An adjustable head coil system and methods for enhancing and/or optimizing magnetic resonance imaging, involving a housing, the housing having at least one portion, the at least one portion having a lower portion, an upper portion, and opposing side portions, each at least one portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, each at least one portion configured to accommodate at least one radio-frequency coil, and the upper and lower portions each optionally configured to overlap and engage the opposing side portions for facilitating decoupling the at least one radio-frequency coil, and a tongue portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, engageable with the lower portion, and fixably couple-able with a transporter.

A method of implementing a splint device, and associated splint device, are provided for a guidance system of a surgical robot. A splint body includes first and second stabilizing portions extending from opposed lateral sides of a medial portion, and defines a U channel. The medial portion, or the medial portion and one of the stabilizing portions, defines a bridge portion extending along the U channel. A partition member, received by the bridge portion, extends into and longitudinally along the U channel. An adhesive material is engaged with the splint body, within the U channel. The U channel is engaged about a tooth or jaw of a patient, and urged toward the tooth or jaw, such that the partition member engages the tooth or jaw and separates the adhesive material into a first portion engaged with the first stabilizing portion and a second portion engaged with the second stabilizing portion.

A splint device (100) for robotically-guided surgery includes elongate first and second splint portions (200, 400) each having opposed longitudinal ends and an interface edge extending between the ends, wherein the respective interface edges (250, 450) are arranged as a complement to each other. First and second alignment elements (800A, 800B) engaged with the first and second splint portions are arranged to interact with each other such that a substantially consistent gap is defined between the first and second interface edges, from the first ends to the second ends of the first and second splint portions. A threaded member (900) is engaged between the first and second splint portions and arranged to advance the first and second interface edges toward each other in response to advancement of the threaded member. A tracking portion (1000) having a kinematic mount (1100) engaged therewith is engaged with the first or second splint portion and extends outwardly therefrom. An associated method is also provided.

A bite block with inclined surfaces fits between a patient’s upper and lower jaws to hold them apart and fixes the bite block position relative to the jaws. A support plate slides relative to the bite block to position a needle guide on the support plate along an axis of the support plate. A position stop on the support plate contacts the anterior border of the Ramus of the patient’s mandible to position the needle guide along the axis. A syringe needle is guided by the needle guide to a predetermined location to administer anesthetic, preferably to the inferior alveolar nerve as it enters the mandible. The needle guide is inclined to avoid gaging and a tongue depressor attached to the support plate positions the patient’s tongue.

A system for tracking a medical device, the system comprising a support having a channel extending therethrough, the channel being defined circumferentially by a surface, at least one encoder configured to track movement of a medical device through the channel, and one or more processors configured to receive input from the at least one encoder, receive an instruction from a user to store a zero position of the medical device relative to the channel, determine relative movement of the medical device from the zero position, and communicate the relative movement of the medical device from the zero position.

A maxillofacial or cranial-facial surgical stabilizer comprising a head frame fully or partially surrounding the head of a patient at an angle running from ears to temple, and that is fixated to the skull of the patient by multiple screws and/or ear holders and screws. One or more flexible/locking arms are removably attached to the head frame for holding and positioning a plurality of interchangeable instruments or accessories. One flexible/locking arm is a medial/center arm accessorized with a dental arch mold. A method of using a head frame to position the pieces of bones during maxillofacial or cranio-facial surgery is also provided.

A maxillofacial or cranial-facial surgical stabilizer comprising a head frame fully or partially surrounding the head of a patient at an angle running from ears to temple, and that is fixated to the skull of the patient by multiple screws and/or ear holders and screws. One or more flexible/locking arms are removably attached to the head frame for holding and positioning a plurality of interchangeable instruments or accessories. One flexible/locking arm is a medial/center arm accessorized with a dental arch mold. A method of using a head frame to position the pieces of bones during maxillofacial or cranio-facial surgery is also provided.

Devices and methods are provide for facilitating registration and calibration of surface imaging systems. Tracking marker support structures are described that include one or more fiducial reference markers, where the tracking marker support structures are configured to be removably and securely attached to a skeletal region of a patient. Methods are provided in which a tracking marker support structure is attached to a skeletal region in a pre-selected orientation, thereby establishing an intraoperative reference direction associated with the intraoperative position of the patient, which is employed for guiding the initial registration between intraoperatively acquired surface data and volumetric image data. In other example embodiments, the tracking marker support structure may be employed for assessing the validity of a calibration transformation between a tracking system and a surface imaging system. Example methods are also provided to detect whether or not a tracking marker support structure has moved from its initial position during a procedure.

An integrated medical bite block is engaged by a user's teeth and installed into the user's mouth. The bite block includes a through passageway, an upper grove, and a lower grove. The through passageway is penetrating through the bite block. One end of the through passageway comprises an inlet opening, the other end comprises an oral opening. The oral opening is connected with the user's mouth. An upper surface of the bite block provides the upper grove configured for receiving one or more upper teeth (maxillary teeth) of the user, and a lower surface of the bite block provides a lower grove configured for receiving one or more lower teeth (mandibular teeth) of the user. One distance between the lower grove and the oral opening is greater than the other distance between the upper grove and the oral opening, thereby the invention serves to extend forward the mandible and reposition a malposition between the mandible and the maxilla of the user.

An integrated medical bite block is engaged by a user's teeth and installed into the user's mouth. The bite block includes a through passageway, an upper grove, and a lower grove. The through passageway is penetrating through the bite block. One end of the through passageway comprises an inlet opening, the other end comprises an oral opening. The oral opening is connected with the user's mouth. An upper surface of the bite block provides the upper grove configured for receiving one or more upper teeth (maxillary teeth) of the user, and a lower surface of the bite block provides a lower grove configured for receiving one or more lower teeth (mandibular teeth) of the user. One distance between the lower grove and the oral opening is greater than the other distance between the upper grove and the oral opening, thereby the invention serves to extend forward the mandible and reposition a malposition between the mandible and the maxilla of the user.