A method includes placing a set of electrodes on a body surface of a patient's body. The method also includes digitizing locations for the electrodes across the body surface based on one or more image frames using range imaging and/or monoscopic imaging. The method also includes estimating locations for hidden ones of the electrodes on the body surface not visible during the range imaging and/or monoscopic imaging. The method also includes registering the location for the electrodes on the body surface with predetermined geometry information that includes the body surface and an anatomical envelope within the patient's body. The method also includes storing geometry data in non-transitory memory based on the registration to define spatial relationships between the electrodes and the anatomical envelope.

Disclosed is a system for assisting in guiding and performing a procedure on a subject. The subject may be any appropriate subject such as inanimate object and/or an animate object. The guide and system may include various manipulable or movable members and may be registered to selected coordinate systems.

The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for assisting in various surgical procedures. In varying embodiments, patient-specific guides may comprise multiple patient-specific surfaces for mating with the underlying patient anatomy and may further comprise one or more protrusions or projections for facilitating placement and attachment, at least temporarily, to the desired location of the patient's anatomy. The apparatus described herein are preferably used with cervical and/or certain thoracic levels of the human spine and may comprise single or multi-level guides for placement of instruments and/or implants during a variety of surgical procedures.

3D image data of a skeletal portion within a subject's body is acquired. Subsequently, one or more radiopaque elements are positioned with respect to the body and first and second x-rays of the radiopaque elements and the skeletal portion are acquired from respective views. Based upon an identified location of the radiopaque elements within the x-rays, and registration of the x-rays to the 3D image data, the location of the radiopaque elements with respect to the 3D image data is determined. An optical image of the body and the radiopaque elements is acquired and the location of the radiopaque elements within the optical image is identified. The 3D image data is overlaid upon the optical image by aligning (a) the location of the radiopaque elements within the 3D image data with (b) the location of the radiopaque elements within the optical image. Other applications are also described.

According to one embodiment, a balloon catheter includes a balloon located at a distal end of the balloon catheter. The balloon includes a first transferrable marking and a second transferrable marking on an exterior surface of the balloon. The first transferrable marking includes a partially IR-transmittable marking material. The second transferrable marking includes an IR-transmittable marking material. An OCT probe including the balloon catheter and a method of using the OCT probe are also disclosed.

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 multimodal fiducial marker for registration of multimodal data, including a first portion comprising magnetic material visible in magnetic particle imaging (MPI) data obtained by a magnetic particle imaging method and a second portion comprising a second material visible in image data obtained by another imaging method, which image data is registrable with the MPI data and a corresponding marker arrangement.

The present invention relates to a patient marker (10). The marker is configured to be placed on or inside a patient. The marker comprises a specific structure (20). When the marker is placed on or inside the patient, and the patient is positioned at least partially within an image acquisition unit of an imaging system, the marker is configured such that an image acquired by the imaging system comprises image data of the specific structure of the marker. The marker is configured such that image data of the specific structure of the marker comprises information useable to identify the marker. The marker is configured such that image data of the specific structure of the marker comprises information useable to define at least one parameter relating to an examination of the patient.

Dynamic reference arrays use markers and trackers to register a patient's anatomy to computer system. Wherein the dynamic reference array may be screwed into a patient's spinous process, clamped on to a spinous process, or attached to the spinous process using posts. In embodiments, a dynamic reference array may comprise a single structure comprising and attachment member and a scaffold. In alternate embodiments, the dynamic reference array may comprise distinct structures that allow the dynamic reference array to swivel and collapse in order to facilitate registration, while not interfering with a surgical procedure.

Marking device (100) for implantation into a tissue (260), having a support structure (102) which is formed by at least one elastic metal wire, is compressible and is self-expanding and which, in an expanded state, encompasses an interior space (104), characterized in that the marking device (100) is designed to transform itself on its own from a compressed state into an expanded state, even against a tissue pressure prevailing at a tissue site to be marked, and the marking device (100) in the expanded state has a hollow, approximately spherical shape.