Engraved Retro-Reflective Tracking Marker for Medical Surgery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current optically detectable tracking markers used in medical procedures, such as those in computer-assisted surgery, often require multiple markers to determine the spatial position and orientation of objects with high precision, which can be cumbersome and may not provide sufficient information for accurate tracking.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing an optically detectable and retro-reflective medical tracking marker by altering the material properties of a retro-reflective surface using electromagnetic energy to create sections with reduced reflective capabilities, allowing for additional information encoding and precise tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple spherical tracking markers are used to determine spatial position and orientation, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and calibration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical marker surface is segmented into multiple sections with different retro-reflective properties. Some sections maintain full retro-reflective capability while others have reduced retro-reflective capability, creating a unique reflective pattern that encodes spatial orientation information within a single marker
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the marker surface are given different local qualities regarding retro-reflection. By creating zones with varying retro-reflective properties at specific locations on the sphere, the marker can convey directional and positional information through its reflective pattern rather than requiring multiple identical markers
2Measurement precision
If multiple tracking markers are attached to objects, then spatial tracking precision is improved, but ease of operation and calibration time worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The marker uses segmented reflective zones on its surface to encode spatial information, allowing a single marker to provide the tracking data that previously required multiple markers, thereby simplifying attachment and calibration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic radiation treatment acts as an intermediary to modify the retro-reflective surface properties, creating distinguishable reflective patterns that enable the tracking system to determine spatial orientation from a single marker's reflective response
3Ease of manufacture
If the retro-reflective surface is uniformly treated, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but information encoding capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process applies electromagnetic radiation treatment to specific local sections of the retro-reflective surface rather than treating the entire surface uniformly. This creates spatially varying reflective properties that encode orientation information while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing approach using electromagnetic energy application
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
Enables precise and accurate tracking with fewer markers, improving the ability to determine spatial position and orientation with high precision and reducing the need for extensive calibration procedures, while maintaining high intrinsic and extrinsic accuracy and color-contrast quality.
Implementation Method 1
such markers can be provided with a retro-reflective surface which is adapted to reflect incoming light back in substantially the opposite direction it came from
Implementation Method 2
applying electromagnetic energy to at least one section of the retro-reflective surface in an amount that is sufficient to alter the material properties of the retro-reflective surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of producing an optically detectable and retro-reflective medical tracking marker, wherein electromagnetic energy is applied to at least one section of a retro-reflective surface of a marker structure in an amount that is sufficient to alter the material properties of the retro-reflective surface, such that the capability of reflecting electromagnetic radiation of the at least one section is reduced to a second capability of reflecting electromagnetic radiation. The present invention further relates to a corresponding retro-reflective medical tracking marker and a corresponding use thereof.