A method and apparatus are disclosed for puncturing a target tissue. Apparatus includes an elongate puncture device having a tip electrode that is configured for collecting EGMs and for delivering energy for puncturing the target tissue. The method comprising collecting EGMs to indirectly measure and monitor a pressure applied against the target tissue by the elongate puncture device, thereby confirming a position of the tip electrode of the elongate puncture device relative to the target tissue.

Systems and methods for image-guided medical procedures use fluoroscopic 3D reconstructions to plan and navigate a percutaneously-inserted device such as a biopsy tool from an entry point to a target.

Systems and methods for image-guided medical procedures use fluoroscopic 3D reconstructions to plan and navigate a percutaneously-inserted device such as a biopsy tool from an entry point to a target.

A surgical sponge locator system for locating sponges after surgery for removal includes a base having a sponge portion and a housing portion. A plurality of surgical sponges is coupled within the base. Each surgical sponge has a signal receiver and a sound emitter in operational communication with the signal receiver. An antenna is coupled to the base and is in wireless communication with the signal receiver of each surgical sponge. A plurality of batteries is coupled within the base. A battery activator is coupled within the base. The battery activator selectively interrupts or allows operational communication between the plurality of batteries and the antenna. A sound activation lever is coupled to the housing portion and is in operational communication with the antenna.

Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring 3D image data of a targeted vertebra. A processor indicates the targeted vertebra within the 3D image data. A radiopaque element is positioned on the body of the subject with respect to the spine and a radiographic image is acquired. The processor (a) generates a plurality of 2D projections of the targeted vertebra from the 3D image data, (b) for each vertebra that is visible in the radiographic image, identifies if there exists a 2D projection of the targeted vertebra that matches the radiographic image of the vertebra that is visible, and (c) in response, indicates on the 2D radiographic image the vertebra for which a match with a projection of the targeted vertebra was identified, such that a location of the targeted vertebra is identified with respect to the radiopaque element. Other applications are also described.

Markers for use in bodily tissue take a variety of forms, and may include a plurality of ultrasound reflective elements, for example hollow shells filled with air, and a hydrogel that binds the ultrasound reflective elements. The hydrogel may be natural or artificial and may be cross-linked. An ultrasound system advantageously injects variance in a drive signal, that varies a frequency or phase of an ultrasound interrogation signal from a nominal frequency or nominal phase. The amount of variation is preferable one to six orders of magnitude less than the nominal frequency or phase. The ultrasound system can present or detect a twinkling artifact at least in a Doppler mode of operation, resulting from interaction of the varying interrogation signal with the ultrasound reflective elements.

A registration fixture is configured for use with a medical imaging system. The registration fixture comprises a rigid internal structure comprising a plurality of fiducial markers arranged in a predefined pattern. The registration fixture further comprises a housing configured to surround the rigid internal structure. The registration fixture is configured to be mounted on a patient table.

A head stabilization device or HFD includes a plurality of integrated markers. The HFD may be in the form of a skull clamp, vacuum bag, combinations thereof, or other supporting structure. The integrated markers include MRI markers detectable by an MRI scanner and fiducial markers detectable by a registration tool of a navigation system. The markers provide a reference point relative to an operation site in a patient for use in a navigation guided procedure and aid in registering or calibrating the location of the patient with captured images used in the navigation guided procedure.

Methods and systems for overlay imaging for registration of a patient eye for laser surgery include aligning and overlaying a surgical image of the limbus over a previously acquired diagnostic image of the limbus. The surgical image is displayed with a degree of transparency and enabled to rotate about the limbus center. Various types of colors, markers, contrast, and backgrounds may be used to generate a display for determining the alignment angle between the diagnostic image and the surgical image.

System and methods are disclosed to facilitate intra-operative procedures and planning. A method can include storing tracking data in memory, the tracking data being generated by a tracking system to represent a location of an object in a tracking coordinate system of the tracking system. The method can also include storing a patient-specific implicit model in memory, the patient-specific implicit model being generated based on image data acquired for the patient to define geometry of an anatomical structure of the patient. The method can also include registering the tracking data and the patient-specific implicit model in a common three-dimensional coordinate system. The method can also include generating an output visualization representing a location of the object relative to the geometry of the anatomical structure of the patient in the common coordinate system.