Adjustable Camera Reference for Obstructed Surgical Marker Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera reference systems in surgical environments face challenges due to obstruction by personnel and equipment, leading to disrupted viewing of tracking markers, which interferes with navigation system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable camera reference system with manual or robotic adjustment capabilities, utilizing a control loop to maintain tracking marker visibility through autonomous or manual manipulation of cameras, and incorporating floating reference sources for redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixed camera reference systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the tracking marker visibility is disrupted by personnel and equipment blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic camera reference system where the camera can automatically or manually adjust its position and orientation to maintain tracking marker visibility. The system includes movable mounting structures and control mechanisms that enable the camera to dynamically reposition itself when obstructions are detected, transforming a static system into an adaptive one that responds to changing surgical environment conditions.
2Reliability
If manual camera adjustment is implemented, then tracking marker visibility can be restored, but surgical workflow efficiency decreases due to manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors detect the presence of obstructions blocking the camera view of tracking markers. This feedback triggers automatic camera adjustment through motorized mounting structures, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to environmental changes without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining both reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera reference system performs self-adjustment through automated mechanisms that detect and respond to obstructions independently. The system includes self-correcting capabilities where the camera automatically repositions itself to maintain optimal viewing angles of tracking markers, eliminating the need for external manual intervention and preserving surgical workflow efficiency.
3Productivity
If robotic automation is added for camera adjustment, then surgical workflow is optimized, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the camera reference system autonomously detects obstructions and adjusts its own position using integrated robotic mechanisms. The system monitors its own operational status and performs self-correction without external control, optimizing surgical workflow while managing complexity through autonomous operation rather than requiring complex external control systems.
4Reliability
If floating reference sources are added for redundancy, then tracking reliability is improved, but the quantity of equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating reference sources are designed to serve multiple functions: they act as backup tracking markers, provide additional spatial reference points for enhanced navigation accuracy, and can function as collision avoidance sensors. This multi-functionality justifies the addition of extra equipment by maximizing their utility across multiple operational aspects of the surgical navigation system.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable camera reference system and method for use thereof for maintaining guidance of a navigated instrument and/or an a navigated end effector during performance of surgery is provided. The adjustable camera reference system can employ one or more main reference cameras and various floating reference sources, and if views of various tracking markers positioned in an operating room by the one or more main reference cameras are interrupted or lost, positions of the one or more main reference cameras, and data and images provided by one or more of the various floating reference sources can be hot-swapped or substituted for data and images of the various tracking markers provided by the one or more main reference cameras. One or more of the various tracking markers are attached relative to the navigated instrument and/or the navigated end effector, and by determining the locations thereof, the proper guidance of the navigated instrument and/or the navigated end effector can be maintained.