Gravity-Oriented Tracking Frame for Surgical Tool Line-of-Sight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic and computer-assisted surgical systems face challenges in accurately tracking surgical tools due to the need for a direct line-of-sight with the tracking assembly, which can be disrupted by tool movement, leading to inefficiencies in registration and tracking processes.
Innovation Solution
A tracking assembly that maintains a defined orientation relative to a gravitational reference frame using a balancing mass or control assembly to rotate and reorient itself, ensuring continuous tracking accuracy despite tool movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tracking assembly is rigidly fixed to the surgical tool, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the tracking accuracy deteriorates when the tool is rotated to different orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a rotational mechanism that allows it to change its orientation relative to the surgical tool. This enables the tracking assembly to maintain its optimal orientation toward the tracking system regardless of how the surgical tool is positioned or rotated during the procedure, thereby maintaining tracking accuracy while adding only moderate structural complexity.
2Reliability
If the tracking assembly orientation is locked relative to the tool, then the device complexity is reduced, but the line-of-sight to the tracking system is lost when the tool moves
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking assembly incorporates a rotational mechanism that dynamically adjusts its orientation to maintain a stable line-of-sight connection with the tracking system. This dynamic adjustment ensures continuous and reliable tracking even when the surgical tool is moved or repositioned, while keeping the structural complexity manageable through a straightforward rotational joint design.
3Measurement precision
If the tracking assembly must be precisely oriented for registration, then the measurement precision is improved, but the registration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking assembly is pre-configured with a rotational mechanism that automatically orients it toward the tracking system. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for manual precision alignment during registration, as the tracking assembly maintains its optimal orientation automatically. Consequently, registration precision is achieved without the time-consuming manual adjustment process.
4Measurement precision
If the tracking assembly is repositioned to maintain orientation, then the tracking accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking assembly employs a rotational mechanism that enables it to reposition itself relative to the surgical tool while maintaining a consistent orientation toward the tracking system. This dynamic repositioning capability ensures continuous tracking accuracy without requiring complex active control systems, achieving the balance between tracking precision and structural simplicity through a passive or semi-passive rotational joint.
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 tracking accuracy and efficiency by allowing tools to be rotated freely without losing line-of-sight, facilitating quicker and more precise surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a balancing mass coupled to the tracking assembly, the balancing mass configured to rotate the tracking assembly about the tool body as the tool body is moved to maintain the tracking assembly in an orientation relative to a gravitational reference frame
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are surgical tools including tracking assemblies and tracking assemblies that are usable in connection with surgical tools, wherein the tracking assemblies are configured to be maintained in a defined orientation despite movement by the surgical tool. A tracking assembly can include a counterbalancing mass configured to maintain the tracking assembly in a particular orientation. A tracking assembly can also include various control assemblies configured to maintain the tracking assembly in a particular orientation.