IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,527,628
Granted Patent B2
US 12,527,628 · App. 18/513,155 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

System and method using augmented reality with shape alignment for medical device placement

Inventor: John K. Dorman (Midland, TX)
Assignee: Circinus Medical Technology LLC
A61B34/10A61B17/7076A61B2034/107A61B2034/2048A61B2090/067A61B2090/365A61B2090/502
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,527,628
App. No.
18/513,155
Filed
Nov 17, 2023
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3775
USPC
606/96
Abstract

Methods and techniques for using an augmented reality device for determining an orientation of an instrument for inserting a medical device are provided. One such method includes simulating an insertion point and an orientation of a simulated surgical hardware installation on a diagnostic representation of a bone, and using an augmented reality based electronic device to align an instrument for inserting a surgical hardware installation at a desired orientation through an insertion point of the bone by displaying visual indicia indicating the insertion point and the orientation of the simulated surgical hardware installation. Disclosed herein is also a system and method having a concentric shape alignment system for medical device placement in the body, such as in a bone.

Claims (28)

1 . A method for orienting an electronic device to align an instrument for installation of a surgical hardware in a body part of a patient, the method comprising:

simulating, by a computing device, an insertion point of the instrument and a three-dimensional orientation of a simulated surgical hardware installation on a diagnostic representation of the body part, wherein simulating the three-dimensional orientation of the simulated surgical hardware installation includes:

receiving, by the computing device, a first user input in a first view of the diagnostic representation of the body part; and

receiving, by the computing device, a second user input in a second view of the diagnostic representation of the body part, the second view orthogonal to the first view; and

displaying, by the computing device, a graphical representation of the simulated three-dimensional orientation for inserting the surgical hardware in the body part, and a graphical representation of a current orientation of the electronic device on an augmented reality display or virtual reality display superimposed over the body part, the graphical representation of a current orientation of the electronic device identified by at least one orientation sensor of the electronic device, wherein the graphical representation of the simulated three-dimensional orientation and the graphical representation of a current orientation of the electronic device is used to align the instrument for insertion of the surgical hardware.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body part of the patient is a bone.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating, by the computing device, when the electronic device is oriented to align the instrument for inserting the surgical hardware in the body part within a threshold of the simulated three-dimensional orientation.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein indicating when an orientation of the electronic device is within the threshold of the simulated three-dimensional orientation comprises displaying additional visual indicia indicating when the orientation of the electronic device is within the threshold of the simulated three-dimensional orientation.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein indicating when an orientation of the electronic device is within the threshold of the simulated three-dimensional orientation comprises audibly indicating when the orientation of the electronic device is within the threshold of the simulated three-dimensional orientation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the simulated three-dimensional orientation for inserting the surgical hardware in the body part includes a graphical representation of an orientation of the instrument for inserting the surgical hardware superimposed on the body part.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the simulated three-dimensional orientation for inserting the surgical hardware in the body part includes a graphical representation of an orientation of the surgical hardware superimposed on the body part.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the graphical representation of the simulated three-dimensional orientation for inserting the surgical hardware in the body part includes providing a three-dimensional visual representation on a display of an augmented reality device, the augmented reality device wearable by a user.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating the insertion point and the three-dimensional orientation of the simulated surgical hardware installation on the diagnostic representation of the body part further comprises:

acquiring, by the computing device, the diagnostic representation of the body part respectively in the first view and in the second view;

aligning, by the computing device, the diagnostic representation of the body part with a reference;

designating, by the computing device, the insertion point of the simulated surgical hardware installation on the diagnostic representation of the body part based on a respective user-specified insertion location in the first view and in the second view; and

designating, by the computing device, the simulated three-dimensional orientation of the simulated surgical hardware installation on the diagnostic representation of the body part relative to the reference based on a respective user specified insertion orientation in the first view and in the second view.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying a graphical representation of the simulated three-dimensional orientation for inserting the surgical hardware in the body part includes providing on a display of the electronic device a first set of concentric circles indicating the simulated three-dimensional orientation and a second set of concentric circles indicating a current orientation of the electronic device, wherein the orientation of the electronic device corresponds to the orientation of the instrument.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic representation is an axial CT scan of the body part.

12 . A method for generating a three-dimensional angle for use in positioning a medical tool, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a computing device, a first image of a target;

obtaining, by the computing device, a second image of the target, the second image depicting the target in a plane at a known angle to the first image;

defining, by the computing device, a first insertion angle in the first image;

defining, by the computing device, a second insertion angle in the second image;

generating, by the computing device, the three-dimensional angle based at least in part on the first insertion angle of the first image and the second insertion angle of the second image, wherein the three-dimensional angle comprises at least one or more of an insertion transverse angle, an insertion sagittal angle, or an insertion coronal angle for receiving the medical tool;

determining, by the computing device, a present three-dimensional orientation of an electronic device based on data obtained by at least one orientation sensor of the electronic device; and

producing, by the computing device, a notification when the present three-dimensional orientation of the device aligns with the three-dimensional angle on an augmented reality display or virtual reality display, wherein the three-dimensional orientation is used to insert the medical tool into a patient, responsive to the notification.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein defining a first insertion angle in the first image includes defining an insertion point.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: DORMAN, JOHN K.
To: SCAPA FLOW, LLC
Reel/Frame 072575/0041 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: SCAPA FLOW, LLC
To: CIRCINUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 072575/0077 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16639107
Provisional Application 62570051 · Oct 9, 2017
Provisional Application 62545325 · Aug 14, 2017
Related Publication 20240090950A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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