David E Simon

US Patent:

6370224, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Jun 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/591512

Inventors:

David A. Simon - Boulder CO
Kurt R. Smith - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Sofamor Danek Group, Inc. - Memphis TN

International Classification:

G01N 2304

US Classification:

378 62, 378 98

Abstract:

Image processing operations are used to improve images that include visual artifacts generated by calibration markers used in intrinsic calibration of an x-ray image. Artifacts introduced by opaque or semi-transparent calibration markers may be completely or partially removed from the image. More particularly, artifacts caused by opaque calibration markers are removed by changing the pixels corresponding to the projections of the calibration markers to blend in with pixels surrounding the calibration markers. Artifacts may also be generated with semi-transparent calibration markers. These artifacts may be eliminated from the image, while leaving intact the underlying image, by subtracting a constant offset from each marker projection.

US Patent:

6470207, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Mar 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/274972

Inventors:

David A. Simon - Boulder CO
Kurt R. Smith - Boulder CO
Kevin T. Foley - Memphis TN

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 500

US Classification:

600426, 600427, 378207

Abstract:

Digital x-ray images taken before a surgical procedure by a fluoroscopic C-arm imager are displayed by a computer and overlaid with graphical representations of instruments be used in the operating room. The graphical representations are updated in real-time to correspond to movement of the instruments in the operating room. A number of different techniques are described that aid the physician in planning and carrying out the surgical procedure.

US Patent:

6510198, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Dec 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/016487

Inventors:

David A. Simon - Boulder CO
Kurt R. Smith - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

G01N 2304

US Classification:

378 62, 378 98, 378207

Abstract:

Image processing operations are used to improve images that include visual artifacts generated by calibration markers used in intrinsic calibration of an x-ray image. Artifacts introduced by opaque or semi-transparent calibration markers may be completely or partially removed from the image. More particularly, artifacts caused by opaque calibration markers are removed by changing the pixels corresponding to the projections of the calibration markers to blend in with pixels surrounding the calibration markers. Artifacts may also be generated with semi-transparent calibration markers. These artifacts may be eliminated from the image, while leaving intact the underlying image, by subtracting a constant offset from each marker projection.

US Patent:

6535756, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/545092

Inventors:

David Anthnoy Simon - Boulder CO
Kevin T. Foley - Memphis TN
Thomas Andrew Carls - Memphis TN
Anthony J. Melkent - Germantown TN

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 505

US Classification:

600424, 606130, 378205

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for use within an image-guided surgical navigation system for the storage and measurement of trajectories for surgical instruments. An icon representing the real-time trajectory of a tracked instrument is overlaid on one or more pre-acquired images of the patient. At the surgeons command, the navigation system can store multiple trajectories of the instrument and create a static icon representing each saved trajectory for display. The surgeon may also measure a planar angle between any two trajectories. The angle is computed in the plane of the image, and therefore will be computed separately for each image displayed. Furthermore, the surgeon has the option of computing and displaying the three-dimensional distance between two points defined by any two trajectories.

US Patent:

6636757, Oct 21, 2003

Filed:

Jun 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/873604

Inventors:

Bradley Jascob - Broomfield CO
David Simon - Boulder CO
Paul Kessman - Boulder CO
Aaron Smith - Denver CO

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 505

US Classification:

600424, 600423, 32420715, 32420711, 32420713

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for electromagnetic navigation of a surgical probe near a metal object. The electromagnetic navigation system includes a transmitter coil array and a shield. The transmitter coil array has a plurality of transmitter coils and is operable to generate the electromagnetic field to navigate the probe. The shield is positioned adjacent the metal object and is operable to shield the metal object from the electromagnetic field generated by the transmitter coil array, such that the shield substantially reduces distortion of the electromagnetic field by the metal object.

US Patent:

6920347, Jul 19, 2005

Filed:

Jun 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/177739

Inventors:

David Anthony Simon - Boulder CO, US
Kevin T. Foley - Memphis TN, US
Thomas Andrew Carls - Memphis TN, US
Anthony J. Melkent - Germantown TN, US

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B005/05

US Classification:

600424, 600407, 600410, 600425, 600434, 600437, 378205, 606130, 128898

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for use within an image-guided surgical navigation system for the storage and measurement of trajectories for surgical instruments. An icon representing the real-time trajectory of a tracked instrument is overlaid on one or more pre-acquired images of the patient. At the surgeon's command, the navigation system can store multiple trajectories of the instrument and create a static icon representing each saved trajectory for display. The surgeon may also measure a planar angle between any two trajectories. The angle is computed in the plane of the image, and therefore will be computed separately for each image displayed. Furthermore, the surgeon has the option of computing and displaying the three-dimensional distance between two points defined by any two trajectories.

US Patent:

6947786, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Feb 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/087288

Inventors:

David A. Simon - Boulder CO, US
Greg Rutz - Boulder CO, US
Monish Rajpal - Boulder CO, US
Gordon Goodchild - Broomfield CO, US
Michael Haas - Denver CO, US

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A01B005/05

US Classification:

600427, 600424

Abstract:

A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that allows a surgeon to invert the three-dimensional perspective of the instrument to match their perspective of the actual instrument. The surgical instrument navigation system includes: a surgical instrument; an imaging device that is operable to capture image data representative of a patient; a tracking subsystem that is operable to capture in real-time position data indicative of the position of the surgical instrument; and a data processor adapted to receive the image data from the imaging device and the position data from the tracking subsystem. The data processor is operable to generate a three-dimensional representation of the surgical instrument as it would visually appear from either of at least two different perspectives and to overlay the representation of the surgical instrument onto the image data of the patient. The navigation system further includes a display that is operable to display the representation of the surgical instrument superimposed onto the image data of the patient.

US Patent:

6990368, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Apr 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/116631

Inventors:

David A. Simon - Boulder CO, US
Kevin Foley - Germantown TN, US
Mark Hunter - Broomfield CO, US

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 5/05
A61B 6/00

US Classification:

600425, 378 21

Abstract:

A medical imaging system is provided that detects any change in relative position between the patient and the imaging device and corrects the image data for any motion that occurs. The medical imaging system includes: an imaging device for capturing two or more image data sets representative of a patient; a tracking subsystem for capturing patient position data that is indicative of the position of the patient and device position data that is indicative of the position of the imaging device; an image subtraction subsystem for performing a digital subtraction operation between at least two image data sets; and a motion correction subsystem configured to detect a change in the relative position between the patient and the imaging device and, upon detecting a change in the relative position, compensate in at least one of the first image data set and the second image data set for the change in relative position prior to performing the digital subtraction operation.