In general, devices, systems, and methods for control of one visualization with another are provided.

Disclosed herein is a system for navigated punction, biopsy or ablation comprising a mobile electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic navigation field which is connected to an apparatus for medical imaging, a needle-like instrument (16), comprising a sterile distal portion (22) and an optionally non-sterile proximal portion (20), a removable protection device (30) for encapsulating the sterile distal portion (22), a sensor (38) suitable for carrying out measurements allowing for determining the position of the sensor (38) within the navigation field, and a sensor carrier (26). The sensor carrier (26) comprises an elongate carrier body (36) having proximal and distal ends. The sensor (38) is attached to or enclosed by said carrier body (36) close to its distal end. A connection mechanism (32) is provided allowing to releasably connect said sensor carrier (36) with the non-sterile proximal portion (22) such that said elongate carrier body (36) extends from said connection position in distal direction.

A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.

A method for postural independent location of targets in diagnostic images acquired by multimodal acquisitions, compensating for deformation of soft tissues due to changing posture, includes generating a transition of a digital image of the inside of a target region from a first to a second position by correlating the position of markers placed on the external surface of the target region in a digital image of the inside of the target region and in a digital representation of the external surface of the target region acquired by optically scanning the external surface; and at a later time registering the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region, transitioned into the second position, with a diagnostic image of the same target region acquired with the target region in the second position by matching a second representation of the external surface of the target region in the second position without markers with the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region transitioned into the second position.

The disclosure is directed to a novel technique for anatomically orientating a removed tissue specimen with the margins of the tissue from which it has been removed. An example process of marking the margins of the excised surgical specimen and the anatomically adjacent in vivo margins can be implemented by a surgeon at the time of removal of the surgical specimen. After removing the surgical specimen from its adjacent tissue, a surgical cavity is generated. Thereafter, locations around the surface margins of the specimen and appropriate locations on the margins of the surgical cavity are marked with one or more pairs of markers (SpM and IVM respectively) with matching identities.

Magnetic shape-forming surgical continuum manipulator (“CM”) comprising an elastomeric base material and a plurality of magnetic elements, the plurality of magnetic elements being located at a plurality of points along a length of the CM and each magnetic element having a predetermined magnetic profile, whereby the shape of the CM can be magnetically manipulated substantially along said length by the application of an external magnetic field and a magnetic field gradient.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

The application describes embodiments including, e.g., a measurement device comprising: a casing, a first magnet arranged within the casing such that it is rotatable out of an equilibrium orientation responsive to an external magnetic torque acting on the first magnet, a second magnet to provide a restoring torque to force the first magnet back into the equilibrium orientation responsive to an external magnetic torque rotating the first magnet out of the equilibrium orientation, allowing for a rotational oscillation of the first magnet, which is excited by the external magnetic torque, with a resonant frequency, and a temperature sensitive magnetic material to modify the resonant frequency.

A method for detecting a magnetic marker comprises generating a driving magnetic field comprising first and second frequencies and detecting a response magnetic field comprising first and second response components. The magnetic marker provides a non-linear response to the driving signal. A primary portion of the response components is generated by the magnetic marker, and secondary portion of the response components is generated by a secondary magnetic source. The method comprises determining a driving factor representing a ratio of the frequencies in the driving signal; determining a correction factor corresponding to the secondary ortion of the second response component, based on the first response component and the driving factor; determining a detection signal corresponding to the primary portion of the second response component, based on the second response component and the determined correction factor; and generating an output signal based on a strength of the detection signal.

Multi-modal imaging capsule for image-guided proton beam therapy, consisting of a biocompatible polymer layer, .sup.18O-enriched water, and a contrast agent. The biocompatible capsule may be inserted near or inside a tumor under the guidance of X-ray, magnetic resonance, or ultrasonography imaging. Upon proton beam irradiation, the capsule emits positrons, allowing the tumor to be imaged and tracked by a PET detector.