Dual Reference Frame Patient Tracking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In navigated surgery, accurately tracking a patient's position is challenging due to movement of tracking devices relative to the patient, leading to potential inaccuracies in determining the patient's location within the surgical space.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing two reference frames and tracking devices coupled to these frames, which continuously monitor and adjust for movement relative to anatomical structures, ensuring accurate registration and navigation by detecting and compensating for unplanned motion during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single tracking device is coupled to the patient using adhesive or stick-on method, then the device can be easily applied and removed, but the tracking device may move relative to the patient during the surgical procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tracking devices (first tracking device and second tracking device) to form a unified tracking system. By merging the functionality of multiple devices, the system achieves both ease of application (each individual device can be easily attached) and high reliability (the combined system detects and compensates for movement through multiple measurement points)
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system continuously monitors the positions of multiple tracking devices and uses this feedback information to detect relative movement. The system compares the tracked positions against expected positions and generates corrective actions to maintain accurate patient location determination throughout the surgical procedure
2Measurement precision
If multiple tracking devices are used to monitor patient position, then tracking accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking devices and reference frames are designed as universal, multi-functional components that can be applied to various anatomical structures and surgical scenarios. Each tracking device serves multiple purposes: establishing initial registration, monitoring for movement, and providing continuous position data. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized equipment and simplifies the overall system despite using multiple devices
3Ease of manufacture
If the tracking device moves relative to the anatomical structure, then the setup is simpler, but the determination of patient location becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static tracking assumption to a dynamic model that explicitly accounts for movement. Rather than requiring the tracking device to remain perfectly fixed, the system dynamically adapts by continuously tracking the positions of multiple devices and calculating their relative movements. This dynamic approach maintains measurement precision while allowing simpler, less rigid attachment methods
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for tracking a patient is provided. The system can include a first reference frame coupled to a first portion of an anatomical structure. The system can include a second reference frame, which can be coupled to a second portion of the anatomical structure. The system can also include a first tracking device coupled to the first reference frame and a second tracking device coupled to the second reference frame. The system can also include a tracking system that can track a position of the first tracking device and the second tracking device to ensure that the position of the first reference frame relative to the anatomical structure is substantially the same throughout a surgical procedure.