Abstract: A method for computer-assisted medical navigation and/or pre-operative treatment planning includes detecting the current position of a patient or a part of a patient's body and the positions of medical treatment devices or treatment-assisting devices. The detected positional data can be assigned to body structure data, in order to jointly use the body structure data in assignment with the positional data, within the context of assisting the treatment. The body structure data can be used which is obtained based on a three-dimensional generic model, where the model is adapted by two-dimensional data linking with patient-characteristic, two-dimensional detection data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument comprising an instrument body (8), an instrument tip (5) and a tracking means (1,2, 4), characterized in that said instrument tip (5) is fitted with a touch-sensor (3) which detects a contact between said tip (5) and an object, for example a patient. It is preferably realized as an indicator device or pointer, in particular as a registering pointer for instrument tracking systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical instrument comprising a handle portion and a tip, wherein a tip sensor is provided on the handle portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for its implementation for referencing or registering a body part in a camera-assisted, medical navigation system, comprising: manually manipulating a light beamer so as to scan a light beam produced thereby across a surface of the body part to sequentially reflect light off the surface of the body part at a plurality of locations; sequentially detecting the light reflected from the surface of the body part at the plurality of locations; determining three-dimensional spatial positions of the plurality of locations based on the detected light; and referencing or registering the body part to medical image data based on the three-dimensional spatial positions of the plurality of locations and surface data determined from the medical image data.

Abstract: A method and device for reciprocally assigning a spatial position of a patient and/or a part of a patient's body and an acquired, stored patient data set includes producing at least two video image recordings of the patient and/or part of the body from different recording positions via at least one video image source, wherein a three-dimensional position and/or orientation of the video image source relative to a reference coordinate system is known or can be determined. Corresponding tuples of points are identified in the video image recordings, and three-dimensional spatial positions are ascertained and stored from the identified tuples of points. The stored patient data set are matched to a point set of the assigned spatial positions, and a reciprocal assignment or registration of the spatial position of the patient and/or part of the body and the patient data set is determined when the greatest or best match has been achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Neuro-navigation system comprising a reflector referencing system including passive reflectors and a marker system with markers or landmarks wherein the reflectors as well as the markers as regards their shape, size and material selection as well as their arrangement or attachment on the parts of the body to be operatively treated and on the surgical instruments are configured so that mapping their locations is substantially facilitated or is able to take place more accurately positioned by a computer/camera unit having a graphic display terminal as well as the operative treatment with the aid of this unit. Optionally a surgical microscope, an ultrasonic diagnostic system as well as a calibration procedure may be integrated in the Neuro-navigation system in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of a plane of symmetry of a three-dimensional object from at least two two-dimensional mappings, wherein the mappings are obtained from different directions. At least one characteristic line of the three-dimensional object is determined in one of the two-dimensional mappings, and at least one of the two two-dimensional mappings is morphed. The at least one characteristic line is transferred onto the other two-dimensional mapping, and the characteristic lines from the two-dimensional mappings are back-projected to obtain a three-dimensional curve corresponding to the characteristic lines. A plane of symmetry of the object is ascertained from the course of the three-dimensional curve.

Abstract: Orthopaedic operating systems, operating rooms, computer aided surgical methods, trackable implants, instruments and surgical planning and IGS software applications are described. The integrated surgical system is for use in an orthopaedic operating room to enable a surgeon to carry out a computer aided surgical procedure on a subject. A subject support, wireless magnetic tracking system, registration system, at least a first display device, a control system and a surgeon interface operable by the surgeon to control operation of the plurality of parts of the integrated surgical system are provided.

Abstract: A method for determining a location of a frontal pelvic plane of a pelvic bone includes ascertaining a position of a pubic point of the pelvic bone; generating at least one x-ray recording of the pelvic bone; ascertaining a straight line in the at least one x-ray recording that passes through the pubic point and a contour of the pelvic bone; and ascertaining the location of the frontal pelvic plane from a rear-projection of the straight line.

Abstract: Volumetric imaging on a radiotherapy apparatus, wherein a body, of which a volumetric image data set is to be produced, is positioned on a couch of the radiotherapy apparatus, and the couch or a bearing area of the couch or the body itself is rotated about a spatially fixed axis. During rotation, multiple x-ray images of the body or of a part of the body are produced and stored by at least one radiation source/image recorder system which is separate from the radiotherapy apparatus and whose radiation path is substantially not parallel to the spatially fixed axis. The rotational position of the couch or the bearing area of the couch or the body itself is detected while the images are produced, and the rotational position is assigned to the corresponding image, wherein a volumetric image data set of the body is reconstructed from the x-ray images by image processing and assignment by a computer system.

Abstract: A medical instrument for registering or referencing a body or body part in a medical navigation system includes a body, a tracking device trackable by the navigation system, an instrument tip having a touch sensor, and an electromagnetic radiation source for producing a light beam. The touch sensor detects contact between the tip and an object, and via the tracking device, the location of the tip can be ascertained at the moment contact between the tip and the object is made. Additionally, the light beam can be projected onto a surface of the body or body part to create a plurality of markers that also are trackable by the navigation system.

Abstract: A method and device generating a computer tomography data set CT* of an object, wherein a nuclear spin tomography recording MR of said object is obtained, and a transformation or mapping protocol f(MRR) for a nuclear spin tomography reference data set MRR is ascertained. The nuclear spin tomography reference data set MRR can be mapped onto said recorded nuclear spin tomography data set MR, wherein said ascertained transformation or mapping protocol f is applied to a computer tomography reference data set CTR corresponding to the nuclear spin tomography reference data set MRR to determine a virtual computer tomography data set CT*=f(CTR).

Abstract: A reference structure for use with a medical navigation system, includes an imaging structure, and a plurality of artificial markers arranged at predetermined locations on said imaging structure. The artificial markers are detectable by the medical navigation system, wherein the artificial markers have a known relationship to the imaging structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixing device comprising at least one guide for a securing element, a fixing system comprising such a fixing device and at least one securing element, as well as a positioning system comprising such a fixing system, and a positioning element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the combined shadow-free illumination of a pre-definable area and for referencing three-dimensional spatial co-ordinates, and to an active or passive referencing system, each in particular for referencing surgical or medical instruments. The system is characterized in that at least two cameras and the light source (operation lamp) are held together such that the optical signals detected by the cameras, for referencing three-dimensional spatial co-ordinates in the area illuminated by the light source, can be evaluated. Since the field of view of the light source, in its conventional use, is not obscured or only negligibly obscured, this field of view can simultaneously be used for optical navigation by the cameras held together with the light source. In accordance with the invention, the cameras are automatically aligned optimally for optical navigation. The cameras can be rigidly or flexibly connected to the light source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for computer-assisted medical navigation and/or pre-operative treatment planning, wherein the current position of a patient or a part of a patient's body and the positions of medical treatment devices or treatment-assisting devices are detected by means of a position detection unit, and wherein said detected positional data are assigned to body structure data, in order to jointly use said body structure data in assignment with said positional data, within the context of assisting the treatment, wherein body structure data are used which are obtained based on a generic model which has been adapted by linking it with patient-characteristic detection data.

Abstract: A method and device for reciprocally assigning a spatial position of a patient and/or a part of a patient's body and an acquired, stored patient data set includes producing at least two video image recordings of the patient and/or part of the body from different recording positions via at least one video image source, wherein a three-dimensional position and/or orientation of the video image source relative to a reference coordinate system is known or can be determined. Corresponding tuples of points are identified in the video image recordings, and three-dimensional spatial positions are ascertained and stored from the identified tuples of points. The stored patient data set are matched to a point set of the assigned spatial positions, and a reciprocal assignment or registration of the spatial position of the patient and/or part of the body and the patient data set is determined when the greatest or best match has been achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for projecting patient image data from radioscopic imaging methods and/or tomographic imaging methods onto video images, comprising an image display device (10), at least one video camera (14) and a computer-assisted navigation system which can detect the spatial positions of the image display device (10) and/or the video camera (14) and the spatial positions of a part of a patient's body (1) via tracking means (12, 3) attached to it, wherein the image display device (10) and the video camera (14) are assigned to each other and are realized as a portable unit.

Abstract: A method and device generating a computer tomography data set CT* of an object, wherein a nuclear spin tomography recording MR of said object is obtained, and a transformation or mapping protocol f(MRR) for a nuclear spin tomography reference data set MRR is ascertained. The nuclear spin tomography reference data set MRR can be mapped onto said recorded nuclear spin tomography data set MR, wherein said ascertained transformation or mapping protocol f is applied to a computer tomography reference data set CTR corresponding to the nuclear spin tomography reference data set MRR to determine a virtual computer tomography data set CT*=f(CTR).

Abstract: Volumetric imaging on a radiotherapy apparatus, wherein a body, of which a volumetric image data set is to be produced, is positioned on a couch of the radiotherapy apparatus, and the couch or a bearing area of the couch or the body itself is rotated about a spatially fixed axis. During rotation, multiple x-ray images of the body or of a part of the body are produced and stored by at least one radiation source/image recorder system which is separate from the radiotherapy apparatus and whose radiation path is substantially not parallel to the spatially fixed axis. The rotational position of the couch or the bearing area of the couch or the body itself is detected while the images are produced, and the rotational position is assigned to the corresponding image, wherein a volumetric image data set of the body is reconstructed from the x-ray images by image processing and assignment by a computer system.