Abstract: A drill wire sleeve includes a tubular oblong sleeve having a length, an internal diameter and an external diameter. The drill wire sleeve has a first axial end cap and a second axial end cap. The first axial end cap and/or the second axial end cap is detachably fastenable without tools on the tubular oblong sleeve using a thread and detachably closes an insertion opening of the tubular oblong sleeve. The first axial end cap and/or the second axial end cap has a non-rotationally symmetrical outer cross section and the tubular oblong sleeve has a plurality of first passages in its lateral surface. The first passages are formed oblong and are inclined at an angle of 25° to 65° in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular oblong sleeve, preferably at an angle of 28° to 55°, and more preferably at an angle of 31° to 52°.

Abstract: An osteosynthesis device for the treatment of the spine is disclosed having a fork head which is U-shaped in a side view, and which fork head, in the proximal direction, has two fork legs with an internal thread and in which a connecting rod can be received, and a grub screw is passed through the internal thread, and the fork head is detachably connected to a bone anchor. The bone anchor is pivotably mounted in the ball seat of the fork head, wherein the fork head in the ball seat area has slots open towards the distal side and thereby at least one deflectable leg is formed.

Abstract: A surgical tool, comprising a needle comprising an aperture of sufficient diameter for receiving a screw; a tool, insertable into said aperture for inserting said screw and capable of engaging with and turning the screw; said screw comprising a shaft having threads in a first direction, a head having a bottom face having a flange, and a coil; said coil wound around the screw shaft in an opposing second direction as to the first direction; said coil comprising a coil end which is defined to engage with the flange on the bottom face.

Abstract: A distraction screw includes a proximal portion secured to a first vertebra, a distal portion secured to a second vertebra and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is coupled to the proximal and distal portions and is positioned in an intervertebral space. The intermediate portion is configured and adapted to enable distraction of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.

Abstract: An orthopaedic surgical instrument for use in disassembling an orthopaedic prosthesis includes a main component, a rod, and a spindle. The main component has a housing and an elongated body extending from the housing with a passageway is defined in the elongated body. The rod has an elongated shaft, with a greater length than the elongated body, extending from the head of the rod and configured to pass through the main component. The spindle threads into the housing to move the rod along a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the inflation, ablation, and deflation of a balloon catheter. The system includes a balloon catheter, a console, a pressurized gas or liquid inflation source, and an umbilical system to deliver pressurized coolant to the balloon catheter. The system may include controller that monitors the amount of pressure and volume within the balloon catheter. During inflation, the pressure and/or volume of fluid within the balloon is maintained at a target amount in order to provide sufficient mechanized pressure against the desired target region. The system limits the inflation pressure such that a safe quantity of gas would be released should a leak occur. If the amount falls below a certain threshold level, gas or fluid egress is presumed and the inflation process is halted.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprising: an electrode having a first portion whose exterior is electrically uninsulated, a second portion whose exterior is electrically insulated, and a third portion; an elongated hollow body having an internal cavity, a front end, a rear end, an external surface, and an electrical wire arranged within the body. The hollow body is configured to reversibly receive the third portion of the electrode at the front end of the body such that electrical contact is made between the electrode and the electrical wire and the second portion of the electrode is not surrounded by the hollow body. A first button is provided for controlling a current flow at a first level to the electrode and is arranged on the external surface. A vacuum tube is slidably engaged by the body and has an inlet generally facing the front end and adjacent the electrode.

Abstract: A hand tool has a pivot connection pivotally attaching a first arm to a second arm, with the pivot connection fixed relative to the first arm and movable to first and second positions relative to the second arm. A spring urges the pivot connection into the first position. When jaws on the front ends of the arms clamp tissue with force greater than a pre-set threshold, the spring force is overcome and the jaws may move linearly apart, allowing for more uniform clamping of the tissue. The first arm may have an arm spring extending between a front segment pivotally attached to a rear segment of the first arm.

Abstract: An electrically energized medical instrument uses one or more drive cables to both actuate mechanical components of a wrist mechanism or an effector and to electrically energize the effector. Electrical isolation can be achieved using an insulating main tube through which drive cables extend from a backend mechanism to the effector, an insulating end cover that leaves only the desired portions of the effector exposed, and one or more seals to prevent electrically conductive liquid from entering the main tube. Component count and cost may be further reduced using a pair of pulleys that are shared by four drive cables.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed, including methods and systems/apparatus, that can be used to treat cancerous tissue by exploiting the fact that such tissues have vascular branching with fractal descriptions and fractal dimensions, which are different from those found in normal soft tissue vascular branching. Such fractal branching of diseased tissue can produce resonances, or preferential energy absorption, when irradiated by either ultrasound and/or radio frequencies of EM energy; these resonances are not shared by the vascularization in normal soft tissue. Accordingly, one or more specific arrangements of multiband radiation (e.g., RF and/or ultrasonic) used to irradiate such diseased tissue will cause heating and possibly localized necropsy of tumor blood vessels, with little or minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Embodiments can utilize ablation devices in conjunction with RF and/or ultrasonic sources.

Abstract: Radiometric systems may comprise a radiometer, an antenna and a processor communicatively coupled together. The processor may provide a contact-focused output based on filtering or other processing of a raw radiometric output signal. The contact-focused output may facilitate determination of whether contact has been achieved and/or assessment of contact. A miniaturized reflectometer may be configured to determine an amount of reflected power from the antenna. The processor may be configured to determine a reflection coefficient of the reflected power determined by the reflectometer and to identify tissue type based on the reflection coefficient. Systems and methods for facilitating deeper temperature measurements of a radiometer are described.

Abstract: Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

Abstract: An ablation catheter for treating cardiac arrhythmias by ablating near pulmonary venous tissue is described. The ablation catheter includes a system of optical fibers containing respective fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) that are susceptible to changes in strain to thereby indicate to the physician the amount of force that the ablation head is exerting on the myocardial tissue during the ablation procedure. Optionally, the FBGs are used to indicate the exact orientation of the catheter and its ablation head inside the vasculature.

Abstract: To estimate the length of a stent implanted in a blood vessel after implantation of the stent.

Abstract: Surgical tools having a two degree-of-freedom wrist, wrist articulation by linked tension members, mechanisms for transmitting torque through an angle, and minimally invasive surgical tools incorporating these features are disclosed. An elongate intermediate wrist member is pivotally coupled with a distal end of an instrument shaft so as to rotate about a first axis transverse to the shaft, and an end effector body is pivotally coupled with the intermediate member so as to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. Linked tension members interact with attachment features to articulate the wrist. A torque-transmitting mechanism includes a coupling member, coupling pins, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the driven shaft so as to control the relative orientations of the drive shaft, the coupling member, and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A technique relates to coronary reconstruction. Angiogram data associated with cardiac catheterization of an artery for a subject is received, where a contrasting agent is used during the cardiac catheterization. Frames that match from the angiogram data are selected, the frames being from different views. Two-dimensional ordered point clouds for the frames are formed. A three-dimensional ordered point cloud of a reconstructed coronary artery for the subject from the two-dimensional ordered point clouds of the frames is formed. Observed contrast motion caused by the contrasting agent onto the reconstructed coronary artery is mapped, the reconstructed coronary artery thereby providing a three-dimensional model of the artery of the subject during the cardiac catheterization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical instrument with an instrument handle, an instrument shank connected to the instrument handle, an instrument tip with a work point, which instrument tip is connected to the instrument shank, and a first locator arranged on the instrument handle or the instrument shank. During a use of the surgical instrument, the instrument shank can be deflected, e.g. on account of transverse forces, at least between the first locator and the work point. A second locator is arranged at a distance from the first locator and, by comparison with the latter, closer to the work point, wherein the second locator is designed to detect five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing feedback during a medical procedure are provided. A saved optical image of a field of view (FOV) of a site of the medical procedure is obtained along with a live optical image of the FOV of the site during the medical procedure. Navigational information relative to the site of the medical procedure is determined. The navigational information is then mapped to a common coordinate space, to determine the navigational information relative to the FOV of the saved and live optical images of the surgical site. Virtual representations of the navigational information is overlaid on the saved and/or live optical images and displayed on at least one display.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating the placement of a dental implant device using augmented reality, and simultaneously capturing the result of the placement for subsequent planning procedures. By planning a desired dental implant location using one or more preoperative images of a patient and overlaying the planned dental implant location and the one or more preoperative images on the patient through virtual reality means, a clinician may be provided with an awareness of the positional relationship between the preoperative images and the planned implant position.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically determining a suitable angulation or inclination of a recording system during a navigation of a guide wire through a vascular system of a patient from a vessel into a branch of the vessel. The method includes recording a sequence of live X-ray images of the guide wire and presenting the X-ray images on a display unit. A first virtual tangent is applied to a first section of the guide wire, and a second virtual tangent is applied to a second section of the guide wire on the X-ray images. A point of intersection of the virtual tangents is determined on the X-ray images, and a triangle is determined. An area of the triangle is determined, and the suitable angulation or inclination of the recording system is determined by maximizing the area of the triangle by movement of the recording system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a member connected with a spinal implant defining an axis. A first image guide is connected with the member and oriented relative to a sensor to communicate a signal representative of a position of the member. A second image guide is connected with the member and oriented to represent an angle measuring a second orientation of the axis relative to a first orientation. Systems, implants and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for planning, performing, and assessing of surgical correction to the spine during a spinal surgical procedure. These methods are implemented by a control unit through a GUI to digitize screw locations, digitize anatomical reference points, accept one or more correction inputs, and generate one or more rod solution outputs shaped to engage the screws at locations distinct from the originally digitized locations.

Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, tracker devices, central processor devices, and optical tracking systems that facilitate improved optical tracking in surgical environments are disclosed. With this technology, background images are captured within an acquisition sequence. The background images are used to analyze the quality of current images that are captured in the acquisition sequence and to determine an angular position of optical sensor modules of optical tracker devices with respect to light sources coupled to a reference frame that can be integral with an opposing one of the tracker devices. Using multiple tracking devices facilitates a reciprocal angular position determination that is more accurate and can withstand occlusion of an optical sensor module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for planning a procedure. A display device is configured to display a first virtual element. A controller device having a processor is configured to be in communication with the display device, and the controller device is further configured to direct the display device to display the first virtual element. A physical control element is in communication with the controller device, and is configured to correspond to the first virtual element such that an actual manipulation of the control element is displayed, via the processor of the controller device and on the display device, as a corresponding response of the first virtual element to the actual manipulation of the control element. Associated systems, methods, and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for transcribing and performing analysis on patient data are disclosed. Data is collected from one or more medical professionals as well as sensors and imaging devices positioned on or oriented towards a patient. An analysis is performed on the patient data and the data is presented to a medical professional via a verbal interface in a conversational manner, allowing the medical professional to provide additional data such as observations or instructions which may be used for further analysis or to perform actions related to the patient's care.

Abstract: Provided is a laparoscope-holding robot system for laparoscopic surgery, which belongs to the technical field of robot control and is used to solve the technical problem in the prior art of the operations of a laparoscope-holding robot for laparoscopic surgery being inflexible and same further requiring a doctor to assist in operations. The laparoscope-holding robot system for laparoscopic surgery of the present invention comprises a trolley rack, a surgical tool and a mechanical arm. Since the mechanical arm has at least six degrees of freedom, the mechanical arm can completely simulate the range of motion of a human arm and is no different from the human arm in terms of flexibility, so as to precisely locate the position of a lesion that actually needs to be operated without requiring a doctor to assist in operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detecting faults in the operating states of a surgical robotic system, wherein the surgical robotic system including a master computer, a master embedded computer and a plurality of slave embedded computers is provided; the master computer controls the master embedded computer and the slave embedded computers via the LAN router; the master embedded computer communicates with the slave embedded computers via the LAN router and a first communication bus. In the present invention, the master computer, the master embedded computer and the slave embedded computers can detect faults interactively. Safety and reliability of the operation of the surgical robotic system can be improved without increasing any additional detection components, and communication burden of the system can be effectively reduced. The present invention can be widely applied to a minimally invasive surgical robotic system.

Abstract: A robotic microsurgery assembly (1) includes at least one master tool (2) to detect a manual command; at least one slave manipulator (3); and at least one surgical instrument (70) operated on by the one slave manipulator (3). At least one control unit (4) receives at least a first command signal including information about the manual command and sends a second command signal to at least one actuator to control the slave manipulator (3). The surgical instrument includes at least one jointed subassembly (5). The jointed subassembly (5) includes a first link (6), a second link (7), and a third link (8). The first link structural body (9) and the second link structural body (10) have at least one tendon contact surface (18), avoiding the at least one tendon contact surface (18) being a hole surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for saturated robotic movement are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a robotic system, including a robotic arm configured to control movement of a medical instrument, and a processor configured to: receive a first user input from a user for moving the medical instrument with the robotic arm, determine that moving the robotic arm according to the first user input would cause a contact point of the robotic arm to contact or cross a collision boundary surrounding an object, and guide the movement of the robotic arm such that the contact point of the robotic arm continuously moves along the collision boundary based in part on the first user input, in response to the determination that moving the robotic arm according to the first user input would cause the contact point to contact or cross the collision boundary.

Abstract: A surgical system is provided comprising: an input device: and a controller for receiving control inputs from the input device and for providing haptic feedback at the input device, the controller configured to apply a staged transition from a first haptic feedback profile at the input device to a second haptic feedback profile at the input device.

Abstract: An assembly, for packaging and safely disposing of a needle structure, including a housing having at least one containment structure. The containment structure includes a hinge movably interconnecting a base and a needle retaining segment, between open and closed orientations. The retaining segment includes a compartment removably containing the needle structure therein and the base includes a chamber for reception of the compartment and medical needle therein, when in the closed orientation. The hinge normally biases the retaining segment and compartment outwardly at substantially a predetermined angular orientation relative to said base, in the open orientation, to facilitate access to the medical needle through an access opening in the compartment. A closure is fixedly connected to and movable with both the base and the retaining segment and is structured to removably secure said housing in said closed orientation.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiments include an apparatus to reduce or eliminate full thickness injury in tissue and to deform tissue which includes a probe or mechanism for deforming tissue, and a subsystem for selectively cooling and/or heating tissue while deformation is of the tissue is being performed. The illustrated embodiments of the invention also extend to a method to reduce or eliminate full thickness injury in tissue and to deform tissue including the steps of deforming tissue, and selectively cooling and/or heating tissue while deformation of the tissue is being performed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a splash shield incorporating a clear viewing area, a vacuum manifold, the vacuum manifold adapted to releasebly engage the splash shield, and a link emanating from the vacuum manifold, the link configured to attach to a vacuum system wherein application of a vacuum creates a laminar flow to draw vapor away from the splash shield.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a sterilization mat is provided that is configured to receive non-sterile surgical instruments, rolled to a rolled configuration, and sterilized while in the rolled configuration. In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a specialized surgical supply kit includes a package that retains surgical supplies having at least one surgical supply identified as a preferred surgical supply by the hospital or surgeon that is to perform the surgery. The surgical supplies are further arranged in a spatial arrangement based on the surgeon who is to perform the surgery.

Abstract: Minimally invasive robotic surgical instruments and related methods are disclosed. A surgical instrument includes an interface fitting that couples a proximal chassis of the instrument with a holding fixture of a robotic manipulator. A securing feature releasably prevents relative axial sliding between the interface fitting and the chassis. In response to binding of the surgical instrument within a minimally invasive surgical site so as to inhibit removal of the surgical instrument from the surgical site and inhibit disengagement of the interface fitting from the holding fixture, the securing feature can be released to allow relative axial sliding between the interface fitting and the chassis, thereby allowing the holding fixture and the interface fitting to be separated from the rest of the surgical instrument and repositioning of the robotic manipulator out of the way.

Abstract: A method for imaging involves scanning an anatomical object within a patient and capturing reflected IR light with a plurality of cameras that are separate from the scanner. The IR images captured by the IR cameras are associated together to create an integrated image based on parallax between the IR cameras and the scanner. The integrated image is associated with a separate or optical light image of the anatomical object to generate an intra-operative 3D image that can be created in real-time. Systems for effectuating such imaging may include multiple surgical instruments supporting various cameras positioned to capture different fields of view and to increase parallax.

Abstract: A system includes a first optical assembly (OA), a second OA and a processor. The first OA and second OA each coupled with a first and second microscope eyepiece, respectively. Each first and second OAs including a light source, configured to direct an emitted light beam (ELB) through the microscope toward an organ, and an image sensor, configured to sense a reflected light beam (RLB), which is reflected from the organ through the microscope, and to produce a signal indicative of the RLB. The processor is configured to control the first and second OAs to alternately direct the ELB and sense the RLB at first and second time intervals, and alternately display on a first display, during the first time intervals, images based on the signal from the first OA, and display on a second display, during the second time intervals, images based on the signal from the second OA.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are gross positioning systems for use with robotic surgical devices to provide gross positioning of the robotic surgical devices. The gross positioning systems have a base, a first arm link operably coupled to the base, a second arm link operably coupled to the first arm link, a third arm link operably coupled to the second arm link, and a slidable coupling component slidably coupled to the third arm link.

Abstract: A holding device for medical purposes holds an attached device. The holding device has a proximal end for attaching the holding device to a base and a distal end for receiving the attached device. The holding device also has a first arm segment and a second arm segment. The first arm segment is connected to a first joint and the second arm segment is connected to a second joint. Each joint is releasable or lockable. The holding device further has an operator control device for releasing and/or locking the first or second joint for placing the holding device in a desired pose. The holding device also has a controller for controlling the holding device and at least one receiver for electromagnetic radiation connected to the controller for transmitting signals to the controller based on received electromagnetic signals of a surgical navigation system.

Abstract: In this patent disclosure, various embodiments of using near-field communication (NFC) to facilitate the transfer of data and power between a robotic surgical system and a surgical tool attached to the robotic surgical system are disclosed. In one aspect, a process for automatically managing surgical tool attachment in a robotic surgical system can begin by detecting an attachment of a surgical tool. The process next establishes a secure near-field communication (NFC) link between a first NFC module embedded in the robotic surgical system and a second NFC module embedded in the surgical tool. Next, the process requests tool calibration data from the surgical tool via the secure NFC link. The process subsequently uses the received tool calibration data to initialize the surgical tool so that the surgical tool is ready for use.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for analyzing a patient's dental arches in order to generate a treatment plan for the dentition. In particular described herein are methods and apparatuses for determining accurate standardized tooth numbering even when there are missing and/or supernumerary teeth.

Abstract: A method for producing an aligner for teeth of a patient, the method including initially capturing a virtual current model of the teeth with a current position of the teeth: segmenting the teeth in the virtual current model and interpolating interdental surfaces of the teeth; generating a virtual nominal model of the teeth including undercut portions from the virtual current model; automatically determining the undercut portions in the virtual nominal model; automatically removing all surface elements that are associated with the undercuts from the virtual nominal model; subsequently closing gaps in the virtual nominal model created by removing the surface elements wherein closing the gaps is performed by interpolation for blocking out; automatically blocking out the undercut portions in the virtual nominal model to produce a blocked out virtual nominal model; producing a real model of the teeth based on the blocked out virtual nominal model; applying a synthetic material foil to the real model by a deep draw

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a dental implant configured to be inserted in a hole in jaw bone and to be at least partially situated in the bone tissue when implanted and includes: a coronal region, an apical region, a longitudinal axis extending from the coronal region of the dental implant to the apical region of the dental implant; an implant surface configured to form an interface between an implant material and the oral environment/surrounding tissue and a surface layer formed on at least part of the implant surface, the surface layer including crystalline titanium oxide in the anatase phase and wherein the surface area roughness Sa and the pore size of the implant surface on which said surface layer is formed increase from the coronal region toward the apical region of the dental implant along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An electronic impression tray can be used to obtain three-dimensional and temporal measurements in dentistry. There is a device having optical measurement sensor system, and an electronic system including a central management unit capable of collecting, storing and ordering the data obtained by the sensor systems distributed over all or part of the impression tray. An optical impression of all or part of a dental arch can be obtained with a single or multiple impressions. The tray includes a part having the shape of all or part of a dental arch, and the part can change by virtue of its ability to deform and/or a structure formed by multiple elements that are hinged to one another and/or reversibly assembled and secured to one another, such as to provide the optimal shape.

Abstract: An acquisition kit, including: a mouthpiece intended for being placed into the mouth of a patient and including a reference mark; and an image-acquisition apparatus including a screen for viewing an image that can be acquired, computer memory containing information on target acquisition conditions, and a computer program comprising program code instructions for displaying on said screen a reference in a position such that, when the reference mark matches the reference on the screen, the acquisition apparatus complies with the target acquisition conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating a model of a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning methods and apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth) including both surface features and internal features. These methods and apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth. Any of these methods and apparatuses may use minimum scattering coefficients and/or segmentation to form a volumetric model of the teeth.

Abstract: A comprehensive dental readiness platform is presented. Dental patient data including an image, proposed treatments, and a dental form are received and processed by first machine learning models to obtain clinical findings and predicted values for fields of the dental form. The clinical findings and other results are processed by a second machine learning model to obtain predictions of a future dental condition of a patient. The second machine learning model utilizes an ensemble of Transformer Neural Networks, Long-Short-Term-Memory Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks, and Tree-Based Algorithms to predict the dental readiness classification, dental readiness durability, dental readiness error, dental emergency likelihood, prognosis, and alternative treatment options.

Abstract: A ceramic body for dental prosthesis can suppress a variation in quality in the sole ceramic body for dental prosthesis due to expansion of its diameter. The ceramic body for dental prosthesis is made of a ceramic material, is shaped to have a circular planar shape and a disk-like external shape, and has a diameter of 50 mm or more. The method for manufacturing this ceramic body for dental prosthesis includes: preparing a ceramic material; shaping the ceramic material by press shaping or by a machine tool; temporarily sintering the ceramic material at a temperature from a sintering temperature that provides theoretical density ?700° C. or more to the sintering temperature ?100° C. or less; and shaping the ceramic material to have a circular planar shape and a disk-like external shape so as to prepare the ceramic body for dental prosthesis having a diameter of 50 mm or more.

Abstract: A reinforcement structure for a crown and root tooth restoration includes: a plurality of reinforcement pins having diameters ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, an etching canal facilitating access to an infected apex, in the crown and root restoration, a joining element configured to group the plurality of reinforcement pins together so as to form a bundle of pins, the joining element partially covering the length of the reinforcement pins.

Abstract: A dental irrigation device for heating a solution and mixing solutes within the solution. The present invention utilizes an oscillator and inductive coil to heat and/or mix the solution. A pump then delivers the heated and mixed pressurized solution from a basin ultimately into a dispenser.