This invention is a system and method for utilizing artificial intelligence to operate a surgical robot (e.g., to perform a laminectomy), including a surgical robot, an artificial intelligence guidance system, an image recognition system, an image recognition database, and a database of past procedures with sensor data, electronic medical records, and imaging data. The image recognition system may identify the tissue type present in the patient and if it is the desired tissue type, the AI guidance system may remove a layer of that tissue with the end effector on the surgical robot, and have the surgeon define the tissue type if the image recognition system identified the tissue as anything other than the desired tissue type.

The disclosure is directed to a novel technique for anatomically orientating a removed tissue specimen with the margins of the tissue from which it has been removed. An example process of marking the margins of the excised surgical specimen and the anatomically adjacent in vivo margins can be implemented by a surgeon at the time of removal of the surgical specimen. After removing the surgical specimen from its adjacent tissue, a surgical cavity is generated. Thereafter, locations around the surface margins of the specimen and appropriate locations on the margins of the surgical cavity are marked with one or more pairs of markers (SpM and IVM respectively) with matching identities.

Systems and methods for a pathology review station are disclosed. The pathology review station may assist pathologists in analyzing, slicing; or sampling specimens by, in part, projecting an image onto a specimen. The process of projecting an image onto a specimen may include identification of the specimen based on characteristics of the specimen, characteristics of a tray supporting the specimen, or user input. The identified specimen may then be matched with an image obtained by an imager received at the pathology review station. A projected image may then be compiled based on the obtained image; which may include the entire image or features associated with the image. The provided systems and methods may assist a pathologist in, at least, removal of embedded surgical markers and/or determining where to take samples from a specimen.

Disclosed are systems and methods of lymphatic specimen tracking, visualization, and lymph node drainage pathway determination. An exemplary method includes receiving computed tomographic (CT) image data corresponding to a CT scan, generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of at least a portion of a patient's body based on the CT image data, identifying one or more lymph nodes in the 3D model, performing a registration of the 3D model with one or more physical locations in the patient's body, determining an expected lymph node drainage pathway away from a region of interest through one or more lymph nodes, and displaying the 3D model and the expected lymph node drainage pathway.

A method for detecting a magnetic marker comprises generating a driving magnetic field comprising first and second frequencies and detecting a response magnetic field comprising first and second response components. The magnetic marker provides a non-linear response to the driving signal. A primary portion of the response components is generated by the magnetic marker, and secondary portion of the response components is generated by a secondary magnetic source. The method comprises determining a driving factor representing a ratio of the frequencies in the driving signal; determining a correction factor corresponding to the secondary ortion of the second response component, based on the first response component and the driving factor; determining a detection signal corresponding to the primary portion of the second response component, based on the second response component and the determined correction factor; and generating an output signal based on a strength of the detection signal.

The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray/gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion.

A medical tracking system includes a percutaneous needle, a localization element and a navigation system is disclosed. The percutaneous needle has an elongate shaft extending between a proximal end portion, which is attached to a handle, and distal end portion that terminates at a distal tip. An inner surface of the elongate shaft defines a working channel that extends from a port at the proximal end portion to the distal tip. The localization element is incorporated into the elongate shaft distal from the handle and proximate the distal end portion. The navigation system is configured for tracking the localization element and to provide a real-time display of a position and orientation of the distal tip relative to an anatomy of a patient.

Various surgical hubs are disclosed. A surgical hub is for use with a surgical system in a surgical procedure performed in an operating room. The surgical hub comprises a control circuit configured to: determine bounds of the operating room; determine devices of the surgical system located within the bounds of the operating room; and pair the surgical hub with the devices of the surgical system located within the bounds of the operating room.

Described are methods and apparatus for use in supporting tissue in a patient's body. In some embodiments, the patient's breast is supported. In some embodiments, the methods provide ways of supporting and adjusting tissue, and the apparatus includes components and embodiments for supporting and adjusting the tissue. Some embodiments include a supporting device, having a first portion, a second portion, and a support member positioned between the first portion and second portion. Some embodiments include advancing the first portion of the supporting device into the body to a first location in the body; advancing the second portion of the supporting device into the body to a second location in the body; securing the first portion of the supporting device at the first location; and shifting soft tissue in the body with the support member.

A method for guiding resection of local tissue from a patient includes generating at least one image of the patient, automatically determining a plurality of surgical guidance cues indicating three-dimensional spatial properties associated with the local tissue, and generating a visualization of the surgical guidance cues relative to the surface. A system for generating surgical guidance cues for resection of a local tissue from a patient includes a location module for processing at least one image of the patient to determine three-dimensional spatial properties of the local tissue, and a surgical cue generator for generating the surgical guidance cues based upon the three-dimensional spatial properties. A patient-specific locator form for guiding resection of local tissue from a patient includes a locator form surface matching surface of the patient, and a plurality of features indicating a plurality of surgical guidance cues, respectively.