IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,544,021
Granted Patent B2
US 12,544,021 · App. 17/269,491 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Collar device for mounting with an image receptor of a medical imaging system

Inventors: Roy Anthony Brown (San Diego, CA); Kellen Van Ausdal (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: MARKSMAN TARGETING, INC.
A61B6/08A61B6/04A61B6/105A61B6/4225A61B6/4441A61B90/08A61B90/13A61B90/25A61B90/50A61B2090/3764A61B2090/3937
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,544,021
App. No.
17/269,491
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure concerns a collar device configured for attachment with an image receptor of an X-ray or similar imaging system, the collar device including a radiolucent bar and linear light source, the combination of which being used for patient positioning, identification of surgical entry point and trajectory guidance of instrumentation.

Claims (52)

1 . A collar device ( 100 ) for mounting with an image receptor ( 50 ) of an x-ray imaging system ( 10 ), the collar device comprising:

a housing ( 110 ) configured for mounting about said image receptor;

a base ( 120 ) coupled to the housing, the base including a channel ( 121 ) extending along a periphery ( 122 ) of the base; and

a rotating assembly ( 130 ) coupled to the base and configured to rotate about the channel;

the rotating assembly further comprising:

a radiolucent marker ( 131 ) extending from a first end ( 132 ) to a second end ( 133 ) along at least a portion of a diameter (D) of the rotating assembly,

a second radiolucent marker ( 231 ) coupled to the rotating assembly, and

a laser source assembly ( 135 ) coupled to the rotating assembly and configured to project laser light ( 136 ) within a laser light plane ( 137 ).

2 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the rotating assembly comprises a combination of the radiolucent marker and the laser source assembly, and wherein the radiolucent marker is commonly disposed within the laser light plane.

3 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the image receptor comprises one from the group consisting of: an x-ray image intensifier ( 14 ) and a flat panel detector ( 51 ).

4 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a bezel ( 140 ), wherein at least one of: the bezel and the housing comprises indicia ( 141 ) disposed about an exterior surface thereof.

5 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a bubble level assembly ( 111 ), the bubble level assembly being coupled to the housing.

6 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of first set-screws ( 123 ) for adjusting an orientation of the collar device about a face ( 124 ) of the image receptor.

7 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the rotating assembly further comprises one or more bearing assemblies ( 138 ), each of said bearing assemblies being disposed about a circumference (C) of the rotating assembly and being configured to rotatably engage the channel of the base.

8 . The collar device of claim 7 , wherein each of said bearing assemblies individually comprises: a ball bearing screw ( 138 a ), a washer ( 138 b ), a bearing ( 138 c ), and a bearing nut ( 138 d ).

9 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the rotating assembly further comprises one or more brake assemblies ( 139 ), each of the one or more brake assemblies being independently configured to apply frictional resistance to an inner surface of the housing.

10 . The collar device of claim 9 , wherein each of said brake assemblies comprises: a brake receptacle ( 139 a ), a brake ( 139 b ), and one or more brake springs ( 139 c ) configured to extend between the brake receptacle and the brake for providing a bias-force therebetween.

11 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein said laser source assembly comprises a laser source housing ( 135 a ) and a laser source ( 135 b ) disposed within the laser source housing.

12 . The collar device of claim 11 , wherein said laser source assembly is further coupled to a battery assembly ( 145 ).

13 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the radiolucent marker is coupled to the rotating assembly via an end rod holder ( 146 ).

14 . The collar device of claim 13 , wherein the second end of the radiolucent marker is attached to the laser source assembly.

15 . The collar device of claim 1 , the rotating assembly further comprising first and second fiducial markers ( 134 a ; 134 b ) each disposed at opposite ends (S 1 ; S 2 ) of the collar device.

16 . The collar device of claim 1 , wherein the second radiolucent marker is configured at an angle (A′) with respect to the first radiolucent marker, wherein the angle comprises between 1° and 90°.

17 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a second laser source assembly ( 235 ) coupled to the rotating assembly.

18 . The collar device of claim 17 , wherein the second laser source assembly is configured to project laser light within a second laser light plane ( 237 ) distinct from the other laser light plane, and wherein the second radiolucent marker is configured in alignment with the second laser light plane.

19 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a third radiolucent marker ( 331 ), the third radiolucent marker coupled to the first radiolucent marker at a center thereof, the third radiolucent marker comprising concentrically nested tubes ( 331 a ; 331 b ).

20 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a stationary arm attachment ( 150 ) for securing a position of the collar system relative to a patient-mounted rod ( 151 ), surgical instrument ( 152 ), or a combination thereof.

21 . The collar device of claim 1 , the radiolucent marker further comprising a center marker ( 131 a ), wherein the center marker is disposed along the radiolucent marker at a center of the collar device.

22 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes ( 153 ) each disposed about a periphery of the collar device.

23 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a microscope mount ( 154 ) for attaching a microscope to the collar device.

24 . The collar device of claim 1 , further comprising a display screen mount ( 155 ) for attaching a display screen to the collar device.

25 . The collar device of claim 24 , further comprising a/v-componentry ( 156 ) for communicating audio signals, visual signals, or a combination thereof.

26 . A collar device for use with a medical imaging system, the collar device comprising:

a base configured to couple with a portion of the medical imaging system;

a rotating assembly being rotatably coupled to the base;

the rotating assembly further comprising:

a radiolucent marker ( 131 ) extending from a first end ( 132 ) to a second end ( 133 ) along at least a portion of a diameter (D) of the rotating assembly,

a second radiolucent marker ( 231 ) coupled to the rotating assembly,

first and second fiducial markers ( 134 a ; 134 b ) each disposed at opposite ends (S 1 ; S 2 ) of the collar device, and

a laser source assembly ( 135 ) coupled to the rotating assembly and configured to project laser light ( 136 ) within a laser light plane ( 137 ).

27 . The collar device of claim 26 , wherein the radiolucent marker is commonly disposed within the laser light plane.

28 . The collar device of claim 26 , comprising two or more radiolucent markers.

29 . The collar device of claim 26 , comprising two or more laser source assemblies.

30 . A collar device ( 100 ) for mounting with an image receptor ( 50 ) of an imaging system ( 10 ), the collar device comprising:

a housing ( 110 ) configured for mounting about said image receptor;

a base ( 120 ) coupled to the housing, the base including a channel ( 121 ) extending along a periphery ( 122 ) of the base; and

a rotating assembly ( 130 ) coupled to the base and configured to rotate about the channel;

the rotating assembly further comprising:

a radiolucent marker ( 131 ) extending from a first end ( 132 ) to a second end ( 133 ) along at least a portion of a diameter (D) of the rotating assembly,

a second radiolucent marker ( 231 ) coupled to the rotating assembly,

first and second fiducial markers ( 134 a ; 134 b ) each disposed at opposite ends (S 1 ; S 2 ) of the collar device, and

a laser source assembly ( 135 ) coupled to the rotating assembly and configured to project laser light ( 136 ) within a laser light plane ( 137 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2026
From: MARKSMAN TARGETING, INC.
To: FOREST IMAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 073458/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2021
From: BROWN, ROY ANTHONY; VAN AUSDAL, KELLEN
To: MARKSMAN TARGETING INC.
Reel/Frame 057898/0606 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210345976A1 · Nov 11, 2021
References Cited (5)
US 7104688B2 · Kopping · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7263171B2 · Shang · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 8768437B2 · Barrick · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20170296202A1 · Brown · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170296273A9 · Brown · 2017 [cited by applicant]