Surgical Instrument Trajectory Visualization Without Position Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical navigation systems for orthopedic procedures are cumbersome, costly, and prone to inaccuracies due to the need for optical or electromagnetic tracking, which can be time-consuming and require manual registration, leading to improper screw placement and additional bone damage during open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system incorporating a trajectory tracking system that utilizes a surgical handpiece assembly with a depth measurement attachment and a handpiece orientation sensor to track the real-time orientation of surgical instruments without requiring traditional position tracking, combined with a FluoroDisc for image de-warping and a navigation system for precise alignment and superimposition of virtual representations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical or electromagnetic tracking is used for surgical navigation, then position tracking capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition tracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex optical or electromagnetic tracking subsystem from the surgical navigation system. Instead of using traditional position tracking methods, the invention relies on orientation sensing alone, removing the need for tracking cameras, markers, and electromagnetic field generators, thereby simplifying the overall system while maintaining navigation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical tracking system with an electronic orientation sensing system. Handpiece orientation sensors directly measure the orientation of surgical instruments without requiring external tracking infrastructure, substituting a simpler electronic sensing approach for the complex mechanical-optical system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual registration is performed for coordinate system alignment, then system setup is achieved, but time consumption and potential for error increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregistration capabilityVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic coordinate system registration without requiring manual intervention. The handpiece orientation sensors automatically establish the relationship between the instrument coordinate system and the patient coordinate system through automated algorithms, eliminating the need for surgeons or technicians to manually perform registration procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses real-time orientation data from sensors to provide feedback for automatic registration. The navigation computer continuously receives orientation signals and automatically adjusts coordinate system alignment based on the measured orientations, creating a closed-loop system that self-corrects without manual input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If traditional position tracking is used, then instrument location is monitored, but procedural time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument position monitoringVSAvoidsurgical efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the position tracking function from the navigation system, retaining only the essential orientation monitoring capability. By eliminating the position tracking subsystem, the system becomes faster and more efficient while still providing sufficient navigation information for safe and accurate screw placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of tracking position and then deriving orientation, the patent inverts the approach by directly measuring orientation without tracking position. This fundamental reversal of the traditional approach eliminates the time-consuming position tracking环节 while maintaining the ability to monitor instrument orientation relative to the bone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260026895A1Systems And Methods For Visualizing A Trajectory With A Surgical Instrument

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A surgical system for operating on a bone of a patient is described. The surgical system includes a reference device including one or more radiopaque markers, a first sensor configured to generate a first signal pertaining to orientation data of the reference device relative to a first coordinate system, a surgical instrument for coupling to an end effector, a second sensor configured to generate a second signal pertaining to orientation data of at least one of the end effector and the surgical instrument relative to a second coordinate system, and a navigation system. The navigation system is configured to determine an orientation of at least one of the end effector and the surgical instrument and superimpose a virtual representation of at least one of the end effector and the surgical instrument over the image based on the determined orientation and user input.