The invention concerns a preoperative probe (2) for guiding an ablation tool, comprising a sensing head (21), said sensing head including: at least one optic fiber (2121, 2123) for receiving and guiding a signal emitted, by radioactive tracers and/or fluorescent molecules in a tissue zone, to an analyzing equipment (32), fixing means (2112) for mounting the head (21) on the ablation tool (1), such that the ablation tool is capable of extracting a portion of tissue in the tissue zone emitting the signal.

Systems and methods are described for performing navigation-assisted medical procedures such as biopsies, surgeries and pathology procedures by obtaining location information of an item of interest located within at least a portion of a subject; sensing position information of a moveable device; determining a relative position of the moveable device to the item of interest using the location information of the item of interest and the position information of the moveable device; and providing feedback based on the relative position of the moveable device to the item of interest that can be used to change the relative position of the moveable device to the item of interest.

Methods for setting up, maintaining and operating a radiopharmaceutical infusion system, that includes a radioisotope generator, are facilitated by a computer of the system. The computer may include pre-programmed instructions and a computer interface, for interaction with a user of the system, for example, in order to track contained volumes of eluant and/or eluate, and/or to track time from completion of an elution performed by the system, and/or to calculate one or more system and/or injection parameters for quality control, and/or to perform purges of the system, and/or to facilitate diagnostic imaging.

The invention relates to a system (10) for providing an object (2) in a body (1), a processor (18) arranged to be used in the system (10) for providing an object (2) in a body (1), an instrument (12) for providing an object (2) into a body (1), a method for detecting a providing of an object (2) in a body (1) and a software product for detecting a providing of an object (2) in a body (1). In order to allow for a providing of an object (2) in a body (1) and a detecting hereof while avoiding the drawbacks on the known approaches, e.g. giving an opportunity for reliable localization in ultrasound images used for real-time monitoring of a medical procedure with reduced error proneness to electromagnetic interference, the invention utilizes the finding that the characteristics of a reception or transmission of an ultrasound transducer (24, 26) are influenced by the surrounding environment of the ultrasound transducer (24, 26). By detecting changes in the characteristics the presence or absence of an object (2) to be provided at the ultrasound transducer (24, 26) is determined.

We have noticed that during assembly of a marker according to our previous application GB2512416, i.e. one having a solid first component and a liquid second component, a small amount of air is sometimes trapped within a housing of the marker. Precautions can obviously be taken to limit this, but it would be preferable if the structure was resilient to this. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a marker for use in calibration of a radiotherapeutic apparatus, comprising a first component, preferably spherical, and having a first hydrogen proton density and a first mass density, and being solid, a second component having a second hydrogen proton density and a second mass density, and being liquid, wherein the first component is substantially completely surrounded by the second component within a void of the second component to form an interface between the first and second components, the marker further comprising a housing enclosing the first and second components, and defining a region into which the second component can extend at a location which is displaced vertically from the interface between the first and second components, thereby to allow trapped air to be collected. Thus in use any trapped air is encouraged to migrate to a position away from the first component, allowing the interface between the first and second components to be free of contamination from such trapped air.

A highly articulated robotic probe (HARP) is comprised of a first mechanism and a second mechanism, one or both of which can be steered in desired directions. Each mechanism can alternate between being rigid and limp. In limp mode the mechanism is highly flexible. When one mechanism is limp, the other is rigid. The limp mechanism is then pushed or pulled along the rigid mechanism. The limp mechanism is made rigid, thereby assuming the shape of the rigid mechanism. The rigid mechanism is made limp and the process repeats. These innovations allow the device to drive anywhere in three dimensions. The device can remember its previous configurations, and can go anywhere in a body or other structure (e.g. jet engines). When used in medical applications, once the device arrives at a desired location, the inner core mechanism can be removed and another functional device such as a scalpel, clamp or other tool slid through the rigid sleeve to perform. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing forward fluid delivery through an electrosurgical device, while avoiding coring when energy is delivered to the electrosurgical device. The device has a distal face defining an opening, with the distal face including at least one cutting portion and at least one non-cutting portion. An embodiment of the electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue includes an elongate member defining a lumen for fluid; a distal portion including an electrode and the distal face which defines at least one aperture. The portion of the at least one cutting portion defines a leading portion partially surrounding a circumference of the at least one aperture wherein the outer diameter of the at least one of the distal portion of the electrosurgical device or the electrode decreases towards a distal tip of the electrosurgical device.

A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. The inner cannula includes a hinge between a body section and a cutting section that allows the cutting section to pivot when the inner cannula reciprocates within the outer cannula. A tissue collector is also provided and is in fluid communication with the lumen of the inner cannula. A fluid supply sleeve is disposed about the outer cannula and is selectively positionable along the length of the outer cannula.

A system for visualizing a surgical site is provided. The system includes a robotic mechanism for performing a procedure on a patient, an imaging device coupled to the robotic mechanism, the imaging device configured to provide image data of a site of interest, and a computing device coupled to the imaging device. The computing device includes one or more processors and at least one memory device configured to store executable instructions. The executable instructions, when executed by the processor, are configured to receive the image data of the site of interest, track motion patterns of the site of interest in the received image data, filter the received image data to remove line-of-sight restrictions therein and alter pixels therein based on the tracked motion patterns, and generate an output frame from the filtered image data. The system also includes a presentation interface device coupled to the computing device and configured to present the output frame for visualization of the site of interest.

A respiratory gating system is disclosed that varies the orientation of a radiation emitting device according to a patient's natural breathing. A breathing respirator is provided that allows the patient's respiration amount to be measured. External markers are adhered to triangulation points around a radiation target region, such as a heart, of the patient. An image diagnosis device images the target region. A computed tomography device reveals movements of the target region caused by the respiration. Triangulations and polynomial approximations are used to estimate the trajectory of the target region in real time. Position coordinates derived from the estimated trajectory are transmitted to the radiation emitting device. The system increases the accuracy and stability of the entire radiation therapy result.