The invention relates to a method for displaying an injection point for a medical instrument. The method comprises the following steps: Providing at least one marker on a surface of an object, with such marker exhibiting the property that it can be recorded both tomographically, in particular fluoroscopically, and also optically; Generating tomographic image data that can be used to reconstruct a fluoroscopic image of the at least one marker, located on the surface of the object, together with the object; Determining the insertion point for the medical instrument on the surface of the object relative to the at least one marker in the coordinate system of the tomographic image data; Generating visual image data that can be used to reconstruct a visual image of the at least one marker, located on the surface of the object, together with the object; Transforming the coordinate of the insertion point in the coordinate system of the tomographic image data into the coordinate system of the visual image data using the relative position of the insertion point to the at least one marker; and Displaying the insertion point for the medical instrument in real time in a view of the object.

The invention relates to a computer-assisted tomography (CT) system having the following features: a) at least one X-ray source, b) at least one patient couch for supporting a patient, c) at least one collimator in the ray path of the X-rays from the X-ray source through the patient, wherein a targeted X-ray from among the total X-ray radiation of the X-ray source is radiated by the collimator onto the patient, d) at least one X-ray detector, provided permanently or at least temporarily in the ray path of the targeted X-ray radiated by the collimator through the patient, e) at least one automatically actuable drive mechanism, using which the collimator can be moved with respect to the radiation direction of the targeted X-ray passing through the collimator, relative to the patient and/or to the X-ray detector, f) at least one electronic control device that is configured to automatically actuate the drive mechanism.

The invention relates to a computer-assisted tomography (CT) system having the following features: a) at least one X-ray source, b) at least one patient couch for supporting a patient, c) at least one collimator in the ray path of the X-rays from the X-ray source through the patient, wherein a targeted X-ray from among the total X-ray radiation of the X-ray source is radiated by the collimator onto the patient, d) at least one X-ray detector, provided permanently or at least temporarily in the ray path of the targeted X-ray radiated by the collimator through the patient, e) at least one automatically actuable drive mechanism, using which the collimator can be moved with respect to the radiation direction of the targeted X-ray passing through the collimator, relative to the patient and/or to the X-ray detector, f) at least one electronic control device that is configured to automatically actuate the drive mechanism.

An intraoperative ultrasound imaging system and method capable of using ultrasound imaging to safely place a surgical access instrument (e.g. guide wire, dilator, cannula, etc.) through a tissue (e.g., muscle, fat, brain, liver, lung, etc.) without damaging nearby neurovascular structure is described herein. The intraoperative ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe assembly configured for emitting and receiving ultrasound waves and a computer system including a processor and a display unit. Once the probe is in position, ultrasound imaging is performed wherein the computer receives RF data from the probe and causes a B-mode image of the visible anatomical structures (e.g. muscle, bone, etc.) to be displayed on the display unit.

A system and method for generating an actuation signal for a robotic system for robot-assisted navigation of a medical object with a curved tip in a hollow organ of a patient. An an X-ray system for image monitoring of the intervention is assigned to the robotic system. The method includes determining a current relative position and relative orientation of the curved tip of the object relative to the hollow organ using the X-ray system, calibrating the robotic system on the basis of the determined current relative position and relative orientation of the tip of the object relative to the hollow organ, retrieving first information on a planned path section in the hollow organ, retrieving second information on at least one relative position and relative orientation or relative position sequence and relative orientation sequence of the curved tip of the same or a similar object relative to the hollow organ used during a navigation movement along at least one previously traversed path section in the hollow organ or another hollow organ from a memory unit, and generating an actuation signal for actuating the robotic system. The actuation takes account of the first and second information and the current relative position and relative orientation of the tip relative to the hollow organ.

A system and method for generating an actuation signal for a robotic system for robot-assisted navigation of a medical object with a curved tip in a hollow organ of a patient. An an X-ray system for image monitoring of the intervention is assigned to the robotic system. The method includes determining a current relative position and relative orientation of the curved tip of the object relative to the hollow organ using the X-ray system, calibrating the robotic system on the basis of the determined current relative position and relative orientation of the tip of the object relative to the hollow organ, retrieving first information on a planned path section in the hollow organ, retrieving second information on at least one relative position and relative orientation or relative position sequence and relative orientation sequence of the curved tip of the same or a similar object relative to the hollow organ used during a navigation movement along at least one previously traversed path section in the hollow organ or another hollow organ from a memory unit, and generating an actuation signal for actuating the robotic system. The actuation takes account of the first and second information and the current relative position and relative orientation of the tip relative to the hollow organ.

A handle apparatus comprising detachable hardware and void regions or attachment devices that accommodate the shape of surgical devices and imaging units such that the device is held securely and mechanically fixed to the imaging unit within the handle assembly.

A system and method for analyzing images to optimize orthopedic functionality at a site within a patient, including obtaining at least a first, reference image of the site, or a corresponding contralateral site, the first image including at least a first anatomical region or a corresponding anatomical region. At least a second, intra-operative results image of the site is obtained. At least one point is selected to serve as a reference for both images during analysis including at least one of scaling, calculations, and image comparisons.

A system and method for analyzing images to optimize orthopedic functionality at a site within a patient, including obtaining at least a first, reference image of the site, or a corresponding contralateral site, the first image including at least a first anatomical region or a corresponding anatomical region. At least a second, intra-operative results image of the site is obtained. At least one point is selected to serve as a reference for both images during analysis including at least one of scaling, calculations, and image comparisons.

Apparatus for diagnosing breast cancer, the apparatus comprising a controller having a set of instructions executable to: acquire a contrast enhanced region of interest (CE-ROI) in an X-ray image of a patient's breast, the X-ray image comprising X-ray pixels that indicate intensity of X-rays that passed through the breast to generate the image; determine a texture neighborhood for each of a plurality of X-ray pixels in the CE-ROI, the texture neighborhood for a given X-ray pixel of the plurality of X-ray pixels extending to a bounding pixel radius of BPR pixels from the given pixel; generate a texture feature vector (TF) having components based on the indications of intensity provided by a plurality of X-ray pixels in the CE-ROI that are located within the texture neighborhood; and use a classifier to classify the texture feature vector TF to determine whether the CE-ROI is malignant.