Cannulated Drill Coupling for Brain Trajectory Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical navigation methods lack precision in establishing and verifying trajectories for drilling holes in the skull to access brain targets, particularly in aligning and securing access members during the drilling process.
Innovation Solution
A surgical navigation system comprising a cannulated drill, a cannulated access member, and a coupling member that maintains alignment, along with an image-guided probe for real-time verification of the trajectory, ensuring accurate placement of the access member and subsequent medical devices within the brain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current surgical navigation methods are used, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the precision in establishing and verifying trajectories is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time image guidance that continuously monitors and verifies the trajectory of the drill and access member during the surgical procedure. This feedback mechanism allows the surgeon to adjust the trajectory immediately if deviations are detected, ensuring both high measurement precision and reliability of the established path to the brain target.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment methods with image-guided navigation technology. Instead of relying solely on physical guides and manual alignment, the system uses imaging data and computer-generated trajectories to guide the drill and access member, significantly improving both the precision of trajectory verification and the reliability of alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If a coupling member is used to maintain alignment between drill and access member, then alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member serves as an intermediary component that physically connects the drill and access member while maintaining their relative alignment. This intermediate element simplifies the overall system by providing a direct mechanical link rather than requiring complex external alignment mechanisms, thus improving manufacturing precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member is designed to nest within the surgical workflow, integrating the alignment function into the existing drill and access member structure. This nested design allows the alignment mechanism to be part of the standard surgical kit without requiring separate complex alignment devices, thereby improving precision while minimizing added complexity.
3Measurement precision
If real-time image guidance is provided during drilling, then trajectory verification accuracy is improved, but the procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging and trajectory planning before the actual drilling begins. By pre-establishing the accurate trajectory through image guidance and computational planning, the actual drilling process requires minimal real-time adjustment, thus maintaining high verification accuracy while reducing the time consumed during the critical drilling phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The image guidance system operates continuously during the drilling and access member placement procedures, providing uninterrupted trajectory verification. This continuous monitoring eliminates the need for stopping the procedure to re-assess alignment, thereby maintaining high accuracy while minimizing interruptions and reducing overall procedure time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of surgical navigation into the brain includes establishing a trajectory through the skull into the brain to a target, drilling a hole in the skull using a drill, and verifying the trajectory of the drilled hole during drilling using image guidance. A surgical navigation system includes a cannulated drill, a cannulated access member, and a coupling member for coupling the access member to the drill and for maintaining alignment of the cannulations in the drill and the access member. The access member is movable relative to the coupling member such that the access member can be secured to tissue while the coupling member maintains the alignment of the cannulations. A surgical kit includes a cannulated drill, a cannulated access member, a coupling member for coupling the access member to the drill, and a probe for receipt within the cannulated drill.