Electromagnetic Surgical Navigation for Breast Tissue Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical navigation methods, particularly in breast cancer surgery, face challenges in precisely delineating tumor margins due to the deformability and movement of breast tissue, leading to high positive margin rates and the need for additional surgeries.
Innovation Solution
The use of electromagnetic (EM) tracking technology to three-dimensionally delineate and track tissue volumes and surgical tools in real-time, providing feedback on the tool's location relative to the tissue, which enhances precision during tumor resection procedures by accounting for tissue deformation and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wire-localization method is used to mark tumor location, then tumor location is identified, but precise delineation of tumor margins is not achieved leading to high positive margin rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-localization system with an electromagnetic tracking system that uses EM sensors and real-time imaging to track surgical tools and visualize tumor margins, enabling precise delineation without relying on physical wires that only mark a single point
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback through electromagnetic tracking of the surgical tool and continuous visualization of the tumor margin during resection, allowing the surgeon to adjust the resection path dynamically to achieve negative margins
2Measurement precision
If breast tissue is tracked during surgery, then real-time position is known, but tissue deformation and movement cause registration errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic tracking using electromagnetic sensors that continuously monitor the position of the breast tissue and surgical tools in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to tissue deformation and movement during the procedure rather than relying on static pre-operative positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic tracking system serves multiple functions simultaneously: tracking tissue position, tracking surgical tool position, and providing real-time visualization, making the system robust to tissue deformation by continuously updating all positional information
3Measurement precision
If multiple wires are placed to bracket the lesion, then lesion location is better defined, but placement complexity increases and migration still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple mechanical wires with a single electromagnetic sensor system that provides comprehensive tracking of both tissue and surgical tool positions, eliminating the complexity of placing and managing multiple wires while maintaining or improving location accuracy
4Measurement precision
If real-time electromagnetic tracking is implemented, then surgical tool location is precisely tracked, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electromagnetic fields as an intermediary to transmit positional information between the surgical tools and the tracking system, enabling precise real-time tracking without requiring direct mechanical connections or complex wired systems
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
This approach significantly reduces positive margin rates during initial tumor resections, decreases the need for additional surgeries, and improves cosmetic outcomes by ensuring more precise removal of tumor tissue while sparing healthy tissue.
Implementation Method 1
using electromagnetic (EM) tracking to three-dimensionally delineate and track the tissue volume and a surgical tool
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for surgical tracking comprises an imaging device that generates an image of a tissue volume; an electromagnetic (EM) sensor that creates a reference frame for EM tracking in three dimensions; at least one EM sensor adapted to be attached to the tissue to track local deformation and movement of the tissue volume; a processor that registers the image with the EM-tracked tissue volume and surgical tool in real time, and produces an output; and a feedback device that provides feedback about the location of the surgical tool relative to the tissue volume, based on the processor output. Embodiments are particularly useful in soft tissue, such as breast, where deformation before and during a procedure such as tumor resection complicate tracking of the tissue volume and a surgical tool.