Abstract: Hip replacement surgery involves replacing the head and neck of the femur with an artificial component having a ball-shaped head and neck similar to that of a replaced femoral head and neck and inserting a cup-shaped component into the acetabulum to act as a liner to receive the ball of the femoral component. During this procedure, a surgeon encounters or has to overcome several problems. These problems include establishing the correct inclination, version and medialization for the acetabular component of the artificial hip; the correct version or angle of the femoral component; and maintaining correct leg length.

Abstract: As a general overview, the system 10 is used to assist the surgeon in performing an operation by acquiring and displaying an image of the patent. Subsequent movement of the patient and instruments is tracked and displayed on the image. Images of a selection of implants are stored by the system and may be called to be superimposed on the image. The surgical procedures may be planned using the images of the patient and instruments and implants and stored as a series of sequential tasks referred to defined datums, such as inclination or position. Gestures of the surgeon may be used in the planning stage to call the image of the instruments and in the procedure to increment the planned tasks.

Abstract: An image processing system and method having a statistical appearance model for interpreting a digital image. The appearance model has at least one model parameter. The system and method comprises a two dimensional first model object including an associated first statistical relationship, the first model object configured for deforming to approximate a shape and texture of a two dimensional first target object in the digital image. Also included is a search module for selecting and applying the first model object to the image for generating a two dimensional first output object approximating the shape and texture of the first target object, the search module calculating a first error between the first output object and the first target object. Also included is an output module for providing data representing the first output object to an output. The processing system uses interpolation for improving image segmentation, as well as multiple models optimised for various target object configurations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for defining a three-dimensional coordinate system in relation to an anatomical structure (64) for use with computer-assisted surgical systems. At least three landmarks (66, 68, 70) associated with the anatomical structure (64) are identified. Landmarks are identified using a digitization device (96) and their location refined using at least one single calibrated X-ray image. Using the landmarks (66, 68, 70), first and second planes are defined, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane. These planes define a coordinate system, which can be used to ascertain the position trajectory of any object (80) with respect to the anatomical structure. Exposure to imaging radiation and additional surgical procedure is minimized.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing a warning alert to subscribers of a telecommunication system is disclosed. In one aspect, the warning system includes a central switch and a remote switch, each switch coupled to a different plurality of subscribers to be contacted by the emergency notification provider that issues the emergency warning alert. In another aspect, the warning system contains a ringing tones database having different ringing tones corresponding to different emergency conditions, where an appropriate ringing tone is select by the telecommunication system and routed to the subscribers depending on the type emergency for which the emergency notification provider is providing the warning.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing a warning alert to subscribers of a telecommunication system is disclosed. In one aspect, the warning system includes a central switch and a remote switch, each switch coupled to a different plurality of subscribers to be contacted by the emergency notification provider that issues the emergency warning alert. In another aspect, the warning system contains a ringing tones database having different ringing tones corresponding to different emergency conditions, where an appropriate ringing tone is select by the telecommunication system and routed to the subscribers depending on the type emergency for which the emergency notification provider is providing the warning.