Abstract: A surgical guide assembly includes a body having an opening formed at least partially therethrough. An arm extends from the body. A joint is positioned at least partially in the arm. The joint includes an outer ring and an inner ring. The inner ring is configured to move with respect to the outer ring such that an angle between a central longitudinal axis through the inner ring varies with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the outer ring.

Abstract: A surgical system is provided. The system includes a reference unit, an implant and a detector. The reference unit includes a first trackable element. The implant includes a second trackable element. The detector is configured to provide at least one signal corresponding to a detected location of at least one of the first trackable element and the second trackable element.

Abstract: A continuum device/manipulator includes a first flexible tube, a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the first flexible tube, and a temperature adjustment element that applies heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy. Changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the first flexible tube.

Abstract: A shape sensor system includes a deflection sensor comprising an optical fiber having at least one fiber Bragg grating (FBG) written therein and a substrate, the fiber being attached to the substrate with a selected bias distance from a neutral plane of the deflection sensor. The system further includes an optical source coupled to the fiber to provide input light to be at least partially reflected by the FBG, and an optical detection and processing system arranged to receive at least a portion of the output light and to determine a wavelength shift resulting from a change of an amount of deflection of the deflection sensor. The optical detection and processing system determines a relative amount of deflection of the deflection sensor at the FBG based on the wavelength shift. The selected bias distance is selected based on an expected range of deflection angles to be detected.

Abstract: Compliant manipulators are provided, in which the manipulators include a plurality of slideably interlocked filaments each having a proximate end and a distal end. The interlocked filaments can be formed from a flexible material. The compliant manipulators can also include at least one filament-actuating device operatively connected to the respective distal ends of the plurality of slideably interlocked filaments. The at least one filament-actuating device can be manipulated directly or remotely to push and/or pull the respective filaments to impart a desired movement to the manipulator. The stiffness or flexibility of the manipulators can also be controlled to provide varying degrees of stiffness during use.

Abstract: A method of determining bone fragment navigation may include receiving pre-operative 2D image data of a reference bone structure and a bone fragment. The reference bone structure may include a first set of fiducial markers provided thereon, and the bone fragment may include a second set of fiducial markers provided thereon. The method may further include performing a 2D-3D registration between the pre-operative 2D image data and a 3D model of the reference bone structure and the bone fragment, after manual repositioning of the bone fragment, receiving second 2D image data, performing 2D-2D registration of the first set of fiducial markers and the second set of fiducial markers between the pre-operative 2D image data and the second 2D image data, and determining 3D movement of the bone fragment based at least in part on the 2D-2D registration.

Abstract: A device includes first and second sheets of first and second elastic materials, respectively, and a control wire. The first sheet has a first thickness and a first length and is shaped to have a first cross-section having a first inner periphery and a first outer periphery. The second sheet has a second thickness and a second length and is shaped to have a second cross-section having a second inner periphery and a second outer periphery. One of the first sheet and the second sheet has a spacing disposed in along one of the first length and the second length, respectively. The first outer periphery is less than or equal to the second inner periphery. The second sheet surrounds the first sheet. The control wire has an end constrained to one of the first sheet the first material and the second sheet. The control wire is disposed within the spacing.