Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Kienzle

Thomas C. Kienzle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080243018
    Abstract: A system operable to track a respiratory cycle of a subject is provided. The system includes at least a first sensor positioned on the subject, and at least a second sensor located at a reference relative to a change in position of the first sensor associated with respiration of the subject. The system also includes a respiratory cycle measurement device coupled to receive the position data of the first sensor relative to the reference. The respiratory cycle measurement device is configured to translate the position data of the first sensor relative to time into a respiratory signal representative of a respiratory cycle of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joel F. Zuhars, Vernon T. Jensen, Thomas C. Kienzle
  • Patent number: 7371068
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved surgical workflow development includes creating and editing a modifiable module used to direct a medical procedure through a sequence of images and functions included in the module. A plurality of users may review and/or evaluate the module to determine what, if any, edits to the module are required. Evaluations of the module may include a research evaluation, a cadaver evaluation or a clinical evaluation. A scripting tool may be used to create or edit the module, where the scripting tool includes a computer programming software application. The module may be stored on a computer-readable memory accessible by a plurality of computers and/or display devices connected to a network. In this way, the system and method provide for rapid dynamic development of surgical workflows contained in modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Frederick Lloyd, Gregory David Stern, Thomas C. Kienzle, Jon Thomas Lea
  • Publication number: 20040143184
    Abstract: A computer assisted surgery system is described for assisting a surgeon in aligning a drill with the interlocking holes of an implanted intramedullary (IM) rod used for fixation of long bone fractures. With the IM rod inserted, a localizing device measures the pose of a tracked adapter attached to the rod's exposed end. Approximate AP and lateral fluoroscopic x-ray images are acquired of the end of the rod with the interlocking holes. Image processing algorithms determine the actual position of the rod and calculate an adjustment to the pose of the tracked adapter and IM rod. Using the adjusted pose information, the system displays, in three roughly orthogonal views, a representation of the drill trajectory relative to the images of the IM rod and relative to a graphic representation of the IM rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas C. Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20040077940
    Abstract: An instrument guide for use with an elongated instrument and a computer assisted surgery tracking system. The instrument guide includes a handle assembly, a localizer assembly connected to the handle assembly at a central bore, and at least one guide sleeve. The guide sleeve has a tip end, an attachment end, and a sleeve bore. The attachment end is configured to be front loaded into the central bore and rigidly and removably connected to the central bore. The front loaded at least one guide sleeve is inserted into the central bore such that the tip end does not pass through the central bore. The guide sleeve receives the elongated instrument at the attachment end, and the sleeve bore has a fixed and known position relative to the localizer assembly such that the localizer assembly is used to determine the trajectory of the sleeve bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas C. Kienzle, Jon T. Lea, Thomas H. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040073228
    Abstract: A system for tracking the position of an instrument relative to an area of interest. The system includes an instrument and an instrument guide mounted to the instrument. The instrument guide carries a first localizer proximate the instrument. The first localizer is movable relative to the instrument. The system also includes a fixator configured to be attached to the area of interest. The fixator carries a second localizer proximate the area of interest. The second localizer is movable relative to the area of interest. The first and second localizers are movable in order that the first and second localizers are in communication such that the position of one of the first and second localizers is known relative to the position of the other of the first and second localizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas C. Kienzle, Jon T. Lea
  • Publication number: 20020193800
    Abstract: A surgical drill for use with a computer assisted surgery system. In a first embodiment, at least three localizing emitters are mounted on and integral with each side of the drill housing, the emitters on each side arranged such that they are visible to a localizing device when that side is facing the localizing device. The emitters on each side are spaced sufficiently apart from one another to provide accurate pose information. In a second embodiment, the emitters are mounted on both sides of a two-sided fin assembly attached to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas C. Kienzle, Jon T. Lea
  • Publication number: 20020077541
    Abstract: A computer assisted surgery system is described for assisting a surgeon in aligning a drill with the interlocking holes of an implanted intramedullary (IM) rod used for fixation of long bone fractures. With the IM rod inserted, a localizing device measures the pose of a tracked adapter attached to the rod's exposed end. Approximate AP and lateral fluoroscopic x-ray images are acquired of the end of the rod with the interlocking holes. Image processing algorithms determine the actual position of the rod and calculate an adjustment to the pose of the tracked adapter and IM rod. Using the adjusted pose information, the system displays, in three roughly orthogonal views, a representation of the drill trajectory relative to the images of the IM rod and relative to a graphic representation of the IM rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas C. Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20020077540
    Abstract: A computer assisted surgery system with is enhanced graphics features is described for assisting a surgeon in orthopaedic procedures. A system is described for use in inserting multiple guide pins in hip fracture surgery using a single bore drill guide that has a graphical representation comprising its real trajectory and one or more virtual trajectories, the virtual trajectories representing potential positions of other guide pins to be placed during the procedure. Additionally, representations of inserted guide pins and virtual trajectories may be retained on the display at their inserted positions for use in aligning subsequent guide pins. A system is also described for orientation of an acetabular cup in a total hip replacement surgery. During cup insertion, the surgeon is provided with information regarding the orientation of the cup with respect to a pelvic reference frame that is based on accepted pelvic landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas C. Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20020016599
    Abstract: A computer assisted surgery system for accurate positioning of a drill bit into a body part. The system includes a drill guide and a drill with attached localizing emitters whose poses are determined by a localizing device. The drill bit is attached to the drill and the location of the tip of the drill bit is determined during a calibration step. During drilling, the drill bit is inserted through the bore of the drill guide and the pose of the drill bit is calculated from measured position data of both the drill guide and drill. A graphic representation of the drill bit is then displayed on a monitor screen in an appropriate position relative to stored images or other surgical instruments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas C. Kienzle, Jon T. Lea
  • Publication number: 20010036245
    Abstract: An image guided surgery system to enable a surgeon to move a surgical tool into a desired position relative to a body part is provided. The system works by accurately superimposing representations of the tool being used in the surgical field over images of the body part such that real-time tool position feedback is provided to the surgeon. The system uses a fluoroscopic x-ray device to generate two-dimensional body part images, a localizing device to determine the poses of surgical tools and the x-ray device, mathematical modeling of the imaging chain of the x-ray device, and a means for displaying the images of the body part superimposed with representations of the surgical tools. A related feature is the use of a digital flat-panel x-ray imager that employs a regular array of sensors to convert incident x-ray energy to a computer readable image, thereby permitting the fluoroscopic x-ray device to be used in any orientation without being affected by distortions due to local magnetic fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas C. Kienzle, Jon T. Lea