Medical Navigation Registration Using Predetermined Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical navigation systems lack efficient and time-saving methods for real-time tracking of medical instruments within branched body structures, particularly in procedures like bronchoscopy, where patient-specific data is needed to provide context for positional information, but existing methods are cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a bronchoscope with a tracking sensor that uses pulsed DC magnetic fields to track the instrument's location within a bronchial tree structure, combined with a navigation system that generates a patient-specific model from CT scans, allowing for real-time mapping of the instrument's position onto a displayed representation of the structure, using predetermined points to simplify registration and provide navigation guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real time imaging via fluoroscopy is employed to track the medical instrument, then the position of the instrument can be directly tracked, but the overall image or representation of the structure is not provided and no context for positional information is available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fluoroscopy-based real-time position tracking with pre-acquired three-dimensional anatomical models (from CT or MRI) to create a fused navigation system. The instrument position data from fluoroscopy is overlaid onto the comprehensive 3D anatomical model, merging the real-time positional accuracy with the contextual anatomical information to provide both precise tracking and structural context simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If patient-specific data defining a geometric model is employed to map positional information, then navigation guidance can be provided, but the process is time consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by acquiring and processing the patient-specific three-dimensional anatomical model data (via CT or MRI scanning and model generation) before the actual navigation procedure begins. This pre-processing creates the geometric model and establishes the coordinate system transformation in advance, so that during the procedure, only real-time instrument position mapping is required, significantly reducing the time and complexity during the actual navigation.
3Measurement precision
If magnetic field generating and sensing technologies are used to track the instrument, then positional information can be collected, but no overall image or representation of the structure is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the pre-built three-dimensional anatomical model as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the magnetic field-based position detection and the anatomical structure. The magnetic sensor provides instrument position coordinates, which are then mapped onto the 3D model that represents the anatomical structure. This intermediary model translates the abstract magnetic field position data into meaningful anatomical context without requiring direct imaging during the procedure.
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
This approach enables accurate and efficient navigation of medical instruments by simplifying the registration process, reducing time consumption, and providing continuous guidance throughout the procedure, even in complex branched structures, while accounting for respiratory and other patient movements.
Implementation Method 1
a bronchoscope with a tracking sensor that uses pulsed DC magnetic fields to track the instrument's location
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for navigating a medical instrument in a branched structure of a body employs a tracking system, for collecting positional information for the medical instrument, and data, which defines a geometrical model of the branched structure, in particular, coordinates for predetermined points defining a pathway extending along branches of the model. Coordinates are identified for each Euclidean distance of the instrument, from an anchor point of a coordinate system for the tracking system, that corresponds to a Euclidean distance of a designated point, of the predetermined points, from a reference point of a coordinate system for the model, wherein the anchor point of the tracking coordinate system has been established to correspond to the reference point of the model coordinate system. The two coordinate systems are registered to one another using the identified coordinates of the instrument and the corresponding coordinates of each designated point.