Mark David Hunter

US Patent:

6381485, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Oct 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/429569

Inventors:

Mark W. Hunter - Broomfield CO
Paul Kessman - Broomfield CO

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 505

US Classification:

600407, 600409, 600415, 600417, 600425, 600429, 606130, 324301, 324302, 324244

Abstract:

A method for use during a procedure on a body. The method generates a display representing relative positions of two structure during the procedure. The method includes the steps of storing an image data set in memory, the image data set representing the position of the body based on scans taken of the body prior to the procedure; reading the image data set stored in the memory, the image data set having a plurality of data points in known relation to a plurality of reference points for at least one of the two structures; placing one or more magnetic field sensors in known relation to the reference points of the two structures; generating a magnetic field; detecting the magnetic field with the magnetic field sensors; ascertaining the locations of the sensors based upon the magnetic field detected by the sensors and processing the locations of the sensors to generate a displaced image data set representing the relative position of the two structures during the procedure; and generating a display based on the displaced image data set illustrating the relative position of the two structures during the procedure.

US Patent:

6402762, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/803977

Inventors:

Mark W. Hunter - Broomfield CO
Paul Kessman - Broomfield CO

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

606130, 600429, 600417

Abstract:

A system for utilizing and registering at least two surgical navigation systems during stereotactic surgery. The system comprises a first surgical navigation system defining a first patient space, a second surgical navigation system defining a second patient space, and a translation device to register the coordinates of the first patient space to the coordinates of the second patient space. The translation device comprises a rigid body, at least one component for a first navigation system placed in or on the rigid body, and at least one component for a second navigation system placed in or on the rigid body, in known relation to the at least one component for the first navigation system. The translation device is positioned in a working volume of each of the at least two navigation systems.

US Patent:

6434507, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Jun 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/598975

Inventors:

John B. Clayton - Superior CO
Mark W. Hunter - Broomfield CO
David Lightman - Plantation FL
Thomas J. Mickel - Jupiter FL

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 500

US Classification:

702152, 702150, 600117, 600104

Abstract:

An apparatus is disclosed for use with a surgical navigation system. The apparatus comprises a tool body and tool attachment onto which emitters are fixedly mounted. At least one tool tip is removably coupled with the tool body. An electrical sensor is positioned to be operated when the tool tip is changed either by coupling the tip to or removing the tip from the tool body. A controller responsive to the operation of switch detects when the tip has been changed. An alarm responsive to the controller indicates that the tool tip has been removed or changed so that the tip can be recalibrated relative to a known position in the surgical navigation system.

US Patent:

6474341, Nov 5, 2002

Filed:

Oct 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/428722

Inventors:

Mark W. Hunter - Broomfield CO
Paul Kessman - Broomfield CO
Brad Jascob - Broomfield CO

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128899

Abstract:

An apparatus for determining the position of a wireless catheter probe being used during a surgical procedure. Magnetic fields are projected into an anatomical body to induce voltage signals in a sensing coil that are sufficient to describe the position of a wireless sensor/transmitter. The voltage signals are wirelessly re-transmitted by the sensor/transmitter as positional signals indicative of a current location of the sensor/transmitter in the anatomical body. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless catheter probe is self-powered using the induced voltage signals on a sensing coil. In another embodiment, induced voltage signals of a separate coil are used to power the device.

US Patent:

6499488, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Oct 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/428721

Inventors:

Mark W. Hunter - Broomfield CO
Sheri McCoid - Broomfield CO
Paul Kessman - Broomfield CO

Assignee:

Winchester Development Associates - Winchester MA
Enterprise Medical Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128899

Abstract:

An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other structures and methods are also disclosed.

US Patent:

6892090, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Aug 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/223847

Inventors:

Laurent Verard - Superior CO, US
Paul Kessman - Broomfield CO, US
Mark Hunter - Broomfield CO, US

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B005/05

US Classification:

600424, 600427

Abstract:

A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient. The surgical instrument navigation system includes: a surgical instrument; an imaging device which is operable to capture scan data representative of an internal region of interest within a given patient; a tracking subsystem that employs electro-magnetic sensing to capture in real-time position data indicative of the position of the surgical instrument; a data processor which is operable to render a volumetric, perspective image of the internal region of interest from a point of view of the surgical instrument; and a display which is operable to display the volumetric perspective image 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.

US Patent:

7152608, Dec 26, 2006

Filed:

Sep 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/245843

Inventors:

Mark W Hunter - Broomfield CO, US
Paul Kessman - Broomfield CO, US
Brad Jascob - Broomfield CO, US

Assignee:

Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. - Louisville CO

International Classification:

A61B 19/00

US Classification:

128899

Abstract:

An apparatus for determining the position of a wireless catheter probe being used during a surgical procedure. Magnetic fields are projected into an anatomical body to induce voltage signals in a sensing coil that are sufficient to describe the position of a wireless sensor/transmitter. The voltage signals are wirelessly re-transmitted by the sensor/transmitter as positional signals indicative of a current location of the sensor/transmitter in the anatomical body. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless catheter probe is self-powered using the induced voltage signals on a sensing coil. In another embodiment, induced voltage signals of a separate coil are used to power the device.