Laparoscopic Navigation System for Trocar Placement Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In laparoscopic surgical procedures, accurate placement of access ports, such as trocar obturators, is challenging due to reliance on rough measurements, leading to inefficient access and potential need for repositioning, which increases surgical time and risk of errors.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic planning and navigation system that generates an anatomical map from images, calculates and displays the projected path of the trocar obturator relative to the patient's coordinate frame, using position sensors and real-time imaging to refine the placement, ensuring accurate access port positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rough measurements and anatomical landmarks are used for access port placement, then the surgical procedure can be performed with simple tools and methods, but the placement accuracy is insufficient leading to inefficient access and potential repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the patient's anatomy through 3D reconstruction from pre-operative images. This digital anatomical model is then overlaid with augmented reality markers during surgery, allowing the surgeon to see the projected path of the trocar obturator superimposed on the actual patient anatomy, thereby achieving precise placement without complex physical guidance structures
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device acts as an intermediary between the pre-operative imaging data and the real-time surgical field. It processes images, generates 3D anatomical maps, calculates projected paths, and displays augmented reality overlays that mediate between the surgeon's visual field and the precise anatomical targets, enabling accurate placement without direct physical measurement tools
2Productivity
If accurate access port placement is achieved through advanced navigation systems, then surgical errors are reduced and operating time is shortened, but the device complexity and initial setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring and processing pre-operative images before surgery to create a 3D anatomical map. During surgery, this pre-computed model is rapidly displayed with augmented reality overlays showing the projected trocar path, eliminating the need for time-consuming intraoperative measurements and reducing surgical procedure time
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying the projected path of the trocar obturator overlaid on the actual surgical field through augmented reality. This visual feedback allows the surgeon to immediately see whether the intended insertion path aligns with the desired anatomical target, enabling precise placement and reducing the need for repositioning
3Loss of information
If real-time imaging and augmented reality overlays are used to guide trocar placement, then the projected path can be visualized accurately, but the system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the patient's internal anatomy from pre-operative images and displays it as an augmented reality overlay during surgery. This digital anatomical model shows the projected trocar path and underlying structures without requiring physical dissection or complex intraoperative imaging equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms 2D pre-operative images into a 3D anatomical map, then projects this 3D model into the surgeon's 2D visual field through augmented reality displays. This dimensional transformation allows the surgeon to visualize deep anatomical structures and the projected trocar path in the context of the actual surgical field without adding physical complexity to the surgical site
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing a surgical procedure includes generating, by a computing device, an anatomical map of a patient from a plurality of images; positioning a trocar obturator adjacent to the patient; calculating, by the computing device, a projected path of the trocar obturator; overlaying, by the computing device, the projected path of the trocar obturator with the anatomical map of the patient; and displaying the projected path of the trocar obturator and the anatomical map of the patient on a display device to define an augmented image.