Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.

Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.

Methods of immobilizing the head of a patient include heating a thermoplastic mask preform to a formable temperature, forming the thermoplastic mask over at least a mouth of the patient, and pushing a mouth receiving end of a bite piece into a portion of the thermoplastic mask preform that is positioned over the mouth of the patient, which moves the portion of the thermoplastic mask preform into the mouth of the patient. The methods also include allowing the thermoplastic mask preform to cool from the formable temperature, causing the portion of the thermoplastic mask moved into the mouth of the patient to harden.

Methods of immobilizing the head of a patient include heating a thermoplastic mask preform to a formable temperature, forming the thermoplastic mask over at least a mouth of the patient, and pushing a mouth receiving end of a bite piece into a portion of the thermoplastic mask preform that is positioned over the mouth of the patient, which moves the portion of the thermoplastic mask preform into the mouth of the patient. The methods also include allowing the thermoplastic mask preform to cool from the formable temperature, causing the portion of the thermoplastic mask moved into the mouth of the patient to harden.

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

A neuro-surgical clamp device that has a semi-circular track that partially circles the patient's head. A C-clamp clamps securing to the patient's head, with the semi-circular track clamped to the C-clamp with a vice-clamp with at least one moving jaw. The C-clamp is coupled to a base bar though a series of three arms and four rotatable joints so that the semi-circular track can be tilted and rotated to any angle with respect to the patient's head. Instrument attaches can be clamped anywhere along the semi-circular track.

A neuro-surgical clamp device that has a semi-circular track that partially circles the patient's head. A C-clamp clamps securing to the patient's head, with the semi-circular track clamped to the C-clamp with a vice-clamp with at least one moving jaw. The C-clamp is coupled to a base bar though a series of three arms and four rotatable joints so that the semi-circular track can be tilted and rotated to any angle with respect to the patient's head. Instrument attaches can be clamped anywhere along the semi-circular track.

An automatically adjusted medical saw system has a mechanism that measures bone thickness via ultrasound-based sensors to ensure that only the bone tissue is cut during the cutting process and the soft tissue is not damaged during this cutting process. The automatically adjusted medical saw system includes a saw box, a saw blade, a movable platform, a saw motor, an ultrasonic receiver or a transmitter, a screw, a step motor, a hydrogel strip, a movement axis rail, a tightening apparatus, a motor control circuit, a control circuit for the ultrasonic receiver or the transmitter, a central control unit, and rails to guide the movable platform.

An automatically adjusted medical saw system has a mechanism that measures bone thickness via ultrasound-based sensors to ensure that only the bone tissue is cut during the cutting process and the soft tissue is not damaged during this cutting process. The automatically adjusted medical saw system includes a saw box, a saw blade, a movable platform, a saw motor, an ultrasonic receiver or a transmitter, a screw, a step motor, a hydrogel strip, a movement axis rail, a tightening apparatus, a motor control circuit, a control circuit for the ultrasonic receiver or the transmitter, a central control unit, and rails to guide the movable platform.