3D Drill Tip Calibration for Precise Surgical Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical navigation systems are limited in accurately tracking and navigating surgical drill tips due to insufficient calibration data, particularly in three-dimensional space, affecting the precision of surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method using stereographic imaging to automatically measure and reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of a drill tip, incorporating interactive user operations and a reference sheet to determine the cutting edge contour and plane, enabling precise tracking and navigation during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional systems measure only drill lengths, then the calibration process is simple, but the accuracy of tracking and navigating the drill tip in three-dimensional space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional drill length measurement to three-dimensional drill tip shape characterization using stereo imaging. The system captures multiple images from different angles and reconstructs the drill tip's complete geometry, enabling accurate tracking in three-dimensional surgical space while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated image processing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an automated optical measurement system. Instead of physical calipers or rulers, the system uses stereo cameras to capture images and computationally reconstructs the drill tip shape, eliminating the need for complex mechanical calibration apparatus while improving measurement precision.
2Reliability
If additional calibration data about drill tip shape and cutting edge is collected, then navigation accuracy is enhanced, but the calibration process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically capturing images of the drill tip with its calibration markers, processing these images through automated algorithms, and reconstructing the complete three-dimensional shape and cutting edge geometry. This eliminates the need for manual measurement and reduces calibration time while collecting comprehensive data for reliable navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process continuously captures multiple images from different angles as the drill tip is positioned and oriented, automatically reconstructing the complete geometry without interruption. This continuous imaging approach efficiently collects all necessary calibration data about the drill tip shape and cutting edge in a single integrated process, reducing total calibration time.
3Measurement precision
If a stereo imaging system is used to automatically measure and reconstruct the drill tip, then measurement precision and three-dimensional tracking accuracy are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stereo imaging system serves multiple functions: it captures the drill tip's three-dimensional shape, identifies calibration markers, determines cutting edge geometry, and provides data for navigation. By consolidating these functions into a single optical system with automated processing, the patent achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the accuracy of surgical drill tip navigation by providing real-time guidance and precise positioning, improving the outcome of surgical operations.
Implementation Method 1
capturing a first set of image data using at least one camera; generating, based on the first set of image data, a reconstruction volume shape of the tip
Data Source
AI summary
A visual guidance system for use in a surgical procedure include a calibration operation of a tip of a surgical drill. In particular, the system includes capturing images of a drill tip and generating a reconstruction volume shape of the drill tip to enable tracking of the drill tip. The system captures images of the drill tip in tilting motion to determine cutting edge contour data of the drill tip. The system further captures images of the drill tip in rotation and identifies point cloud data of the drill tip. The system further includes generating a three-dimensional surface data of the drill tip, a cutting plane, and a cutting edge contour of the drill tip. Given the three dimensional surface data and plane data, the system further generates guidance data for providing a navigation on surgical procedure using three-dimensional graphical representation of the surgical drill.