths and the transition segments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating ultrasound imaging directed towards a bone region. An ultrasound imaging device generates a first steered frame and a second steered frame, wherein the first steered frame and the second steered frame are directed towards the bone region at different angles from one another and are superimposed with one another. Parameters of each of the first steered frame and the second steered frame are applied to a cost function that outputs an estimated propagation speed of ultrasound waves to the bone region for optimizing an appearance of the first steered frame and the second steered frame. The ultrasound imaging device is calibrated based on the estimated propagation speed.

Abstract: A surgical system and method involve a manipulator including a plurality of links and joints and a tool coupled to the manipulator. A navigation system includes a localizer, a first tracker coupled to the robotic manipulator or the tool, and a second tracker coupled to a workpiece. Controller(s) determine, from the navigation system, a pose of the tool relative to the workpiece. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator to facilitate removal of a first portion from the workpiece with the tool and sense interaction between the tool and the workpiece during removal of the first portion to detect a density of the workpiece. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator to facilitate removal of a second portion from the workpiece with the tool, wherein a cutting depth for the second portion is based, at least in part, on the detected density.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods involve a head-mounted device (HMD) and navigation system that includes a localizer to track a pose of a surgical object. The HMD includes a display positionable in front of the eyes of a user and an input device to sense a command of the user. The HMD enables the surgical object to be observed on, or through, the display. The HMD presents a virtual model of the surgical object on the display. The HMD senses, with the input device, the command of the user to manipulate the virtual model into alignment with the surgical object. Controller(s) coupled to one or both of the navigation system and the HMD co-register the virtual model and the surgical object in response to detection of alignment between the virtual model and the surgical object.

Abstract: A method for supporting users in an operating room is provided. The method is performed by a processing system and comprises obtaining spatial information indicative of a plurality of spatial regions in the operating room, each of the plurality of spatial regions being associated with one or more feedback parameters, and obtaining tracking information indicative of tracked poses of a plurality of medical instruments in the operating room. The method further comprises associating, based on the spatial information and the tracking information, each of the medical instruments to at least one of the spatial regions, and triggering feedback, for each of the medical instruments, according to the one or more feedback parameters of the associated at least one spatial region. A system, a computer program and a carrier are also provided.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods involving intraoperative surgical planning relative to a target site. A head-mounted device is worn by a user and has a display. A digitization device has a pointer tip to contact the target site. A navigation system tracks states of the digitization device and the target site. Controller(s) receive the tracked states of the digitization device and the target site from the navigation system and register landmarks to the target site based on the pointer tip contacting the target site. The controller(s) create a virtual object that is registered to the target site, whereby the virtual object has a location and geometry that is defined, at least in part, based on the landmarks. The controller(s) present, on the display of the head-mounted device, the virtual object being overlaid onto a real-world image of the target site or real-world view of the target site.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods involve a surgical manipulator with a plurality of links and joints that is configured to support and move a surgical instrument for manipulation of an anatomy. A controller is coupled to the surgical manipulator and is configured to measure an actual torque for at least one active joint and calculate an expected torque for the at least one active joint. The controller compares the actual torque and the expected torque to estimate an external force. The controller determines, based on the external force, that the surgical manipulator and/or the surgical instrument has collided with an object.

Abstract: Surgical systems, computer-implemented methods, and software programs for producing a patient-specific virtual boundary. Controller(s) obtain a virtual tibial model specific to a patient and identify an outer edge contour of the virtual tibial model. The controller(s) generate an offset contour being spaced apart from the outer edge contour by an offset distance that is based on a geometric feature of a surgical tool and generate a face extending perpendicularly from, and along, the offset contour. The controller(s) produce a patient-specific virtual boundary by merger of the virtual tibial model, the offset contour and the face and configure the patient-specific virtual boundary to provide a constraint on movement and/or operation of the surgical tool.

Abstract: A plate for attaching to an anatomic structure with fasteners. The plate has a body with a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The body defines one or more openings to receive a respective one of the one or more fasteners. The bottom surface is concave to define a space to accommodate a portion of the anatomic structure. A bone pad surface extends from the bottom surface. A spike extends away from the bone pad surface. An extension arm can be coupled to the plate and the extension arm can support a tracking head to implement a surgical tracking assembly.

Abstract: A surgical system, method and CAD program are provided. The surgical system includes a digitization device including a pointer tip to contact a target site and actuatable control input(s). A surgical tool can manipulate the target site. A navigation system tracks a state of the digitization device. Controller(s) receive the tracked state of the digitization device and display, within a virtual reference frame, a virtual representation of the pointer tip. In response to actuation of the control input(s), the controller(s) register virtual reference points within the virtual reference frame based on the pose of the virtual representation of the pointer tip and enable arrangement of one or more geometrical design objects within the virtual reference frame relative to the registered virtual reference points to generate a virtual boundary that defines a region of the target site to be avoided by the surgical tool.

Abstract: A surgical navigation system and method of operating the same involve a pointer tool and a localizer configured to track the pointer tool. Controller(s) is/are coupled to the localizer and are configured to generate a virtual boundary relative to a bone at a surgical site. The virtual boundary has a shape that delineates a region of the bone to be removed from a region to be avoided. The controller(s) identify, with the localizer, a position of one or more landmarks at the surgical site in response to the pointer tool touching the one or more landmarks at the surgical site. The controller(s) revise the shape of the virtual boundary based on the position of the one or more landmarks.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods for manipulating an anatomy includes a surgical tool, a robotic manipulator configured to support and move the surgical tool, and controller(s) that generate a virtual boundaries delineating a portions of the anatomy allowed to be removed by the surgical tool. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator to autonomously move the surgical tool in relation to a first virtual boundary and according to a first feed rate or first frequency of path oscillations to remove a first portion. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator to autonomously move the surgical tool in relation to a second virtual boundary that is spaced from the first virtual boundary, and according to a different feed rate or different frequency of path oscillations, to remove a second portion.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods for generating a tool path. A manipulator is configured to support and move a surgical instrument. Controller(s) obtain data that defines a volume of tissue to be removed from a surgical site. The controller(s) operate the manipulator to move the surgical instrument to remove first portions of the volume and acquire data defining the first portions removed from the volume. The controller(s) identify, based on the volume and the acquired data, additional portions of the volume of tissue that require removal. The controller(s) generate a tool path that passes through the additional portions and operate the manipulator to move the surgical instrument along the tool path to remove the additional portions.

Abstract: Surgical systems, computer-implemented methods, and software programs for producing a patient-specific virtual boundary configured to constrain movement and/or operation of a surgical tool in response to the surgical tool interacting with the patient-specific virtual boundary. The implementations include obtaining a generic virtual boundary including a generic surface with a generic edge, and positioning the generic virtual boundary relative to a virtual anatomical model such that the generic surface intersects the virtual anatomical model. The implementations include computing an intersection of the generic surface and the virtual anatomical model to define a cross-sectional contour of the virtual anatomical model, and morphing the generic edge to the cross-sectional contour to produce a customized surface with a patient-specific edge.

Abstract: A surgical system for manipulating an anatomy includes a surgical tool, a robotic manipulator configured to support and move the surgical tool, and one or more controllers that activate a first virtual boundary delineating a first portion of the anatomy that is allowed to be removed by the surgical tool from a second portion of the anatomy that is protected from removal by the surgical tool. The one or more controllers control the robotic manipulator for enabling the surgical tool to perform fine cutting of the first portion in relation to the first virtual boundary. The one or more controllers control the robotic manipulator for enabling the surgical tool to perform bulk cutting of the second portion of the anatomy.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods of operating the same involve controlling a robotic manipulator to move a cutting instrument to cut away material from a bone at a surgical site. A machine vision system uses a vision camera to detect an object at, or in proximity to, the surgical site. A control system associates a virtual boundary with the detected object and controls the robotic manipulator to move the cutting instrument based on the virtual boundary such that the cutting instrument avoids the detected object. In one example, the control system modifies a tool path of the cutting instrument based on the virtual boundary to avoid the detected object. Additionally, or alternatively, the control system can automatically adjust an orientation of the cutting instrument based on the virtual boundary to avoid the detected object.

Abstract: A surgical system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium involving a robotic manipulator configured to move a surgical instrument relative to virtual boundaries. A navigation system tracks each of a first object, a second object, and the surgical instrument. The first object is moveable relative to the second object. One or more controllers associate a first virtual boundary with the first object and associate a second virtual boundary with the second object. The first virtual boundary is moveable in relation to the second virtual boundary. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator in relation to the first virtual boundary to facilitate interaction of the surgical instrument with the first object. The controller(s) control the robotic manipulator in relation to the second virtual boundary to avoid interaction of the surgical instrument with the second object.