A system for manipulating a guide catheter within a patient's nasal passages or sinus cavities includes a guide catheter formed from an elongate flexible member having a lumen passing there through. A wire guide is slidably disposed within the lumen of the guide catheter. The system further includes a steering member fixedly secured to a proximal end of the wire guide and a proximal hub secured to a proximal end of the guide catheter. The system further includes a recessed handle having a first recess for fixedly receiving the proximal hub of the guide catheter and a second recess for receiving the steering member, the second recess being dimensioned to permit axial and rotational movement of the steering member while disposed in the second recess.

A data processing method performed by a computer for detecting reflections of light pulses, comprising the steps: acquiring a camera signal representing a series of camera images of a camera viewing field; detecting whether the camera signal includes one or more light mark portions within the camera viewing field possibly representing a light pulse reflection; relating the detected light mark portions in the series of camera images to a pre-defined emission pattern of the light pulses; and determining that a light mark portion is a reflected light pulse, if the light mark portion in the series of camera images matches to the pre-defined emission pattern of the light pulses.

A data processing method performed by a computer for detecting reflections of light pulses, comprising the steps: acquiring a camera signal representing a series of camera images of a camera viewing field; detecting whether the camera signal includes one or more light mark portions within the camera viewing field possibly representing a light pulse reflection; relating the detected light mark portions in the series of camera images to a pre-defined emission pattern of the light pulses; and determining that a light mark portion is a reflected light pulse, if the light mark portion in the series of camera images matches to the pre-defined emission pattern of the light pulses.

Embodiments of claimed subject matter are directed to an illuminating surgical device comprising a single control element to control an array of illuminating elements and an array of louvers to direct light from the individual illuminating elements toward a surgical field.

A patient warming system for stabilizing and/or heating and cooling a patient includes a plurality of solid-surface sections arranged for attachment to a surgical table and a warming pad layer comprising a plurality of warming pads configured for removable connection to the plurality of solid-surface sections. At least one of the plurality of solid-surface sections includes a power connector for connection to an external power source. Each warming pad of the plurality of warming pads includes a foam insulation layer, a distributed heating element layer having a warming-pad power connection for connection to the power connector, an isothermal layer, and a flexible waterproof layer. Power supplied to the warming-pad power connection of the distributed heating element layer of the respective warming pad can be used to provide a user-selected uniform temperature over the surface of the flexible waterproof layer in order to prevent hot spots.

A patient warming system for stabilizing and/or heating and cooling a patient includes a plurality of solid-surface sections arranged for attachment to a surgical table and a warming pad layer comprising a plurality of warming pads configured for removable connection to the plurality of solid-surface sections. At least one of the plurality of solid-surface sections includes a power connector for connection to an external power source. Each warming pad of the plurality of warming pads includes a foam insulation layer, a distributed heating element layer having a warming-pad power connection for connection to the power connector, an isothermal layer, and a flexible waterproof layer. Power supplied to the warming-pad power connection of the distributed heating element layer of the respective warming pad can be used to provide a user-selected uniform temperature over the surface of the flexible waterproof layer in order to prevent hot spots.

An exemplary embodiment comprises an illuminated suction device having a distal end with a suction tip; a proximal end with a connector for a suction tube; and an illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, at least one battery and an activation device for energizing the light source, the illumination assembly being permanently attached to the suction device.

Devices for retracting tissue during a minimally-invasive, posterior spinal fusion procedure include a blade positionable along a passageway device connected to a connecting element implanted in a vertebra of the spine, such that the blade covers at least a portion of a longitudinal opening of the passageway device. The blade may be coupled to the passageway device by receiving the passageway device with a receiving portion. Systems for displacing the vertebrae of the spine include first and second extenders, the distal ends of each of which are configured to engage the connecting elements. Each extender may include a shaft configured to be securely engaged within a cage of the respective connecting element. The devices and systems of the present invention may be used in connection with an interbody fusion technique performed through an opening extending between the passageway devices, and an intermediate retractor blade may provide additional tissue retraction.

Devices for retracting tissue during a minimally-invasive, posterior spinal fusion procedure include a blade positionable along a passageway device connected to a connecting element implanted in a vertebra of the spine, such that the blade covers at least a portion of a longitudinal opening of the passageway device. The blade may be coupled to the passageway device by receiving the passageway device with a receiving portion. Systems for displacing the vertebrae of the spine include first and second extenders, the distal ends of each of which are configured to engage the connecting elements. Each extender may include a shaft configured to be securely engaged within a cage of the respective connecting element. The devices and systems of the present invention may be used in connection with an interbody fusion technique performed through an opening extending between the passageway devices, and an intermediate retractor blade may provide additional tissue retraction.

Systems and methods are disclosed for use in electronic guidance systems for surgical navigation. A sensor is provided with an optical sensor, to provide optical information, and a measuring sensor, to provide measurements for determining a direction of gravity. The sensor communicates optical information and measurements to an inter-operative computing unit. In an embodiment, the inter-operative computing unit receives first optical information for a registration device and a patient anatomy and a measurement to determine a direction of gravity to perform a registration step. The inter-operative computing unit receives second optical information for the patient anatomy and an object and determines and presents measurements relative to the anatomy. The measurements relative to the anatomy are determined from the second optical information, and in relation to the registration of the anatomy of the patient.