Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for resecting a tissue mass. The system for resecting a tissue mass includes a first sensor for measuring a signal corresponding to the position and orientation of the tissue mass. The first sensor is dimensioned to fit inside of or next to the tissue mass. The system also includes a second sensor attached to a surgical instrument configured to measure the position and orientation of the surgical instrument. A controller is in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, and the controller executes a stored program to calculate a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor. Accordingly, visual, auditory, haptic or other feedback is provided to the clinician to guide the surgical instrument to the surgical margin.

Surgical cutting apparatus (1) for removal of human tissue tumour. The apparatus (1) comprises a first knife (2) with a circular shaped side wall (5) comprising a cutting edge (6). The first knife (2) being arranged for cutting tissue in a first direction (7). The apparatus (1) comprises a shank (8), wherein the shank (8) has a width (w) of less than 15 millimetres. The first knife (2) has a height (h) of less than 15 millimetres. The shank (8) being a yoke comprising two legs (8a, 8b) interconnected at their respective second shank ends (10a, 10b). The apparatus (1) permitting removal of human tissue tumour by firstly bringing the first knife (2) under the skin through a narrow incision, and secondly cutting the tissue in the first direction (7) axially with the first knife (2), by an axially pressing and rotating movement of the first knife (2).

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for resecting a tissue mass. The system for resecting a tissue mass includes a first sensor for measuring a signal corresponding to the position and orientation of the tissue mass. The first sensor is dimensioned to fit inside of or next to the tissue mass. The system also includes a second sensor attached to a surgical instrument configured to measure the position and orientation of the surgical instrument. A controller is in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, and the controller executes a stored program to calculate a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor. Accordingly, visual, auditory, haptic or other feedback is provided to the clinician to guide the surgical instrument to the surgical margin.

Provided are methods for anesthetizing a human patient undergoing surgery, and/or pain block procedures. In some forms, the methods include inserting at least one cryo-needle into a target region of the patient, the target region including a site superficial to a target intercostal nerve and cooling the cryo-needle to inhibit the target intercostal nerve.

The present invention relates to a customized surgical guide device and a customized surgical guide generating method and program. A customized surgical guide generating method comprises the steps of: acquiring body surface data and treatment area data from medical image data by a computer; a first shape data generating step, wherein the first shape data is data which corresponds to the shape of the body part cover; a target point setting step of setting one or more target points; setting individual first points on the body surface accessible to the target point with a medical tool; setting a guide tube length on the basis of a distance from the first point to the target point; and generating final shape data in which one or more guide tubes are combined to the first shape data by applying the guide tube length to the first point.

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for resecting a tissue mass. The system for resecting a tissue mass includes a surgical instrument and a first sensor for measuring a signal corresponding to the position and orientation of the tissue mass. The first sensor is dimensioned to fit insider or next to the tissue mass. The system also includes a second sensor attached to the surgical instrument configured to measure the position and orientation of the surgical instrument. The second sensor is configured to receive the signal from the first sensor. A controller is in communication with the first sensor and/or the second sensor, and the controller executes a stored program to calculate a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor. Accordingly, visual, auditory, haptic or other feedback is provided to the clinician to guide the surgical instrument to the surgical margin.

A guide wire deployment system that can be utilized as a pre-surgical procedure without the need for radiology imaging. The clip marker would include light and sonic sensors to determine angular orientation and distance from the needle. Wireless communication between the handheld insertion device and the clip marker would provide information to guide the needle to the clip marker location. The guide wire would then be pushed from the needle and laid in a path to outside the patient.

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a handheld cryoprobe for use in percutaneous cryotherapy of tumorous masses. It includes a probe attached to a CO.sub.2 gas dispensing backend. The probe has specifically optimized parameters designed for use with CO.sub.2 gas and is made out of a partially hollowed and threaded aluminum rod providing maximum heat exchange. The system backend regulates flow of compressed CO.sub.2 gas while throttling and cooling the gas coolant to the cytotoxically low temperatures necessary for targeted tumor cell death. Additionally, the incoming initial stream of CO.sub.2 gas is throttled by the Joule-Thomson nozzle on the backend. The low temperature exhaust gas is then used to pre-cool all subsequent incoming gas, resulting in an even lower temperature at the probe tip, which provides a positive feedback loop, continually decreasing the gas's temperature. The temperature drop is caused by the Joule-Thomson effect.

The present invention relates to a method of calculating a surgical intervention plan. Based on surface data of the patient, a surface representation of a part of the patient's body is created. From a database, a plurality of surgical methods may be selected and the geometrical parameters of a surgical plan can be adapted based on each individual surgical method. Therefore, the surgeon may easily select, which of the surgical method is appropriate for the planned surgical intervention. Furthermore, the surgical intervention plan which has been adapted according to the finally selected surgical method may then be projected onto the skin of the patient such that a drawing of the incision lines is facilitated. Furthermore, the use of a remotely activatable pen based on the current position of the pen and based on the finally selected surgical plan is presented.

An apparatus and method for surgical tracking comprises an imaging device that generates an image of a tissue volume; an electromagnetic (EM) sensor that creates a reference frame for EM tracking in three dimensions; at least one EM sensor adapted to be attached to the tissue to track local deformation and movement of the tissue volume; a processor that registers the image with the EM-tracked tissue volume and surgical tool in real time, and produces an output; and a feedback device that provides feedback about the location of the surgical tool relative to the tissue volume, based on the processor output. Embodiments are particularly useful in soft tissue, such as breast, where deformation before and during a procedure such as tumor resection complicate tracking of the tissue volume and a surgical tool.