Elastic Base-Plate Fixation Support for Stable Medical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive solutions for attaching a tracking reference to a patient's head during medical procedures often cause skin injuries due to concentrated pressure and risk of shifting, leading to faulty tracking data.
Innovation Solution
A fixation support with an elastically deformable base-plate and a rigid interface-plate coupled via joints, allowing the base-plate to adapt to the head's shape while maintaining the interface-plate's stability, thereby distributing pressure and preventing skin damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the headband is firmly tightened to prevent the mount from shifting, then the tracking reference stability is improved, but the patient's forehead tissue is damaged due to concentrated pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation support is divided into two distinct plates: a base-plate that contacts the patient's head and an interface-plate that attaches the tracking reference. This segmentation allows each plate to have optimized properties - the base-plate can be deformable to distribute pressure, while the interface-plate remains stable for accurate tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fixation support have different mechanical properties. The base-plate is made elastically deformable to adapt to the head surface and distribute pressure locally, while the interface-plate is kept rigid to maintain the tracking reference position. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between comfort and stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the headband is loosened to reduce pressure on the patient's forehead, then the risk of skin injuries is reduced, but the tracking reference may shift leading to faulty tracking data
Solution Approach 1:
The base-plate is designed to be dynamically deformable, allowing it to adapt its shape to the patient's head surface while maintaining contact. This dynamic adaptation enables the support to be securely attached without requiring excessive tightening force, thereby reducing pressure-related injuries while maintaining stability.
3Reliability
If a rigid structure is used to maintain tracking reference position, then the spatial location stability is improved, but the pressure on discrete regions of the patient's head increases causing skin injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation support is divided into two distinct plates: a base-plate that contacts the patient's head and an interface-plate that attaches the tracking reference. This segmentation allows each plate to have optimized properties - the base-plate can be deformable to distribute pressure, while the interface-plate remains stable for accurate tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fixation support have different mechanical properties. The base-plate is made elastically deformable to adapt to the head surface and distribute pressure locally, while the interface-plate is kept rigid to maintain the tracking reference position. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between comfort and stability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a deformable base-structure is used to increase contacting surface area, then the pressure distribution is improved, but the interface for attaching the tracking reference may become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation support is divided into two distinct plates: a base-plate that contacts the patient's head and an interface-plate that attaches the tracking reference. This segmentation allows each plate to have optimized properties - the base-plate can be deformable to distribute pressure, while the interface-plate remains stable for accurate tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable base-plate acts as an intermediary between the patient's head and the rigid interface-plate. It transmits the attachment force from the head to the interface-plate while distributing pressure across a larger surface area, thereby maintaining interface stability without concentrating pressure on discrete regions.
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
The solution ensures safe and stable attachment of the tracking reference, reducing the risk of skin injuries and maintaining accurate spatial location and orientation of the tracking reference, while increasing wearing comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable base-plate having a bottom surface, the base-plate being configured to rest via the bottom surface against the surface of a patient's head
Data Source
AI summary
A tracking reference fixation support configured to fasten a medical tracking reference to a patient's head, the fixation support comprising an elastically deformable base-plate having a bottom surface, the base-plate being configured to rest via the bottom surface against the surface of a patient's head; an interface-plate providing an interface for rigidly attaching a medical tracking reference to the fixation support; and at least one joint that couples the interface-plate to the base-plate, which allows the base-plate to deform while the interface-plate remains substantially dimensionally stable. The invention further relates to a corresponding tracking reference headband and to a corresponding method of providing a patient's head with a tracking reference.