Flat Panel Registration Fixture With Dual-Plane Radiopaque Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional registration fixtures for surgical navigation systems are often inaccurately mounted to an x-ray transmitter side, making them inconvenient due to the housing shape, and thus require an improved system for registering medical images to a three-dimensional tracking space.
Innovation Solution
A registration fixture with a base frame mounted over a flat panel detector of an x-ray medical imaging device, featuring optical tracking markers and radiopaque markers in specific patterns, allowing for detachable mounting without piercing a sterilizing drape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the registration fixture is mounted to the x-ray transmitter side, then the fixture can be attached to the imaging device, but the mounting becomes inaccurate and inconvenient due to the transmitter housing shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by attaching the registration fixture to the flat panel detector (receiver side) instead of the x-ray transmitter side. This reversal allows the fixture to be mounted on a flat, accessible surface with standardized mounting interfaces, eliminating the geometric constraints and accessibility issues of the transmitter housing while maintaining secure attachment and accurate registration.
2Ease of operation
If the side frame is detachably mounted to the base frame, then the fixture can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the mounting mechanism must not pierce the sterilizing drape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sterilizing drape as an intermediary barrier between the base frame and the surgical field. The detachable mounting mechanism is designed to attach the side frame to the base frame externally, with all fastening operations occurring on the non-sterile side of the drape. This allows convenient assembly and disassembly without compromising the sterile barrier, as the mounting hardware does not need to penetrate the drape.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sets of radiopaque markers are embedded in the base frame, then the registration accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the marker system into two distinct functional sets: radiopaque markers embedded in the base frame for x-ray image registration, and optical tracking markers mounted on the side frame for optical tracking system registration. This segmentation allows each marker type to be optimized for its specific purpose and enables independent adjustment or replacement of each set without affecting the other, thereby improving overall registration accuracy while managing device complexity through functional separation.
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
Enhances the accuracy and convenience of registering medical images to a three-dimensional tracking space by providing a stable and non-invasive mounting solution for surgical navigation systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first set of radiopaque markers embedded therein in a first predetermined pattern and a second set of radiopaque markers embedded therein in a second predetermined pattern
Implementation Method 2
a side frame having optical tracking markers which is mounted to the base frame
Data Source
AI summary
A registration fixture for use with a surgical navigation system for registration of medical images to a three-dimensional tracking space includes a base frame adapted to be mounted over a flat panel detector of an x-ray medical imaging device, and a side frame having optical tracking markers mounted to the base frame. The base frame includes a first set of radiopaque markers embedded therein in a first predetermined pattern and arranged on a plane, and a second set of radiopaque markers embedded therein in a second predetermined pattern also arranged on another plane, which is spaced from the first set of radiopaque markers. The side frame has a plurality of optical tracking markers and is configured to detachably mount to the base frame.