Surgical Navigation Fiducial Marker Deviation Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing surgical navigation systems face challenges in maintaining patient registration accuracy when fiducial markers are removed and repositioned, leading to time-consuming repetition of the registration process and reduced image capture accuracy during intraoperative imaging.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a computing device to obtain and update the patient's position in a tracking system frame of reference by detecting deviations in the fiducial marker array's position between initial and secondary surface scans, allowing for accurate patient repositioning and imaging configuration adjustment without manual verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fiducial markers are removed for intraoperative imaging, then patient can be repositioned for imaging, but patient registration is lost and accuracy of intraoperative image capture is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient repositioning capabilityVSAvoidpatient registration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing surface scans of the patient before and after fiducial marker removal, and automatically calculates the deviation between these scans. This preliminary deviation calculation enables the system to maintain patient registration accuracy even when markers are removed for imaging, resolving the contradiction between repositioning capability and registration accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from surface scan comparisons to automatically adjust and maintain patient registration. By continuously monitoring the deviation between surface scans before and after marker removal, the system provides feedback to correct the registration automatically, ensuring accuracy is maintained despite the temporary removal of fiducial markers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If fiducial markers are removed for intraoperative imaging, then patient can be repositioned, but time-consuming repetition of patient registration process is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient repositioning capabilityVSAvoidregistration process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary surface scanning and deviation calculation before the actual imaging procedure. By pre-calculating the deviation between surface scans and preparing the registration adjustment in advance, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming repetitive registration procedures during the imaging process, thus reducing time loss while enabling patient repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating deviations from surface scans and independently updating patient registration without requiring manual intervention. This automation allows the system to maintain registration accuracy and eliminate time-consuming repetitive processes, resolving the contradiction between repositioning capability and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If manual verification and adjustment of imaging configuration is performed, then imaging accuracy can be ensured, but the procedure is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging configuration accuracyVSAvoidverification and adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating imaging configuration adjustments based on surface scan deviations. Instead of requiring manual verification and adjustment, the system independently processes the deviation data and generates the necessary imaging configuration updates, thereby ensuring accuracy while eliminating the time-consuming manual procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical manual verification and adjustment process with an automated computational system. By substituting manual operations with automated algorithms that process surface scan deviations and calculate imaging configurations, the system maintains high accuracy while dramatically reducing the time required for verification and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12023107B2Method, system and apparatus for maintaining patient registration in a surgical navigation system

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A device and methods for maintaining patient registration in surgical navigation, involving: obtaining a patient position in a tracking system frame of reference, based on a fiducial marker array affixed in a first position relative to the patient; receiving an initial surface scan depicting the patient and the fiducial array; responsive to receiving an intraoperative image depicting the patient: obtaining a position, in the tracking system frame of reference, of the fiducial array affixed in a second position relative to the patient; receiving a secondary surface scan depicting the patient and the fiducial array; detecting a deviation in a position of the fiducial marker array relative to the patient between the initial and secondary surface scans; and applying the deviation to the position of the patient to generate an updated position of the patient in the tracking system frame of reference, based on the fiducial array affixed in the second position.