Brandon C Merkl

US Patent:

20120201421, Aug 9, 2012

Filed:

Apr 18, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/449475

Inventors:

Steven L. Hartmann - Superior CO, US
Bradley A. Jascob - Broomfield CO, US
Brandon Merkl - Erie CO, US
Matthew F. Dicorleto - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

G06K 9/46

US Classification:

382103

Abstract:

A patient defines a patient space in which an instrument can be tracked and navigated. An image space is defined by image data that can be registered to the patient space. A tracking device can be connected to a member in a known manner that includes imageable portions that generate image points in the image data. Selected image slices or portions can be used to register reconstructed image data to the patient space.

US Patent:

20130085344, Apr 4, 2013

Filed:

Oct 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/252683

Inventors:

Brandon Merkl - Erie CO, US
Rasool Khadem - Superior CO, US

Assignee:

Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 5/00

US Classification:

600300

Abstract:

A procedure can be assisted by a processor system, such as a computer system. A trajectory can be used to identify a selected trajectory or path of an instrument to reach a tumor within a brain of a subject, reach a selected portion of the anatomy (e.g. sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) or spinal cord), or other appropriate target. The planning algorithm can include both inputted data and learned rankings or ratings related to selected trajectories. The planning algorithm can used the learned ratings to rate and later determined trajectories.

US Patent:

20140012130, Jan 9, 2014

Filed:

Jan 25, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/751032

Inventors:

Bruce M. Burg - Louisville CO, US
Orey G. Block - Westminster CO, US
Andrew Bzostek - Boulder CO, US
Vince J. Doerr - Boulder CO, US
Abhishek Jain - Maharashtra, IN
Brandon Merkl - Erie CO, US
Joseph Thomas Cilke - Broomfield CA, US

Assignee:

Medtronic Xomed, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

A61B 5/06

US Classification:

600424

Abstract:

A surgical instrument is disclosed having an elongated body portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The body portion is formed from a plastically deformable material such that the body portion can be bent between the proximal and distal ends from a first configuration to a second bent configuration and maintains the bent configuration. A flexible circuit having at least a pair of lead wires disposed around the body portion. The pair of lead wires are configured to conform to the bent configuration of the body portion such that they do not break during bending of the body portion. A tracking device adapted to cooperate with a navigation system to track the distal end of the instrument is coupled to the flexible circuit.

US Patent:

20110261180, Oct 27, 2011

Filed:

Apr 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/767449

Inventors:

David A. Simon - Boulder CO, US
Andrew Bzostek - Erie CO, US
Steven L. Hartmann - Superior CO, US
Brandon Merkl - Louisville CO, US

Assignee:

Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

348 77, 348E07085

Abstract:

A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.

US Patent:

20220254040, Aug 11, 2022

Filed:

Feb 4, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/650053

Inventors:

- Louisville CO, US
Ganesh Saiprasad - Broomfield CO, US
Steven Hartmann - Superior CO, US
Matthew F. Dicorleto - Boulder CO, US
Brandon Merkl - Arvada CO, US

International Classification:

G06T 7/33
G06T 7/73
G06T 7/68
G06T 7/246
G06T 7/00
G06T 3/00
G06T 7/174
A61B 6/03
A61B 34/20

Abstract:

Systems and methods for performing registration between a patient space and an image space are disclosed herein. Systems using such methods may identify a pose of a registration frame having one or more apertures within the patient space using a tracking system. Image data corresponding to the image space having an image of the registration frame is taken. A plurality of aperture locations within the image data (corresponding to the apertures of the registration frame) are identified in the image data. Aperture representations from a model of the registration frame are matched to these aperture locations to determine a pose of the registration frame within the image space. A transform between the patient space and the image space is generated based on the pose of the registration frame within the patient space and the pose of the registration frame within the image space. Optimization methods for this transform are discussed.

US Patent:

20140240481, Aug 28, 2014

Filed:

May 5, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/269799

Inventors:

- Louisville CO, US
Andrew BZOSTEK - Boulder CO, US
Steven L. HARTMANN - Superior CO, US
Brandon MERKL - Lakewood CO, US

Assignee:

Medtronic Navigation, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

H04N 5/30

US Classification:

348 77

Abstract:

A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.