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Medical Device Customer Applications

The remarkable performance and versatility of the Polaris® optical measurement and Aurora® and 3D Guidance® electromagnetic tracking solutions have enabled real-time 3D tracking technology to be integrated into increasingly sophisticated applications and markets, including academic research, medical trainers, and medical device manufacturers.

Here are some examples of how our OEM medical device customers have incorporated our tracking technologies as a component of their system workflow. While some application examples have traditionally been addressed by either optical measurement or electromagnetic tracking, due to continual research and development advancements, new opportunities exist with both 3D tracking technologies. (Note: it is the sole responsibility of the medical device OEM to determine the suitability and intended use of 3D tracking technology.)

Optical Measurement

Robot Assisted Surgery

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Track the position of the robot base, surgical tools attached to the end-effector and the patient, at update rates required for closed-loop, robotic-guided orthopaedic procedures such as spinal fusion and joint replacements.

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery

Execute your surgical plans accurately by navigating in real-time using rigid bodies and probes to register a patient’s anatomy to preoperatively acquired images.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy

Maintain accurate positioning and delivery of radiation to the target site by monitoring patient position, movement of the patient couch, and patient motion for respiratory gating.

Arthroplasty

Orthopaedics – Arthroplasty

Register and track bony anatomy for positioning and alignment of implant fit, measurement of joint rotations and offsets, and to visualize and guide the angle and depth of tool cuts.

Spinal Surgery

Spinal Surgery

Fuse tracking data with preoperative images, which helps enable instrument visualization and navigation during the placement of pedicle screws or during microdiscectomies.

AR Surgery

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augment the tracking of surgical tracking tools within existing procedures by adding an AR visualization (overlay) of internal structures via image fusion.

ENT Surgery

ENT or FES Surgery

Track the positions of endoscopes, shavers, and suction devices in real time to avoid contacting the optic nerve as well as other critical cranial anatomy near the sinuses.

Dental Surgery

Dental Surgery

Maintain correct drilling angle and depth (and avoid the mandibular nerve) by tracking the jaw’s position relative to preoperative CT scans. Visualize and position the placement of dental implants.

Electromagnetic Tracking

Icon Interventional Radiology

Interventional Radiology and Imaging

Fuse live ultrasound images with pre-acquired CT or MRI image sets to localize an ultrasound transducer and needle relative to each other in multiple modalities, within the same measurement volume.

Cardiology

Cardiology and Electrophysiology

Embed sensors into the tips of diagnostic and ablation catheters to create electro-anatomical maps, which can be used to navigate and target areas of the heart to be treated.

Guidewire Catheter Tracking

Guidewire and Catheter Tracking

Track guidewires and catheters through difficult-to-access and/or tortuous anatomies for a wide variety of vascular, abdominal, and minimally invasive procedures.

Endoscope

Endoscopy

Embed a sensor into a scope to map and navigate complex anatomical tracts during colonoscopies and bronchoscopies, and to monitor the real-time position of the patient during the procedure.

Ortho Trauma

Orthopaedic Trauma

Align the drill’s position and trajectory to distal holes for quick and precise fixation of locking screws for intramedullary nails – without the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy. 

ENT Surgery 2

ENT or FES Surgery

Track the positions and orientations of endoscopes, shavers, and suction devices in real time to avoid contacting the optic nerve as well as other critical cranial anatomy near the sinuses.

Robot Assisted Surgery

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Track the positions of flexible endoscopes, laparoscopic ultrasound and other surgical instruments during abdominal and thoracic procedures at update rates required for robotic control.

Spinal Surgery 2

Spinal Surgery

Fuse tracking data with preoperative images, which helps enable instrument visualization and navigation during the placement of pedicle screws or during microdiscectomies.

Why Accuracy Matters

Why Accuracy Matters

Learn about the importance of accuracy in 3D tracking technology.

Legal Disclaimer
NDI tracking and measurement products are general metrology components that can be integrated into customer products, research experiments, and/or as components of medical devices that require precision measurement and tracking. While NDI components and technology can be integrated into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) medical devices, they are not specifically intended for a given application and, as such, have not been developed or manufactured in accordance with medical device standards. It remains the responsibility of the OEM customer or end-user to determine and test the suitability of NDI components and technology for their intended use, including performing any required ethics approval, verification, and validation required to demonstrate suitability and compliance. System-level testing, certification, and validation are the responsibility of the original equipment manufacturer or the applicable end-user and should be completed prior to the use of NDI products or technologies in any application.