System and method for assisting a user in a surgical procedure

Abstract

A system and a method are used for assisting a user in a surgical procedure. Three dimensional (3D) positioning information about an anatomical structure of interest and 3D positioning information about a surgical tool are acquired. An augmented reality view of spatial relations between the anatomical structure of interest and one or more positions along a path of the surgical tool is created based on the 3D positioning information. The augmented reality view is displayed superimposed over a field of view of the user. The augmented reality view may be displayed on a head-mounted display. Fiducial markers may be placed near the anatomical structure to provide enhanced positioning information to the creation of the augmented reality view. Operation of the surgical tool may be controlled in view of relative positions of the surgical tool and of a given landmark indicative of the anatomical structure.

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