Medtronic, Inc.

Other

Image-guided Neurologics, Inc.

Thomas L Bridges

Matthew S Solar

David M Lee

Mark Stephen Freas

Rudy A Mazzocchi

James Grant Skakoon

Thomas I Miller

This document discusses, among other things, fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods. One example illustrates a combined computed tomography (CT) imagable fiducial locator head, an integral bone screw, and an integral divot for receiving a positioning wand of an image-guided surgical (IGS) workstation. A further example includes a fluid/gel-absorbing coating or cover into which a magnetic resonance (MR) imagable fluid is introduced, thereby permitting both CT and MR imaging. Protective caps and collars may be used to protect the fiducial marker from mechanical impact and/or to guide the fiducial marker during affixation. A bull's-eye or other template is used to select a center of a substantially spherical fiducial marker head on an image, such as for use during patient registration.

Fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods

This document discusses, among other things, a fiducial marker kit. In one example, the kit includes a fiducial marker assembly that includes a bone screw base for receiving an imageable marker or locatable divot. A valved protective sleeve prevents debris from accumulating in a receptacle portion of the base, which may otherwise degrade the accuracy of patient registration in an image-guided surgical procedure. In one example, the valve automatically opens or closes upon insertion or removal of a screwdriver or other tool, or a shaft portion of the imageable marker or locatable divot. Various bone screw base and receptacle combinations are also discussed.

Fiducial marker and protective cap

This document discusses, among other things, fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods. One example illustrates a combined imagable fiducial locator and divot for receiving a positioning wand of an image-guided surgical (IGS) workstation. A further example is reflective such that it is locatable by a remote detector of an optical positioning system. A generally cylindrical (e.g., faceted cylindrical) columnar locator permits easy application of reflective tape. Other examples discusses a unitary fiducial marker with multiple divots and a swiveling and/or tilted fiducial marker divot, each of which allows manipulation of a positioning wand into a remote camera's field of view. Another example includes at least one reflector that can be aimed. A further example discusses an imagable fiducial marker carrier that is attachable to a single location on a patient's skull to reduce trauma. A keying arrangement fixedly defines the orientation of the carrier, allowing detachment and reattachment in the same orientation.

This document discusses, among other things, fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods. One example illustrates a combined computed tomography (CT) imageable fiducial locator head, an integral bone screw, and an integral divot for receiving a positioning wand of an image-guided surgical (IGS) workstation. A further example includes a fluid/gel-absorbing coating or cover into which a magnetic resonance (MR) imageable fluid is introduced, thereby permitting both CT and MR imaging. Protective caps and collars may be used to protect the fiducial marker from mechanical impact and/or to guide the fiducial marker during affixation. A bull's-eye or other template is used to select a center of a substantially spherical fiducial marker head on an image, such as for use during patient registration.

This document discusses, among other things, examples of a stereotactic apparatus that includes reticles or other imagable locators for confirming placement of an instrument introduced along a desired trajectory. In certain examples, the reticles are re-positionable with respect to the trajectory to permit placement confirmation along different views. In other examples, the reticles are positionable toward or away from a skull.

Target depth locators for trajectory guide for introducing an instrument

This document discusses, among other things, examples of a shunt passer or like surgical instrument configured for receiving different-sized positioning locators of an image guided surgical system. In one example, the surgical instrument includes portions having different diameters for receiving the different-sized affixation mechanisms for the positioning locators.

Shunt passer or like surgical instrument configured for receiving different-sized positioning locators of image-guided surgical system

Fiducial marker

A squirrel-resistant bird feeder includes an inner seed-containing cylinder having a central upwardly-extending rod for mounting on a support and side openings for providing bird access to the seed. A hollow cylinder having a top surface with a central opening from about which a central hollow baffle depends controls seed levels while passing seed to lower dispensers. A relatively-movable outer cylinder guards the inner seed-containing cylinder and has side openings which align with the inner cylinder side openings when in its normal or home position to which it is urged by a tension spring. A squirrel alighting on the bird feeder moves the outer cylinder relative to the inner one against the tension of a spring to where their side openings are nonaligned to preclude squirrel access to the inner cylinder seed. A pin and slot arrangement insures opening aligment in the home position. The outer cylinder is formed of gnaw resistant materials. A small hole in an outer cylinder end cap passes the rod to limit swinging action of the bird feeder and help guide relative movement between the cylinders. Aligned magnets on the inner and outer cylinders help hold the outer cylinder in the normal or home position.

Squirrel resistant bird feeder

The operating rod of an automotive door lock is provided with a connector member which, in turn, is engaged by a knob having a cavity to receive the connector member. The outside dimensions of the knob are larger than the aperture in the casing, thus preventing the knob from being depressed. The cavity in the knob is sufficiently large to permit the connector member and thus, the rod, to be in its advanced, or unlocked position, while remaining entirely within the knob. This arrangement permits one to pull upwardly on the knob thereby unlocking the door, but prevents one from manually depressing the knob or the connector member and thus, the rod, to thereby lock the door. A car key, however, can be inserted through the top of the cavity to urge the connector member and the rod to the retracted, locked position.

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Melbourne Beach, FL, United States of America

Thomas L Bridges