Abstract: The present application relates to an endoprosthesis including a first member which is connected to a patient's bone; a second member which is adjustably coupled to the first member by a coupling device; wherein the coupling device is configured to generate a movement of the second member relative to the first member. The present application also relates to an artificial joint including such an endoprosthesis and to an endoprosthesis placement system including such an endoprosthesis or artificial joint and a projection device which is configured to project visible light markings, acquired from pre-operational and/or intra-operational patient data, onto the patient and/or the endoprosthesis, thus enabling visible alignment markings of the endoprosthesis to be aligned with respect to projected visible light markings so as to allow a proper adjustment of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of determining an entry region for inserting elongated medical instruments such as trocars or laparoscopes into an anatomical body part such as the abdomen. The determination is made on the basis of a patient image and a known or assumed geometry of the medical instruments and a known position of the target region, and risk structures which shall be avoided by the medical instrument are determined either by user interaction from the patient image or automatically by matching the patient image with an atlas defining the position of such risk structures in an image-based model of the anatomical body part. On the basis of the position of the determined entry region, a robotic device may be controlled to attain a position which is suitable for automatic insertion of the medical instruments into the anatomical body part.

Abstract: The present application relates to an endoprosthesis, including a first member which is connected to a patient's bone; a second member which is adjustably coupled to the first member by a coupling device; wherein the coupling device is configured to generate a movement of the second member relative to the first member. The present application also relates to an artificial joint including such an endoprosthesis and to an endoprosthesis placement system including such an endoprosthesis or artificial joint and a projection device which is configured to project visible light markings, acquired from pre-operational and/or intra-operational patient data, onto the patient and/or the endoprosthesis, thus enabling visible alignment markings of the endoprosthesis to be aligned with respect to projected visible light markings so as to allow a proper adjustment of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: The present application relates to an endoprosthesis including a first member which is connected to a patient's bone; a second member which is adjustably coupled to the first member by a coupling device; wherein the coupling device configured to generate a movement of the second member relative to the first member. The present application also relates to an artificial joint including such an endoprosthesis and to an endoprosthesis placement system including such an endoprosthesis or artificial joint and a projection device which is configured to project visible light markings, acquired from pre-operational and/or intra-operational patient data, onto the patient and/or the endoprosthesis, thus enabling visible alignment markings of the endoprosthesis to be aligned with respect to projected visible light markings so as to allow a proper adjustment of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting an impingement of joint components of a joint includes detecting a spatial position of each joint component during a relative movement of the joint components; calculating an instantaneous center point of rotation or an instantaneous axis of rotation from the detected spatial positions of the joint components; when one joint component moves relative to the other joint component, establishing whether the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation moves within a first expectation range or whether the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation moves within a second expectation range; and establishing that there is an impingement of the joint components when at least one of the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation or the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation leaves or exits the respective expectation range.

Abstract: A marker navigation device for determining and/or tracking a location of a marker device is provided. The marker device is attachable to an object, said marker device including a plurality of markers having known dimensions and being in a known positional relationship relative to each other. The marker navigation device includes: a detection device operative to detect signals emitted by or reflected from the plurality of markers, wherein the detection device is formed such that in first locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, detection of signals from one marker of the plurality of markers is restricted or impossible due to a location of another marker of the plurality of markers. In second locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, the plurality of markers are detectable by the detection device.

Abstract: A fastening system for reference arrays, wherein a curable material fixes an attachment base which is assigned to the reference array, relative to a bone.

Abstract: A marker navigation device for determining and/or tracking a location of a marker device is provided. The marker device is attachable to an object, said marker device including a plurality of markers having known dimensions and being in a known positional relationship relative to each other. The marker navigation device includes: a detection device operative to detect signals emitted by or reflected from the plurality of markers, wherein the detection device is formed such that in first locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, detection of signals from one marker of the plurality of markers is restricted or impossible due to a location of another marker of the plurality of markers. In second locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, the plurality of markers are detectable by the detection device.

Abstract: A method for controlling a computer-assisted, medical navigation system that provides assistance for a particular part of a treatment, includes using an acoustic mechanism to generate a click signal; and the medical navigation system providing treatment assistance based on the click signal.

Abstract: A method for localizing a femur head center of a knee using only a marker array attached to a tibia, wherein the knee is modeled as a joint having at least one degree of freedom includes: using a geometrical model to describe kinematical behavior of the joint, said geometrical model including joint elements and a geometrical description of a position and orientation of the joint elements; acquiring a range of motion of the tibia with a tracking system, wherein the femur head center is fixed relative to the tibia; calculating positions and orientations of the geometrical model to fit the acquired range of motion; and calculating a location of the femur head center from the calculated positions and/or orientations.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting an impingement of joint components of a joint includes detecting a spatial position of each joint component during a relative movement of the joint components; calculating an instantaneous center point of rotation or an instantaneous axis of rotation from the detected spatial positions of the joint components; when one joint component moves relative to the other joint component, establishing whether the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation moves within a first expectation range or whether the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation moves within a second expectation range; and establishing that there is an impingement of the joint components when at least one of the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation or the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation leaves or exits the respective expectation range.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in position of at least one first marker or reference star relative to a first object, wherein the marker or reference star is attached to the first object. A position of at least one first characteristic point of the first object is ascertained via the first marker or reference star, and a position of at least one first characteristic point of a second object connected to the first object is ascertained. It is determined from the ascertained position of the at least two characteristic points whether the position of the at least one first marker or reference star has changed relative to the first object.

Abstract: A system for applying an element to a body, wherein the position of a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said body and said element relative to the position of said body is detected, it also relating to a system for applying an element to a body comprising a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body and a position detection device for detecting the position of said device, for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body, and for detecting said position of said body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (20, 30) for determining the position of an incision block (1, 10) comprising: a positioning element (21, 31) with at least one reference point (22a, 22b, 22c; 33a, 33b, 33c), whose spatial position can be detected; and a position determining element (24a, 24b; 34) which is firmly connected to the positioning element (21, 31), as well as to a method for determining the position of an incision block, wherein: the location of a positioning element (41) on a body structure, in particular on a bone, is detected; the location of a positioning element (21, 31) for positioning a position determining element (24a, 24b; 34) is detected; and the relative location of an incision block (1, 10) to the body structure is determined from the location of the positioning element (41) and the location of the positioning element (21, 31).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for attaching an element securely to a body, in particular to a bone, wherein the device comprises at least one movable holding element enabling the device to be tensed against the body, as well as a system for attaching an element securely to a body comprising a connecting element which may be attached to the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (20, 30) for determining the position of an incision block (1, 10) comprising: a positioning element (21, 31) with at least one reference point (22a, 22b, 22c; 33a, 33b, 33c), whose spatial position can be detected; and a position determining element (24a, 24b; 34) which is firmly connected to the positioning element (21, 31), as well as to a method for determining the position of an incision block, wherein: the location of a positioning element (41) on a body structure, in particular on a bone, is detected; the location of a positioning element (21, 31) for positioning a position determining element (24a, 24b; 34) is detected; and the relative location of an incision block (1, 10) to the body structure is determined from the location of the positioning element (41) and the location of the positioning element (21, 31).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying an element to a body, wherein the position of a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said body and said element relative to the position of said body is detected, it also relating to a system for applying an element to a body comprising a device for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body and a position detection device for detecting the position of said device, for preparing and/or producing a connection between said element and said body, and for detecting said position of said body.