Magnetic Guidance for Therapy Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for guiding tools during minimally invasive surgery face challenges due to the limitations of endoscopic cameras, which are ineffective inside certain organs, and the inability to perform high-frequency medical imaging scans due to radiation concerns and organ movement during breathing or heartbeat.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing a processor and computer-readable medium to determine the relative position of a therapy delivery instrument with respect to a target region within an organ, using a reference positioning tracker and spatial positioning techniques, allowing for accurate guidance without the need for continuous high-frequency imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If endoscopic cameras are used for guidance, then real-time visual feedback is obtained, but the procedure complexity increases and the camera cannot be used inside certain organs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical endoscopic camera system with a magnetic field-based tracking system. Electromagnetic sensors and coils detect organ movement and tool position without requiring physical cameras inside the organ, simplifying the procedure while maintaining guidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary to track organ movement and tool position. Instead of directly visualizing with cameras, the system uses magnetic field interactions between coils and sensors to indirectly measure and track positions, enabling guidance without complex camera manipulation
2Measurement precision
If high-frequency CT scans are performed to track organ movement, then real-time position tracking is achieved, but radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radiation-based CT scanning with a non-ionizing magnetic field-based tracking system. Electromagnetic sensors detect organ movement through magnetic field variations caused by organ motion, achieving real-time tracking without radiation exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the organ's own movement to generate detectable magnetic field variations. As the organ moves, the position of embedded coils relative to external sensors changes, automatically providing tracking data without requiring external radiation sources or contrast agents
3Speed
If CT scans are performed at high frequency to track moving organs, then real-time tracking is achieved, but the scan frequency must exceed 30 scans per second which increases radiation and contrast agent usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic magnetic field measurements at high frequency to track organ movement. Electromagnetic sensors continuously measure magnetic field variations as the organ moves, providing real-time tracking data without the harmful effects of high-frequency CT scanning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes radiation-based CT scanning with magnetic field-based detection. The system measures organ position through changes in magnetic field patterns caused by organ movement, achieving high-speed tracking without radiation or contrast agent requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for guiding a therapy delivery instrument to a target region of an organ to be treated is proposed, which comprises a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor cause the device to determine a relative position of the target region with respect to a reference positioning tracker inserted into the organ, determine in a coordinate system relative coordinates of the target region with respect to the reference positioning tracker, determine a relative position of a therapy delivery instrument relatively to the target region.