The invention relates to a needle guiding device for guiding and positioning a needle-shaped device on a patient, wherein the needle guiding device has a base element and a needle guiding element on which the needle-shaped device can be guided along its longitudinal extent, wherein the angular orientation of the needle guiding element can be set in two independent angular degrees of freedom with respect to the base element. The needle guiding device has an operating element, by means of which the angular orientation of the needle guiding element in the two angular degrees of freedom can be fixed or such fixing can be released again. The needle guiding device also has, for each of the two settable angular degrees of freedom, an angle scale and an angle pointer associated with the relevant angle scale, such that the user can, on the basis of the position of the relevant angle pointer with respect to the associated angle scale, read off a currently set angular orientation of the needle guiding element in the two angular degrees of freedom.

A method of training includes providing a medical device having a tangible proximal portion including a magnetic element, and using a virtual tracking system to simulate a distal portion of the medical device. The virtual tracking system can include a tracking component and a display. The tracking component can be configured to detect a magnetic field of the magnetic element and to generate magnetic field strength data. The tracking component can include a processor that iteratively computes position data of the distal portion of the medical device according to the magnetic field strength data to simulate insertion of the distal portion of the medical device into a body of a patient. The display can be configured to depict an image of the position data of the distal portion of the medical device.

An implantable tissue marker device is provided to be placed in a soft tissue site through a surgical incision. The device can include a bioabsorbable body in the form of a spiral and defining a spheroid shape for the device, the spiral having a longitudinal axis, and turns of the spiral being spaced apart from each other in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of markers can be disposed on the body, the markers being visualizable by a radiographic imaging device. The turns of the spiral are sufficiently spaced apart to form gaps that allow soft tissue to infiltrate between the turns and to allow flexibility in the device along the longitudinal axis in the manner of a spring.

The present invention relates to a system SY for determining a position of an RF transponder circuit RTC respective an ultrasound emitter unit UEU. The RF transponder circuit RTC emits RF signals that are modulated based on received ultrasound signals that are emitted or reflected by the ultrasound emitter unit UEU. The position of the RF transponder circuit RTC respective the ultrasound emitter unit UEU is determined based on a time difference ΔT1 between the emission of an ultrasound signal by the ultrasound emitter unit UEU and the detection by the RF detector unit RFD of a corresponding modulation in the RF signal emitted or reflected by the RF transponder circuit (RTC).

A system comprising: one or more field generating coils configured to generate a magnetic field; a sensor comprising a shell that contains a ferrofluid, the sensor configured to be introduced in proximity to the magnetic field, wherein the ferrofluid causes distortion of the magnetic field when the ferrofluid is in proximity to the magnetic field; and one or more field measuring coils configured to: measure a characteristic of the magnetic field when the ferrofluid is in proximity to the magnetic field; and provide, to a computing device, a signal representative of the measured characteristic of the magnetic field, wherein the computing device is configured to determine one or both of a position and an orientation of the sensor based on the measured characteristic of the magnetic field.

A stretch-measurement probe includes an elongate outer sleeve, expansion feature associated with a distal portion of the outer sleeve, and an elongate inner rod disposed at least partially within the outer sleeve. The expansion feature is configured to allow a longitudinal distance between a proximal end of the outer sleeve and the distal end of the outer sleeve to be varied.

A method for marking an entry position for an injection apparatus on a surface of a patient positioned inside a patient receiving region of a magnetic resonance device. The method includes providing a virtual entry position, introducing a marking apparatus into the patient receiving region, acquiring time-resolved MR image data from the marking apparatus by the magnetic resonance device, ascertaining a current position of the marking apparatus based on the time-resolved MR image data, iteratively changing the current position of the marking apparatus using the virtual entry position and the current position, and delivering the liquid from the marking apparatus when the current position matches the virtual entry position.

An apparatus for implanting a localization wire, wherein the apparatus exhibits a ready configuration and a relaxed configuration, includes a handle having a slot and a cannula disposed within the handle and having an insertion tip and a projection configured to selectively enter the slot. The cannula is movable between a ready configuration and a relaxed configuration. A localization wire is disposed within the cannula. An actuator is configured to retract the cannula into the handle.

A magnetic marker for marking a site in tissue in the body. In one embodiment, the marker comprises a magnetic metallic glass. In another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 9. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 6. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 3.

The invention relates to a measurement device 1 comprising a rotatable magnetic object 4 which can oscillate with a resonant frequency if excited by an external magnetic torque. The measurement device 1 is adapted such that the resonant frequency depends on the temperature or on another physical or chemical quantity like pressure, in order to allow for a wireless temperature measurement or measurement of the other physical or chemical quantity via an external magnetic field providing the external magnetic torque. This measurement device can be relatively small, can be read-out over a relatively larger distance and allows for a very accurate measurement.