Markers (e.g., treatment site markers, biopsy site markers) are composed of a non-metallic material having a composition and/or other features or characteristics such that the markers will generate twinkling artifacts when imaged with ultrasound. In this way, the composition of the markers enables their detection and localization using ultrasound. The markers are generally composed of non-metallic materials that enhance the twinkling artifact.

Methods and devices are disclosed for puncturing tissue, comprising a puncture device for puncturing tissue and a supporting member for supporting the puncture device. The puncture device is capable of being insertable within the supporting member and being selectively usable in co-operation therewith during a portion of a procedure for puncturing tissue and wherein the puncture device is usable independently therefrom during another portion of the procedure. The puncture device comprises visual or tactile markers for determining the relative positioning between puncture device and supporting member.

An augmented reality, AR, system (100) for use in a medical procedure is disclosed. The AR system (100) comprises an AR headset (2), and a processor (12). The AR headset (2) comprises a camera (6a, 6b), a near eye display (4a, 4b) and a depth sensor (10a, 10b). The processor (12) is configured to adjust the position of the image obtained by the camera (6a, 6b) on the display (4a, 4b) throughout the medical procedure based on changes in the distance measured by the depth sensor (10a, 10b).

Methods and devices are disclosed for puncturing tissue, comprising an assembly for puncturing a target tissue. The puncture device of the assembly has a distal tip configured to puncture the target tissue and at least one proximal marker, formed on the proximal portion of the puncture device. The supporting member of the assembly includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen for receiving the puncture device. The puncture device is configured to enable advancement and withdrawal of the supporting member overtop of the puncture device. Alignment of the proximal end of the supporting member and the at least one proximal marker of the puncture device occurs when the distal tip of the puncture device protrudes from the distal end of the supporting member.

In general, devices, systems, and methods for fiducial identification and tracking are provided.

A cranial surgery planning system including at least one network interface connectable to obtain radiological patient images generated by a radiological image scanner, a display device, at least one processor, and at least one memory storing program code that is executed by the at least one processor. The operations include obtaining through the at least one network interface a first radiological patient image of cranial structure of a patient along a first plane and obtain a second radiological patient image of the cranial structure of the patient along a second plane that is angularly offset to the first plane. Operations also include merging the first and second radiological patient images to an image coordinate system. Operations also include obtaining a surgical trajectory plan defining an entry point on the patient's skull and a target point in the patient's brain captured in the merged first and second radiological patient images.

Embodiments related to medical imaging devices including rigid imaging tips and their methods of use for identifying abnormal tissue within a surgical bed are disclosed.

Robotic surgery systems and methods of surgical robot operation are provided. A method of surgical robot operation includes moving a surgical instrument through a tissue using the surgical robot, where the surgical robot attempts to move the surgical instrument to a desired position. The method further includes measuring an actual position of the surgical instrument, and calculating a difference between the actual position and the desired position. The actual position of the surgical instrument is adjusted to the desired position using the surgical robot.

A medical apparatus is described for providing visualization of a surgical site. The medical apparatus includes an electronic display disposed within a display housing. The medical apparatus includes a display optical system disposed within the display housing, the display optical system comprising a plurality of lens elements disposed along an optical path. The display optical system is configured to receive images from the electronic display. The medical apparatus can include proximal cameras mounted on a frame, the cameras configured to provide a view of a surgical site from outside the surgical site. The display housing can have a height that is larger than its depth.

Markers for use in bodily tissue take a variety of forms, and may include a plurality of ultrasound reflective elements, for example hollow shells filled with air, and a hydrogel that binds the ultrasound reflective elements. The hydrogel may be natural or artificial and may be cross-linked. An ultrasound system advantageously injects variance in a drive signal, that varies a frequency or phase of an ultrasound interrogation signal from a nominal frequency or nominal phase. The amount of variation is preferable one to six orders of magnitude less than the nominal frequency or phase. The ultrasound system can present or detect a twinkling artifact at least in a Doppler mode of operation, resulting from interaction of the varying interrogation signal with the ultrasound reflective elements.