The invention relates to a recalibration device (1) used during the acquisition of images of an anatomical area of a patient during robot-assisted surgery, including a body (3) made of radxoliacent material, which comprises fiducial markers (9) made of radiopaque material, said body {3) having a bearing surface (7) intended to be manually placed on a surface of said anatomical area of the patient. According to the invention, said fiducial markers (9) are arranged in a specific geometrical pattern enabling a certain detection of the positioning and orientation of the recalibration device (1) in a three-dimensional digital model built from the images derived from the acquisition of the anatomical area.

A catheter probe configured with a capability to present a larger tissue contact area or footprint for larger, deeper lesions, without increasing the french size of the catheter, especially its distal section, includes an elastically deformable electrode configured to adopt a neutral configuration and a tissue contact configuration. The deformable electrode comprising a hollow porous tube with a distal portion having a closed distal end, and a proximal portion defining an opening to an interior of the tube, where the distal tip end is received in the tube through the opening and the distal section is generally surrounded by tube, with the proximal portion being affixed to an outer surface of the distal section. In some embodiments, the closed distal end is shaped with a bulbous portion that can spread and widen to provide a larger surface contact area.

The invention describes the structure and use of passive Markers to indicate the position of suspicious lesions in tissue and a method to mark the lesions and margins of said suspicious lesions that facilitates the communication between the pathologist and the surgeon in order to excise the minimal amount of tissue from the diseased organ.

Devices and methods for determining relative displacements of body parts or body areas, with a transmitter and a sensor associated with the transmitter, wherein at least one shadowing device, which is displaceable relative to the sensor and/or the transmitter and is fixed to at least one body part or body area, is arranged between the transmitter and the sensor.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined. The desired relationship between markers may then be programmed into, for example, the detection device. Next, actual physical reduction and/or manipulation of the bone may begin. During the manipulation procedure, the orientation of the markers may be continuously monitored and when the markers substantially align with the virtual or simulated orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation, an indicator signal is transmitted.

A catheter probe configured with a capability to present a larger tissue contact area or footprint for larger, deeper lesions, without increasing the french size of the catheter, especially its distal section, includes an elastically deformable electrode configured to adopt a neutral configuration and a tissue contact configuration. The deformable electrode comprising a hollow porous tube with a distal portion having a closed distal end, and a proximal portion defining an opening to an interior of the tube, where the distal tip end is received in the tube through the opening and the distal section is generally surrounded by tube, with the proximal portion being affixed to an outer surface of the distal section. In some embodiments, the closed distal end is shaped with a bulbous portion that can spread and widen to provide a larger surface contact area.

Guidewires and methods useable in conjunction with image guidance systems to facilitate performance of diagnostic or therapeutic tasks at locations within the bodies of human or animal subjects.

An apparatus includes an elongate shaft and a position sensor. The elongate shaft defines a longitudinal axis. The elongate shaft includes a distal end, an opening, and a lumen. The position sensor is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis. The first position sensor is fixedly secured relative to the elongate shaft at a known distance from the opening. The first position sensor is configured to generate signals indicating a position of the elongate shaft in three-dimensional space.

A gastrectomy device includes an elongated member defining a centerline that extends through proximal and distal ends thereof. A shape modification member coupled to the elongated member is movable relative to the centerline of the elongated member. The shape modification member is movable between a first state, adjacent to the elongated member, and a second state, spaced from the elongated member. The shape modification member conforms to a portion of a patient's stomach in the second state.

A method for performing image-guided embryo transfer for in vitro fertilization includes performing a pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a subjects pelvic region to yield a first MRI image dataset. A computer applies a segmentation routine to the first MRI image dataset to yield segment data which is then used by the computer to create an anatomical model of the subjects pelvic region. The computer determines an optimal implant location based on the anatomical model and creates a three-dimensional rendering of the optimal implant location based on the first MRI image dataset.