Position Imaging, Inc.

Northern Digital Inc.

Ascension Technology Corporation

Other

Micro Apps Group Inventions, LLC

Cormedica Corporation

Mark R Schneider

Edward L Hill

Jack T Scully

Guohua Min

Vladimir F Kogan

Charles Robertson

Yi Cao

James P Jacobs

Joseph Bruce Durfee

Patricia Lynn Scott

Lee Bryan

Stefan R Kirsch

Georg Brunner

Christian J Schilling

Nikolai Mikuszeit

Kenji Fujioka

Alec Duling

Christopher D Conover

Westley D Ashe

Theresa Schneider

Syamprasad Karyattuparambil Rajagopalan

John Thomas Scully, Jr

Olaf Zerres

Wendy C Scully

A device comprising includes an insertable structure usable in a surgical theater, a fiber optic line extending through the structure, wherein a computer system is configured to determine a shape of the fiber optic line extending through the structure, and one or more electromagnetic sensors wrapped at least in part around one or more portions of the fiber optic line, wherein the computer system is configured to determine a position and orientation of the one or more electromagnetic sensors, wherein the computer system is configured to determine a shape and a position of the structure based on the determined shape of the fiber optic line extending through the structure and the determined position and orientation of the one or more electromagnetic sensors.

Electromagnetic sensor

A magnetic tracking device is configured to track an object in an environment by receiving a measurement of the non-magnetic signal and a corresponding measurement of the magnetic signal for a location of the magnetic tracking device in the environment. The magnetic tracking device estimates, based on the measurement of the non-magnetic signal, a non-magnetic pose of the magnetic tracking device in the environment for the location. The device estimates, based on the measurement of the magnetic signal, a magnetic pose of the magnetic tracking device in the environment for the location. The device determines a difference between the magnetic pose estimate and the non-magnetic pose estimate for the location. The device determines a magnetic distortion correction value for the location based on the difference. The magnetic tracking device generates a distortion correction model including the distortion value and outputs a representation of the distortion correction model.

Magnetic tracking calibration via distortion correction for electromagnetic fields using inside-out tracking

An RF position tracking system for wirelessly tracking the three-dimensional position of a tracked object. The tracked object has at least one mobile antenna and at least one inertial sensor. The system uses a plurality of base antennas which communicate with the mobile antenna using radio signals. The tracked object also incorporates the inertial sensor to improve position stability by allowing the system to compare position data from radio signals to data provided by the inertial sensor.

Position tracking system and method using radio signals and inertial sensing

A magnetic tracking system is configured to determine an object pose of a tracked object in an environment of the magnetic tracking system. The tracking system includes a transmitter assembly that includes a transmitting coil configured to generate a magnetic signal indicative of an object pose of a tracked object with respect to the transmitter assembly and a marker that visually identifies a pose of the transmitter assembly with respect to a camera device. The camera device captures at least one image of the transmitter assembly. A computing device determines, based on the image, a pose for the transmitter assemblies in the image. Based on the magnetic signal and the pose associated with the transmitter assembly, the computing device determines the object pose of the tracked object in the environment.

Reconfigurable transmitter array for electromagnetic tracking systems

A method for improving safety and property protection in schools comprising fixed and mobile safety and security devices, networked together. A software App provides real-time communication among various devices. The network integrates disparate security devices into a unified system to expand coordination and communication among public safety personnel. The system automatically triggers alarms, cell phone notifications, and warnings, as well as defensive measures, when its sensors or safety devices detect or report threats to public safety and property. Each device in the system is pre-programmed to respond independently while simultaneously sharing its findings with all other devices and security personnel in the network. Deployment of these disparate devices gives security personnel heightened awareness, real-time status of secured and unsecured building entrances, around-the-clock visualization, and faster response times in both indoor and outdoor emergencies.

System for improving safety in schools

A calibration device comprising: a plurality of magnetic sensors positioned at the calibration device, the plurality of magnetic sensors defining a space; a controller configured to be positioned in the space defined by the plurality of magnetic sensors, wherein the controller includes a magnetic transmitter; and one or more processors configured to: cause the magnetic transmitter to generate magnetic fields; receive signals from the plurality of magnetic sensors that are based on characteristics of the magnetic fields received at the plurality of magnetic sensors; calculate, based on the signals received from the plurality of magnetic sensors, positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors relative to a position and orientation of the magnetic transmitter; and determine whether the calculated positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors are within one or more threshold limits of known positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors.

Calibrating a magnetic transmitter

A bucket heater assembly for keeping a user warm in a remote location includes a bucket that has a vent hole extending through the bucket. A chimney is integrated into the bucket and the chimney extends through the vent hole. A heat source can be positioned in the chimney for heating an interior of the bucket thereby facilitating the bucket to keep a user warm when the user is near the bucket. A lid is attachable to the bucket for closing the bucket and a pair of cushions is each of the cushions is coupled to the lid and the cushions can be sat upon by the user. A pair of shoulder straps is each coupled to the bucket for carrying the bucket. A light emitter is coupled to the lid to emit light outwardly therefrom.

Bucket heater assembly

A system comprising: a magnetic transmitter configured to generate magnetic fields; a magnetic sensor configured to generate signals based on characteristics of the magnetic fields received at the magnetic sensor; and one or more computer systems configured to: receive the signals from the magnetic sensor; determine, based on the signals received from the magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic (EM) pose of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter; determine one or both of: i) an inertial pose of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter based on inertial data associated with the magnetic transmitter and the magnetic sensor, or ii) an optical pose of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter based on optical data associated with the magnetic transmitter and the magnetic sensor; determine an estimated pose of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter based on the EM pose and the one or both of the inertial pose or the optical pose; determine distorted magnetic fields based on the EM pose; determine estimated clean magnetic fields based on the estimated pose; determine estimated distorted magnetic fields based on the distorted magnetic fields and the estimated clean fields; and determine an improved EM pose of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter based on the estimated distorted magnetic fields.

Compensating for distortion in an electromagnetic tracking system

A method includes receiving, at a magnetic sensor, a series of transmitter signals that are detected as a series of signals corresponding to different locations and/or orientations of a magnetic transmitter emitting a magnetic field, calculating, receiving, at the magnetic sensor, a measurement transmitter signal that is detected as a signal corresponding to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic transmitter, and calculating, based at least on the received measurement sensor signal and the calibration matrix, one or both of an orientation matrix indicative of an orientation of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter and a positional matrix indicative of a position of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic transmitter, wherein the series of transmitter signals are transmitted from the same physical location relative to the magnetic sensor.

Determining position and orientation from a Helmholtz device

Improvements in capturing an image of a cornea with Placido's disk lines is disclosed. The imaging is with a clam shell clamping device that is easily clamped onto a cellular device and the lighting tube is centered on the camera so the image at the end of the tube can be captured. The clamping device includes a ring light source that illuminates the outside of the tube. The tube has a plurality of geometrically spaced light and dark rings to create evenly spaced rings on the cornea. Imperfections in the cornea will distort the rings. The camera can capture the image and the image or picture can be forwarded to a doctor or other care giver to determine the perfection or imperfection of the cornea.

Mobile phone cornea Placido disc image

A calibration system comprising: a Helmholtz device comprising thee pairs of coils defining an inner volume, wherein each of the three pairs of coils is configured to generate a magnetic field that is uniform throughout the inner volume; a mount configured to accept a device that includes a magnetic sensor, wherein at least a portion of the mount is positioned within the inner volume such that the magnetic sensor is positioned at or near a center of the inner volume when the device is positioned on the mount; and a computer system configured to communicate with the Helmholtz device and the magnetic sensor, wherein the computer system is configured to: provide instructions to cause each of the three pairs of coils to generate a magnetic field; receive signals from the magnetic sensor that are based on characteristics of the magnetic fields received at the magnetic sensor; measure, based on the signals received from the magnetic sensor, one or more characteristics of the magnetic sensor; and determine, using a calibration algorithm, one or more calibration correction factors for the magnetic sensor based on the one or more characteristics of the magnetic sensor and the provided instructions.

Calibrating a magnetic sensor

A system comprising: a sensor configured to be introduced into a clearance hole of a surgical implant, wherein the sensor is configured to be introduced in proximity to a generated magnetic field and cause distortion of the magnetic field; and one or more field measuring coils configured to: measure a characteristic of the magnetic field when the sensor is in proximity to the magnetic field; and provide, to a computing device, a signal representative of the measured characteristic of the magnetic field, wherein the computing device is configured to determine one or both of a position and an orientation of the sensor and the clearance hole based on the measured characteristic of the magnetic field.

Tracking a cylindrical opening

Position and orientation tracking systems and methods include a transmitting antenna transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal. At least one receiving antenna acquires the RF signal. One of the at least one receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna is designated a reference antenna. A processing unit determines a phase difference between the RF signal received by each receiving antenna and the reference antenna. The processing unit computes a position of the transmitting antenna with respect to the at least one receiving antenna in response to the phase difference determined for each receiving antenna.

Growing community of inventors

Williston, VT, United States of America

Mark R Schneider