Abstract: An interactive guide that guides a user (e.g., a patient, family member, caregiver, or anyone else with the permission of the patient) from an initial diagnosis (e.g., back pain), prognosis, surgery (if elected), rehabilitation, to long-term care after treatment. The guide can provide personalized guidance and information to the user based on information provided by the user, either through surveys or one or more sensors, to provide personalized predictive information to the user. The guide also allows a collaborative effort between the patient and the caregiver to make the best decisions regarding treatment for the patient.

Abstract: The system and method for biometric safe blood donor certification and geo-location system provides a safe blood donor biometric certification and geolocation tracking system that is an efficient, accurate, and portable device to acquire biometric data to authenticate identity of an individual and link the biometric identity to the blood test samples and results. This technology can unequivocally identify the person with their blood profile. The technology can track location of potential donor individuals with geo-location Global Positioning Satellite sensors and alert these individuals when a nearby patient requests their blood type. All eligible blood donors can be alerted about the opportunity to respond and accept the invitation for blood donation. Those who donate blood are removed from the eligibility list until they can safely donate again. This system eliminates the need for complex equipment and facilities to store donated blood for extended periods and eliminates waste of unused blood.

Abstract: This invention provides a non-invasive system for measuring pain level in a body at a site containing a predetermined concentration of magnetic nanoparticles. A drive coil and a pickup coil transmit and measure a field passing through the site based upon response of the magnetic nanoparticles, and a processor computes a pain level based upon variations in the field. The pain level can be indexed to an absolute scale that affords more predictability and objectivity in determining true pain level. Illustratively, the processor derives values for levels of cytokine IL-6, SP and temperature at the site, which are translated into the pain level. In an embodiment, the system and method can be implemented in a handheld device in which the drive coil and pickup coil reside in a housing.

Abstract: This invention provides a hand-held stereovision (HHS) system that is an efficient, accurate, and radiation-free imaging device to acquire intraoperative profiles of the exposed spine in prone position. The reconstructed intraoperative stereovision surfaces (iSV) are registered with preoperative CT (pCT; supine position) in a nonrigid fashion to generate updated CT images (uCT) and correct for vertebral posture and alignment changes. Updated CT images are uploaded to a commercial navigation system for surgical navigation.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a cavity with a drill assembly provides a powered drill shaft assembly having an articulating tip and a position sensor along the drill shaft; a drill motor assembly with a rotational motor, linear actuator, torque sensor, rotation sensor, electrical resistance sensor and a controller unit having a plurality of programs providing user interface and controlling the operation of the powered drill arrangement; a shroud for the drill shaft with a water port; and a computer software package that combines user specifications with sensor data to control activation and displacement of the drill with a user interface, controls the motor for rotational speed and drilling depth, and gives sensor status, and a display displaying status of a drilling procedure and an image from an imaging device, and that is programmable for a set of parameters for a drilling procedure.

Abstract: An system for supporting a patient during a medical procedure including a pedestal supported from a base surface; a ring structure mounted over the pedestal, the ring structure includes inner and outer ring members that are arranged for relative rotation therebetween. An elongated support platform, upon which the patient is supported, is also provided, as well as a bar member for mounting one end of the support platform to the inner ring of the ring structure while the opposite end of the support platform is free so as to be disposed in a cantilever manner from the ring structure. The roll of the support platform is controlled by rotating the inner ring relative to the outer ring, the pitch of the support platform by pivoting the bar member relative to the inner ring, and the yaw of the support platform by rotating the ring structure relative to the pedestal.

Abstract: A device and method for percutaneous surgical cavitation. The device includes an elongated shaft and cutting tip interconnected by a freely-rotating hinge. Upon rotation of the shaft to a sufficient velocity, the cutting tip will be deflected toward a position that is angularly offset from the shaft's access of rotation. The length of the cutting tip will determine the radius of the cavity being formed, which may be several times the radius of the shaft. The method of the present invention provides for formation of a cavity within a body through a small percutaneous access opening such that an enlarged cavity may be formed without an invasive access opening. The present invention also provides a method of percutaneous prophylactic replacement of osteoporotic bone wherein weakened bone material is removed from a cavity using only a needle-sized access opening.