Patent · US Active

Fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods

US8185184B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
128References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 2007
Grant dateMay 22, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 26, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/3995
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.