Monitoring a patient in a magnetic resonance system, wherein images of the patient are acquired by a camera in real time, a movement of the patient and a degree of this movement of the patient is determined by evaluating the images, and a symbol symbolizing a part of the patient is depicted, wherein a depicted property of the symbol depicts the degree of movement.

Devices and methods are provide for facilitating registration and calibration of surface imaging systems. Tracking marker support structures are described that include one or more fiducial reference markers, where the tracking marker support structures are configured to be removably and securely attached to a skeletal region of a patient. Methods are provided in which a tracking marker support structure is attached to a skeletal region in a pre-selected orientation, thereby establishing an intraoperative reference direction associated with the intraoperative position of the patient, which is employed for guiding the initial registration between intraoperatively acquired surface data and volumetric image data. In other example embodiments, the tracking marker support structure may be employed for assessing the validity of a calibration transformation between a tracking system and a surface imaging system. Example methods are also provided to detect whether or not a tracking marker support structure has moved from its initial position during a procedure.

A method for recording image data of a moving, (e.g., cyclically moving), region of interest of a patient by a medical imaging system with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, wherein a robotic device with a kinematic chain of moving components has a tactile connection with the patient, and wherein, the tactile connection is maintained at least for a prespecified period. The method includes acquiring measured values by sensors of the robotic device, evaluating the measured values and forwarding to the medical imaging system, wherein the evaluated measured values include information on the movement and/or position of the region of interest, and irradiation of the region of interest by the radiation source and recording of image data of the irradiated region of interest by the X-ray detector, and wherein the evaluated measured values are used to actuate the imaging system.

A system and method are provided for determining one or more characteristics of a device. The system and method comprises initiating an algorithm to correct for shift and drift of a reference catheter (203), determining an initial shape and position of a portion of the reference catheter at time 0 when the algorithm is initiated (201), determining a current shape and position of the portion of the reference catheter at time t after the algorithm has been initiated (205), calculating a closest fit of the current shape and position of the portion of the reference catheter to the initial shape and position of the portion of the reference catheter by iteratively adjusting a set of solution parameters (209), and determining a minimal error solution parameter (211).

Described herein are systems, apparatus, and methods for precise placement and guidance of tools during surgery, particularly spinal surgery, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. Several minimally invasive approaches to spinal surgeries were conceived, percutaneous technique being one of them. This procedures looks to establish a skin opening as small as possible by accessing inner organs via needle-puncture of the skin. The percutaneous technique is used in conjunction with a robotic surgical system to further enhance advantages of manual percutaneous techniques by improving precision, usability and/or shortening surgery time by removal of redundant steps.

In certain embodiments, the systems, apparatus, and methods disclosed herein relate to robotic surgical systems with built-in navigation capability for patient position tracking and surgical instrument guidance during a surgical procedure, without the need for a separate navigation system. Robotic based navigation of surgical instruments during surgical procedures allows for easy registration and operative volume identification and tracking. The systems, apparatus, and methods herein allow re-registration, model updates, and operative volumes to be performed intra-operatively with minimal disruption to the surgical workflow. In certain embodiments, navigational assistance can be provided to a surgeon by displaying a surgical instrument's position relative to a patient's anatomy. Additionally, by revising pre-operatively defined data such as operative volumes, patient-robot orientation relationships, and anatomical models of the patient, a higher degree of precision and lower risk of complications and serious medical error can be achieved.

A method for calibrating a surgical device is provided. The method includes acquiring first data including a position and/or an orientation of a first object disposed on the surgical device at a first location; acquiring second data including a position and/or an orientation of a second object disposed on the surgical device at a second location; determining third data including a position and/or an orientation of the first object relative to the second location; and determining a position and/or an orientation of the second object relative to the second location based at least in part on the first data, the second data, and the third data.

Surgical robot for tracking and compensating bone movement, the robot comprising: a robot arm (3) and a tool guide (5) at the arm's end-effector, a tracker (1) attached to the robot arm at the same plane as the tool guide, the tracker comprising an assembly of articulated segments (1a-1d) and encoders (2) associated to the segments such that movement of the tracker is allowed and monitored in at least six degrees of freedom. The tracker base and the tool guide share the same frame, that is, are on the same plane, so that the system is able to determine directly the exact positioning of the tool guide with respect to the tracked bone without any intermediate device. This way, an optical tracker and the associated cameras can be dispensed with.

A vitrectomy probe with combined vibration dampening and attenuating. The probe may include a variety of features to lessen the vibrations felt by a surgeon during a vitrectomy procedure. These may include minimizing the degree of flow restriction through a housing that facilitates cutter reciprocation by way of air pressure. Further, utilizing softer stops at a diaphragm that drives the cutter reciprocation may be of benefit as is strategically lessening compressive forces by seals at an extension tube coupled to the diaphragm where possible. The use of a softer gripping component that is actually held by the surgeon may be of benefit in terms of vibration attenuation.

A system comprises a medical tool including a shaft having proximal and distal ends and an articulatable distal portion coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The system also comprises a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to determine a target in a medical environment. The articulatable distal portion is directed toward the target. The processing unit is also configured to determine a motion of at least a portion of the shaft, and in response to the determined motion, control a pose of the articulatable distal portion so that the articulatable distal portion remains directed toward the target.