Markerless Surgical Navigation via 3D Model Registration

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical navigation systems require complex setups and the use of markers like fiducials, trackers, and optical codes, which can interfere with the surgical process and increase setup time, making them cumbersome for medical professionals.

Innovation Solution

A markerless surgical navigation method that generates a three-dimensional reconstructed model of a patient's body from two-dimensional images, allowing for registration with intraoperative images using digital sample matching, potentially through iterative closest point algorithms or machine-learned models, eliminating the need for fiducials and other markers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If markers (fiducials, trackers, optical codes) are used for surgical navigation, then navigation precision is improved, but setup time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation precisionVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes markers (fiducials, trackers, optical codes) from the surgical navigation system entirely. Instead of relying on external markers placed on the patient's body, the system uses markerless navigation by capturing natural anatomical features and surface geometry through cameras and depth sensors during the surgical procedure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a three-dimensional digital model (copy) of the patient's anatomy by capturing images and depth data. This digital model serves as the reference framework for navigation, eliminating the need for physical markers. The digital model is continuously updated during surgery to maintain accuracy without requiring marker placement or repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If markers are used for surgical navigation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and interference with surgical process increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes markers (fiducials, trackers, optical codes) from the surgical navigation system entirely. Instead of relying on external markers placed on the patient's body, the system uses markerless navigation by capturing natural anatomical features and surface geometry through cameras and depth sensors during the surgical procedure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the patient's own anatomy as the reference framework. By capturing natural anatomical features, surface geometry, and depth information, the system creates a self-contained navigation reference that requires no external markers or additional complex components. The anatomy itself provides the positioning information needed for accurate navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If markers are continuously referenced to maintain reference location, then navigation accuracy is improved, but interference with surgical process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidinterference with surgical process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes markers (fiducials, trackers, optical codes) from the surgical navigation system entirely. Instead of relying on external markers placed on the patient's body, the system uses markerless navigation by capturing natural anatomical features and surface geometry through cameras and depth sensors during the surgical procedure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously captures images and depth data throughout the surgical procedure, continuously updating the three-dimensional digital model to reflect any changes in anatomy or positioning. This continuous updating maintains navigation accuracy without requiring discrete marker placement or reference points that would interfere with the surgical workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20240180634A1Surgical navigation systems and methods including matching of model to anatomy within boundaries

Publication Date: 2024.06.06 POLARISAR INC

AI summary

Surgical navigation systems and methods may match a model to an anatomy within sections defined by boundaries. Once the sections are matched, the sections as well as other portions of (e.g., the entire) model may be registered to an intraoperative scene. The model may be a three-dimensional model generated from a plurality of two-dimensional images of a portion of a body of a patient. The surgical navigation systems and methods may reduce and/or obviate a need for a marker, such as a fiducial, a tracker, an optical code, a tag, or a combination thereof during a medical procedure.