Implant Acoustic Triangulation Without X-Ray or Skin Probe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for locating objects within a patient's body, such as medical devices or anatomical features, rely on x-ray imaging which exposes patients and staff to harmful radiation, or ultrasound imaging which requires a probe adjacent to the skin, necessitating a more convenient and radiation-free solution.
Innovation Solution
A small chip or resonance item, such as a speaker, is attached to the object to be tracked, with a plurality of devices outside the body transmitting and receiving signals for triangulation using ultrasound or wireless signals like radio frequency, Bluetooth, or sound waves, eliminating the need for radiation-emitting systems and allowing for accurate positioning without a reference marker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If x-ray imaging is used to determine the position of objects within a patient's body, then the position can be determined, but patients and staff are exposed to harmful radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces x-ray imaging (electromagnetic radiation-based system) with an acoustic triangulation system using ultrasound transducers and sound wave propagation. This substitution eliminates ionizing radiation exposure while maintaining the capability to determine positions of medical devices and anatomical features through acoustic signal transmission and time-of-flight measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium for position determination. Instead of directly imaging with x-rays, the system uses sound waves transmitted through tissue to carry positional information from transducers to receivers, enabling indirect measurement that avoids radiation exposure to patients and staff.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ultrasound imaging is used to determine the position of objects within a patient's body, then radiation exposure is eliminated, but a probe must be placed adjacent to the skin which reduces convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical ultrasound probe system with a wireless acoustic triangulation system. Instead of requiring a physical probe to be placed on the skin surface, the system uses small implantable or attachable transducers that communicate wirelessly with external receivers, eliminating the need for probe placement while maintaining radiation-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the positioning function from the traditional ultrasound probe system. The transducer can be placed minimally invasively (implanted or attached) and the complex probe handling is removed, with position data transmitted wirelessly to external receivers, simplifying the operational process.
3Measurement precision
If a reference marker is secured to an object to enable navigation system tracking, then the object position can be determined, but the system complexity increases and line of sight is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the object of interest with the transducer itself. Instead of requiring a separate reference marker attached to the object, the transducer is integrated directly onto or into the object (medical device, implant, or anatomical feature), eliminating the need for additional reference markers and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transducer serves multiple functions: it acts as both the object being tracked and the source of acoustic signals for triangulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate reference markers and enables position determination without requiring line of sight to external markers.
4Measurement precision
If a reference marker is secured to an object for navigation, then position tracking is enabled, but the procedure becomes more time-consuming and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer is pre-integrated with the medical device or implant before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for time-consuming attachment of reference markers during surgery, allowing immediate position tracking and improving surgical efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining the transducer with the medical device itself, the system eliminates the separate step of attaching reference markers. The merged design allows the device to be tracked directly through its inherent transducer, streamlining the workflow and improving productivity.
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 accurate placement and tracking of implants and tools within the body without exposing patients or staff to radiation, and without requiring a line of sight to a reference marker, improving convenience and precision.
Implementation Method 1
A small chip or resonance item, such as a speaker, is attached to the object to be tracked, with a plurality of devices outside the body transmitting and receiving signals for triangulation using ultrasound or wireless signals like radio frequency, Bluetooth, or sound waves
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of microphones configured to detect one or more sounds generated by the speaker
Implementation Method 3
The location element is an ultrasonic transducer. Triangulation techniques are utilized in order to render an absolute location, including orientation, of the location element with respect to the three-dimensional coordinate system. To determine the absolute location of the location element, the time of flight of a sound wave transmitted from the location element relative to reference transducers located on reference catheters may be determined.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A surgical positioning system includes an emitter secured to a medical implant; at least three microphones; at least one processor; and a memory. The emitter has a speaker and a power source. The memory stores instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, cause the processor to receive, from each of the at least three microphones, information about a detected sound; and calculate, based on position information corresponding to each of the at least three microphones and the received information, a position of the implant.