AR Registration Guidance for Surgical Image-to-Tracking Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical navigation systems lack effective guidance for acquiring registration points between patient image data and surgical tracking systems, particularly before the tracking system is activated, leading to potential inaccuracies in transformations.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing augmented reality (AR) devices to provide user guidance by overlaying registration instructions on patient images, using pre-operative or intra-operative medical image data to determine optimal registration points, and performing transformations between different coordinate systems to facilitate accurate registration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If registration points are acquired without guidance, then the surgical tracking system can be activated, but the accuracy of transformation between patient image data and tracking system coordinate systems deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of registrationVSAvoiddifficulty in acquiring registration points
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by determining optimal registration point locations and providing visual guidance instructions before the surgical tracking system is activated. The method calculates and displays guidance information on a display device, allowing the surgeon to acquire registration points at the correct locations in advance, ensuring accurate transformation when the tracking system becomes active.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If transformation is performed using generic face models, then registration accuracy is improved, but the complexity of image processing and coordinate system alignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of transformationVSAvoidcomplexity of image processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The method uses a generic face model as a template or copy to represent the patient's face geometry. By comparing the generic face model with actual patient images and determining correspondence between facial landmarks, the system achieves accurate transformation without requiring complex patient-specific 3D modeling. The generic model serves as a simplified representation that captures essential geometric relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If registration instructions are provided before tracking system activation, then guidance accuracy is improved, but the time required for preparation and coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of registration point locationVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation and display of registration guidance instructions before the surgical tracking system is activated. By determining optimal registration point locations and providing visual guidance in advance, the surgeon can prepare and acquire registration points efficiently when the tracking system becomes active, reducing overall preparation time despite the advance computation required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4730259A2Technique of providing user guidance for obtaining a registration between patient image data and a surgical tracking system
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS LIMITED
  • EP4730259A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4730259A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4730259A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method is provided, comprising: obtaining first patient image data of a patient's body; determining a registration instruction indicative of where to acquire a registration point relative to a surface of the body; obtaining second patient image data of the body, having been acquired by an augmented reality, AR, device; determining a transformation between coordinate systems of the first and the second patient image data; and based on the transformation, triggering display of the registration instruction on a display of the AR device such that a user of the AR device is presented an augmented view with the registration instruction being overlaid onto the patient's body, the augmented view guiding the user where to acquire the registration point. Also disclosed are a computing system, a surgical navigation system, and a computer program product.