Claron Technology Awarded European Patent for MicronTracker Video Pose Tracking System
System Supports Image Guided Surgeries, Brain Stimulation and More
Toronto, October 26, 2011--Claron Technology, a leading developer of software for advanced visualization and analysis of medical images, announced today issuance by the European Patent Office of patent no. 1527417B1 entitled “A Video Pose Tracking System and Method” for the company’s MicronTracker system. One of the most advanced systems of its kind, Claron’s MicronTracker optical pose tracking technology uses real-time stereoscopic vision to detect and track the location and orientation (pose) of specially marked objects in space. These objects, which may be a surgical tool or anatomical location, are marked using small checkered target patterns (“Xpoints”).
Claron has held a U.S. patent for its MicronTracker technology since 2005, and it currently is in use worldwide by more than 250 medical centers, research sites and medical device OEMs. Using visible light in real-time to detect marked objects, Claron’s MicronTracker is a fully passive system, by contrast with older generation systems that require built-in infrared light emission.
“Claron’s MicronTracker, with its rich functionality, uses a fundamentally different, advanced approach than prior tracking technologies. Target patterns are detected reliably, and the location of a pattern’s center is precisely pinpointed by Claron’s advanced processing algorithms,” says Zami Yerushalmy, Executive for Claron. “MicronTracker’s calibration accuracy of 0.2mm RMS leads the field. It is the smallest and lightest certified tracking system on the market and provides a new level of flexibility for building clinical image-guidance and tracking applications.”
Together with the company’s Withinsight Framework (WIF), Claron also offers the MicronTracker through ClaroNav, a surgical and interventional navigation platform, which can be customized to guide a wide range of medical procedures. The ClaroNav platform accelerates the development of applications and systems for advanced guided surgeries, brain stimulation, ENT procedures and other clinical applications. It also helps support robot guided surgeries including ablation and biopsy.
With the MicronTracker, ClaroNav features the smallest and lightest camera available today, which is suited to the compact spaces required in medical applications. It delivers real-time sub-millimeter pose data at high frame rate and supports a high dynamic range mode to function reliably under operating room light conditions.
Claron offers four different MicronTracker models to support different fields of measurement, frame rate and precision. The systems can be configured with multiple cameras to increase the field of measurement size and reduce line-of-sight interruption. MicronTracker uses simple-to-prepare, printable target markers on paper or plastic sheets or DuraMark material tested to sustain over 100 cycles of steam sterilization. The system is Windows, Mac and Linux compatible and affordably priced.
About Claron Technology, Inc:
Claron is dedicated to the application of image processing technology in medicine. It has extensive experience in developing systems that help clinicians identify anatomy and tissues of interest, visualize and analyse them, and safely navigate their instruments during surgical procedures. Claron helps healthcare vendors, ranging from young start-ups to large multi-national device and IT vendors deliver more value to their clinical customers faster by incorporating its technology into their products. Claron's technology is licensed in a range of formats, including low-level modules, platforms, sub-systems, applications and custom engineered exclusive solutions. For more details, please visit www.clarontech.com.
Media contact:
Jeanne-Marie Phillips
HealthFlash marketing
203-363-0347
jphillips@healthflashmarketing.com
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