The disclosure relates to a method and a tracking system for tracking a medical object. Herein, image data obtained by an imaging method and a predetermined target position is acquired for the medical object. The image data is used to detect the medical object automatically by an image processing algorithm and track the position thereof in a time-resolved manner. Furthermore, it is furthermore indicated when, or that, the detected medical object has reached the target position. A plurality of the detected positions of the medical object and associated detection times are stored in a database.

A system for controlling a medical image capture device during surgery is provided, the system including circuitry configured to acquire first image data from the medical image capture device, the first image data being of an appearance of a surgical scene at a first instance of time; determine, based on a predicted appearance of the surgical scene based on the first image data at a second instance of time after the first instance of time, one or more desired image capture properties of the medical image capture device; and control the medical image capture device at a third instance of time, the third instance of time being between the first instance of time and the second instance of time, in accordance with the one or more desired image capture properties of the medical image capture device.

An exemplary system includes a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to: detect an intent of a user of a computer-assisted surgical system to use a robotic instrument attached to the computer-assisted surgical system to interact with a target object while the target object is located in a surgical space; determine a pose of the target object in the surgical space; and perform, based on the detected intent of the user to interact with the target object and the determined pose of the target object in the surgical space, an operation with respect to the target object.

An intraoperative ultrasound imaging system and method capable of using ultrasound imaging to safely place a surgical access instrument (e.g. guide wire, dilator, cannula, etc.) through a tissue (e.g., muscle, fat, brain, liver, lung, etc.) without damaging nearby neurovascular structure is described herein. The intraoperative ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe assembly configured for emitting and receiving ultrasound waves and a computer system including a processor and a display unit. Once the probe is in position, ultrasound imaging is performed wherein the computer receives RF data from the probe and causes a B-mode image of the visible anatomical structures (e.g. muscle, bone, etc.) to be displayed on the display unit.

A medical device having a communication function that includes an information reading section configured to read, from an additional medical device, information regarding medical care, and a communication section configured to transmit the information read by the information reading section.

Disclosed are systems and methods for superimposing a virtual image on a real-time image. A system for superimposing a virtual image on a real-time image comprises a real-time image module and a virtual image module. The real-time image module comprises a magnification assembly to generate a real-time image of an object at a first location and a first depth, with a predetermined magnification. The virtual image module generates a virtual image by respectively projecting a right light signal to a viewer's right eye and a corresponding left light signal to a viewer's left eye. The right light signal and the corresponding left light signal are perceived by the viewer to display the virtual image at a second location and a second depth. The second depth is related to an angle between the right light signal and the corresponding left light signal projected to the viewer's eyes. The second depth may be approximately the same as the first depth.

The invention relates to a system for planning introduction of a needle in a patient's body, comprising: a needle guide configured to be coupled to a needle; a localization system configured for tracking the needle guide with respect to the patient's body, the localization system being coupled to a needle tracker attached to the needle guide and a reference marker adapted to be attached to the patient's body to determine a spatial position and orientation of the needle tracker relative to the reference marker; a processor configured for determining a virtual position and orientation of the needle with respect to the 3D image using localization data of the needle guide, thereby defining a virtual needle having said virtual position and orientation, detecting a part of the needle that has already been inserted into the patient's body as a trace in the 3D medical image, computing a distance between the virtual needle and the detected needle, and determining a representation of the computed distance; a display coupled to the processor for displaying a representation of the virtual needle and the representation of the computed distance between the virtual needle and the detected part of the needle.

A vessel sealing instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending from a distal end thereof having an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled thereto. A drive assembly is disposed within the housing and is configured to move the jaw members upon actuation thereof between an open position and a closed position for clamping tissue with a closure pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm.sup.2 to about 16 kg/cm.sup.2. An anti-backdrive assembly is operably disposed within the housing and includes a drive wedge. A solenoid controller is operably coupled to the drive wedge and is configured to selectively move the drive wedge into the drive assembly upon activation thereof to increase the closure pressure between the jaw members in response to tissue expansion during sealing.

A vessel sealing instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending from a distal end thereof, the distal end including an end effector assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members operably coupled thereto. One or both of the jaw members is moveable between open and closed positions for clamping tissue with a closure pressure. One or both of the jaw members connects to a generator that provides energy thereto in accordance with a sealing algorithm upon activation thereof. An anti-backdrive mechanism is coupled to the end effector assembly and includes a drive shaft coupled at one end to a solenoid and another end that engages one of the jaw members upon extension thereof to provide additional closure pressure between the jaw members. The drive shaft is extendible by the solenoid to extend the drive shaft in response to tissue expansion during sealing based on the sealing algorithm.

A method may include positioning a distal portion of a neuromodulation catheter in a first renal vessel of a patient. The distal portion may include a plurality of therapeutic elements arranged around a perimeter of the distal portion. The method also may include imaging the distal portion to visualize positions of the plurality of therapeutic elements; manipulating the distal portion so that at least one therapeutic element is oriented toward a second renal vessel adjacent the first renal vessel; deploying the at least one therapeutic element to extend at least partially through the wall of the first renal vessel such that the at least therapeutic element extends toward the second renal vessel; and delivering a chemical agent through the plurality of therapeutic elements to modulate activity of at least one renal nerve adjacent to the first renal vessel and at least one renal nerve adjacent to the second renal vessel.