Disclosed biopsy markers are adapted to serve as localization markers during a surgical procedure. Adaptation includes incorporation of materials detectable under ultrasound during surgery, as well as features for co-registration with image guidance or other real-time imaging technologies during surgery. Such biopsy markers, when used as localization markers, improve patient comfort and reduce challenges in surgical coordination and surgery time. Additional disclosed biopsy markers are adapted to serve as monitoring and/or detection apparatuses. Localization of an implanted marker may be done with ultrasound technology. Ultrasound image data is analyzed to identify the implanted marker. A distance to the marker or a lesion may be determined and displayed. The determined distance may be a distance between the ultrasound probe and the marker or lesion, a distance between the marker or lesion and an incision instrument, and/or a distance between the ultrasound probe and the incision instrument.

A surgical material, such as gauze, includes a feature that increases the magnetic permeability of the surgical material. The surgical material incorporates one or more elements with high magnitude of magnetic permeability within the surgical material. In an embodiment, the one or more elements are coupled to a strip of material such as in the form of beads.

The inventions provided herein relate to tissue markers and uses thereof, e.g., to mark a target tissue site (e.g., a biopsy site in a breast tissue) or to produce a cell scaffold. The tissue markers described herein are designed to be resistant to fast migration (e.g., immediate migration after implantation through a needle track) and slow migration (e.g., over an extended period of time) upon implantation at a target tissue site (e.g., a biopsy site in a breast tissue), without using an adhesive. Additionally or alternatively, the tissue markers described herein can be readily detectable by at least one imaging modality, e.g., but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging, or a combination thereof.

A registration marker (40), consisting of a radiotransparent substrate (44) and a pattern (58) formed in at least two dimensions, which is disposed on the substrate and is optically visible. The registration marker also has a multiplicity of radiopaque elements (60), which are disposed in the substrate and are spatially arranged in at least two dimensions to provide a unique pattern.

Composite markers employ a gel carrier to carry at least one radiopaque element (e.g., wire or band or clip) and one or more other contrast materials, each detectable by a detection modality different than one another. Methods for forming these composite markers and methods of marking a target site in a mammalian subject employing these composite markers are also discussed herein.

Aspects of the invention relate to composite markers that employ a gel carrier to carry two or more contrast materials, each detectable by a detection modality different than one another. Kits and methods for forming these composite markers and methods of marking a target site in a mammalian subject employing these composite markers are also discussed herein.

A holographic augmented reality ultrasound needle guide system and method includes an augmented reality display such as a headset wearable by a user. The augmented reality display is configured to depict a virtual ultrasound image. The augmented reality display is further configured to allow a user to select a desired reference point on the virtual ultrasound image. The system is configured to depict a holographic needle guide based on the selection of the desired reference point. The system is also configured to adjust a trajectory of the holographic needle guide to avoid intersecting undesired anatomical structures. The augmented reality display is further configured to stamp the holographic needle guide into a selectively locked trajectory and position.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for puncturing tissue, including a surgical introducer with a stiff main body and a flexible tip which can be used with a puncture device to gain epicardial access. The surgical introducer comprises an introducer shaft having a rigid portion and a flexible tip portion. The rigid portion has a metal tube extending to the rigid portion distal end. The flexible tip portion is distal of the metal tube distal end. The flexible tip portion includes a first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the second polymer is more flexible than the first polymer. The second polymer extends distally from the metal tube distal end to define a second polymer flexible tip segment. The first polymer extends distally from the second polymer flexible tip segment end to define a flexible tip portion cap.

Presented herein are systems, methods, and architectures related to augmented reality (AR) surgical visualization of one or more dual-modality probe species in tissue. As described herein, near infrared (NIR) images are detected and rendered in real time. The NIR images are registered and/or overlaid with one or more radiological images (e.g., which were obtained preoperatively/perioperatively) by a processor [e.g., that uses an artificial neural network (ANN) or convolutional neural network (CNN) reconstruction algorithm] to produce a real-time AR overlay (3D representation). The AR overlay is displayed to a surgeon in real time. Additionally, a dynamic motion tracker tracks the location of fiducial tracking sensors on/in/about the subject, and this information is also used by the processor in producing (e.g., positionally adjusting) the AR overlay. The real-time AR overlay can improve surgery outcomes, for example, by providing additional real-time information about a surgical site via an intuitive visual interface.

Described is a process for performing radiotherapy treatment according to the invention comprising the following operations: S.1) providing a radiotherapy system (1) comprising a radiation head (3), a movement system (7), a diagnostics subsystem for images, in turn comprising a probe (13) and a position detection subsystem (11); S.2) by means of the at least one probe (13) acquiring a plurality of images (IM_1, IM_2, IMJ, IM_N) of internal sections of a body to be treated (P); S.3) by means of the position detection subsystem (11) detecting the position in space of the probe (13) whilst it acquires each of said images (IMJ, IMJ, IMJ, IM_N); S.4) on the basis of said images (IMJ, IMJ, IMJ, IM_N) and by means of the movement system (7) moving the radiation head (3) and performing a predetermined treatment on the body to be treated (P).