The reflective ball marker has the combined function of conventional operation marker with function of reflective ball can be recognized by optical position measuring equipment. Then, automatic registration became possible toeliminate artificial operation. Consequently, preparation time was decreases, and accuracy became much improved.

View full abstract

We constructed a 4-dimensional musculoskeletal model for patients having had total hip arthroplasty (THA), which aims to simulate the movement of the patient's inner body structure and estimates the complications after THA. This model reflects the patient-specific characteristics of the bone geometry, implant alignment and the characteristics of the movement. In order to estimate the direction of the muscle force and the length of the muscles, we have developed a string-typed muscle model representing the route of the muscles. The strings expand and contract according to the movement of the origin and insertion location of the muscle. We developed models of the seven muscles related to the movement of the hip joint. By using this model, clinicians can predict the potential for dislocation or recognize the causes of dislocation, including the influence of the muscles.

View full abstract

Soft and long silicone rubber tubes (catheters) are commonly used for conservative treatment in intestinal obstruction (ileus). It is difficult to pass the passage at the lower end of the stomach (pylorus). Doctors must be skillful and experienced enough to insert the tube into the intestine. Although there are some instruments which make the procedure easier, for example an endoscope, a guide wire, a long over tube and attaching weight at the tip of the tube, easier and more certain method has been required to pass the pylorus. Active bending tube using shape memory alloy coil micro actuator has been developed. Doctors can control bending motion of the tip of the ileus tube easily by applying electrical current to the SMA actuator from outside the body.

View full abstract

Laparoscopic surgery forces surgeons to operate with mechanical and visual constraints. Surgeons are required to intuit a sense of orientation in the abdominal cavity solely from the memorized anatomical structure. Laparoscopic surgery would be technologically improved if surgeons were provided with the 3D shape of the internal geometry including with texture information in an intuitive manner. In this paper, intraoperative real-time 3D visualization and Data-Fusion using this organ geometry verifies the functionality in an in-vivo experiment.

View full abstract