A guide tube is used for guiding an instrument through a hole within tissue of a patient. The guide tube includes a cannula member defining a passage extending therethrough along an axis. The passage is operable to receive the instrument and guide the instrument through the hole within the tissue of the patient. The guide tube also includes an expansion member that is moveably coupled to the cannula member to selectively move radially between a retracted position and an expanded position relative to the axis of the cannula member. The expansion member is at least partially insertable into the hole when the expansion member is in the retracted position. The expansion member is operable to engage with a surface of the hole when the expansion member is in the expanded position.

An optical marker for positioning a medical device outside a body and the medical device are disclosed. The optical marker comprises: a base having a concave or a convex, the concave or the convex being provided with a non-coplanar optical mark(s), and the optical mark(s) being visible on the entire surface of the concave or the convex; and a connecting portion connected to the base and used for connecting with the medical device. In the optical marker, the base provided with the optical mark(s) has a non-planar structure, being able to increase the recognizable angle of the medical device and improve the recognition accuracy and stability.

An introducer guide includes a guiding assembly to guide insertion an instrument, such as a biopsy needle, through a selected insertion point on a patient's body and along a selected insertion path. An imaging system, such as a CT scanner, is used to visualize portions of the guiding assembly in relation to the patient's tissues as the insertion path is adjusted. The guiding assembly includes a semicircular arch connected with a base plate by sliding hinges with a center of curvature of the arch centered on the insertion point. A guide body is slidably connected with the arch. Rotation of the arch about the hinges adjusts a first angle of the insertion path. Motion of the guide body along the arch adjusts a second angle of the insertion path. Linkages, such as linear actuation cables, rotary cables, or pneumatic or hydraulic actuators, connect the arch and guide body with remote operators. A practitioner aligns the guide assembly with the insertion point and fixes the base to the patient's skin. The practitioner uses the remote operators to adjust the orientation of the insertion path while visualizing the insertion path using the imaging system. The length of the cables is selected to allow the practitioner to adjust the guiding assembly at a safe distance from ionizing radiation emitted by the imaging system.

A method and a device for the simplified inspection of the compatibility of the positions of master tubes in a surgical guides with respect to the positions in a predetermined plan in a computer model. For example, during virtual planning, the virtual surgical guide includes master tubes having an axis that is the axis (e.g., an installation axis) along which a dental implant will be installed. The virtual surgical guide can be manufactured, e.g., by substrative methods and additive methods. As discussed herein, the accuracy of the physical surgical guide can be checked physically or virtually.

The invention relates to an assisting apparatus (2) for assisting a user in moving an insertion element (11) like a catheter to a target element within, for instance, a person (8). A target element representation representing the target element within the object in its three-dimensional position and three-dimensional orientation and with its size is generated based on a provided target element image. Moreover, a three-dimensional position of the insertion element is tracked, while the insertion element is moved to the target element, and the target element representation and the tracked position of the insertion element are displayed. The three-dimensional position and orientation of the target element relative to the actual position of the insertion element can therefore be shown to the user, while the insertion element is moved to the target element, which allows the user to more accurately and faster move the insertion element to the target element.

The invention relates to an assisting apparatus (2) for assisting a user in moving an insertion element (11) like a catheter to a target element within, for instance, a person (8). A target element representation representing the target element within the object in its three-dimensional position and three-dimensional orientation and with its size is generated based on a provided target element image. Moreover, a three-dimensional position of the insertion element is tracked, while the insertion element is moved to the target element, and the target element representation and the tracked position of the insertion element are displayed. The three-dimensional position and orientation of the target element relative to the actual position of the insertion element can therefore be shown to the user, while the insertion element is moved to the target element, which allows the user to more accurately and faster move the insertion element to the target element.

Embodiments are directed to a medical robot system including a robot coupled to an end-effectuator element with the robot configured to control movement and positioning of the end-effectuator in relation to the patient. One embodiment is a method for removing bone with a robot system comprising: taking a two-dimensional slice through a computed tomography scan volume of target anatomy; placing a perimeter on a pathway to the target anatomy; and controlling a drill assembly with the robot system to remove bone along the pathway in the intersection of the perimeter and the two-dimensional slice.

Methods and systems that provide quantitative assessments of in vivo thermal treatments, such as ablations, during image-guided surgeries using a high-resolution pre-operative MRI image segmented with a shape constrained and deformable mesh representations of brain structures and generating 3-D visualizations of thermally treated volumes during the thermal treatment that can provide near real time visual and quantitative feedback to a clinician.

Devices for transferring fluid to or from a subject include an elongate tubular cannula having opposing proximal and distal ends with an axially extending lumen. The devices also include an elongate needle having opposing proximal and distal ends. The elongate needle is configured so that the distal end of the needle extends out of the distal end of the cannula a suitable adjustable distance. The devices also include a housing with a length adjustment mechanism that adjusts a length between the tip of the needle and the distal end of the tubular cannula.

Devices for transferring fluid to or from a subject include an elongate tubular cannula having opposing proximal and distal ends with an axially extending lumen. The devices also include an elongate needle having opposing proximal and distal ends. The elongate needle is configured so that the distal end of the needle extends out of the distal end of the cannula a suitable adjustable distance. The devices also include a housing with a length adjustment mechanism that adjusts a length between the tip of the needle and the distal end of the tubular cannula.