Asymmetrical Reference Marker System for Calibrationless Medical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tracking systems for medical procedures using reference markers are limited in accurately generating and applying virtual interactions in augmented reality environments, often requiring cumbersome and time-consuming calibration processes.
Innovation Solution
A reference marker system with a main body and distributed marker sites that removably couple to a medical device, ensuring fixed positional arrangements without the need for calibration, using distinctive features for precise orientation and automatic detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional tracking systems use reference markers with calibration processes, then measurement precision can be achieved, but device complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The reference markers are pre-positioned on the medical device at fixed, known locations before the medical procedure begins. This preliminary arrangement of markers at predetermined positions eliminates the need for calibration during the procedure, as the marker positions are already known and fixed relative to the device geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference markers are distributed in an asymmetrical pattern on the main body of the medical device. This asymmetrical arrangement creates a unique geometric signature that allows the system to identify and track the device without requiring calibration, as the specific non-uniform distribution of markers provides unambiguous positional information.
2Measurement precision
If marker calibration processes are implemented, then measurement precision improves, but productivity and procedure efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The reference markers are pre-positioned on the medical device at fixed, known locations before the medical procedure begins. This preliminary arrangement of markers at predetermined positions eliminates the need for calibration during the procedure, as the marker positions are already known and fixed relative to the device geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The medical device with pre-positioned reference markers is self-sufficient and does not require external calibration equipment or procedures. The device inherently provides its own reference framework through the fixed marker positions, eliminating the need for separate calibration operations and enabling immediate use in medical procedures.
3Reliability
If stable and reliable marker positioning is achieved through complex attachment devices, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference markers are integrated directly into the main body of the medical device as a unified structure. This merging of the marker system with the device itself eliminates the need for separate attachment devices or components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining stable and reliable marker positioning throughout the medical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference markers are distributed in an asymmetrical pattern on the main body of the medical device. This asymmetrical arrangement creates a unique geometric signature that allows the system to identify and track the device without requiring calibration, as the specific non-uniform distribution of markers provides unambiguous positional information.
Data Source
AI summary
A reference marker system configured for use with a separate medical device can include a main body and a plurality of reference marker sites. The main body can have outer and inner surfaces and an overall geometry that interacts with a distinctive feature on the separate medical device. The main body can removably couple to the separate medical device along its inner surface at a specific orientation based on the distinctive feature. The reference marker sites can be coupled to the outer surface and configured to host reference markers suitable for use with a separate augmented reality system. The reference marker sites can be distributed across the outer surface at fixed positions relative to each other to form an asymmetrical fixed positional arrangement, which can be known for a medical procedure using the separate medical device without requiring any reference marker calibration based on the specific orientation.