Medical Navigation System Trajectory Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical navigation systems are cumbersome and provide inaccurate tracking, especially in port-based surgery, due to uncontrolled port axis orientation and limited access, leading to challenges in real-time registration of surgical trajectories relative to unique tissue characteristics, such as cerebral tissue.
Innovation Solution
A medical navigation system that utilizes multi-modal imaging for real-time data transformation and display, allowing surgeons to align surgical tools coaxially with pre-operative anatomical information, providing accurate positional feedback and tracking of multiple tools relative to the brain, thereby preventing damage to brain circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional external hardware tracking devices are used, then tracking capability is provided, but the system becomes cumbersome and tracking accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes external tracking hardware from the system entirely. Instead of using separate mechanical arms or optical tracking devices, the tracking functionality is integrated directly into the surgical navigation system through image-guided methods, eliminating the cumbersome external components while maintaining or improving tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tracking function with the surgical navigation imaging system. The navigation system simultaneously provides both anatomical visualization and spatial tracking capabilities through a unified image-guided platform, eliminating the need for separate tracking hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If indirect access port tracking is used, then tracking is attempted, but the limited access makes it impractical and unfeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces image data as an intermediary to determine port orientation. Instead of directly measuring port orientation through limited physical access, the system uses pre-acquired CT or MRI images of the patient's anatomy as a mediator to calculate and display the correct port orientation and trajectory on a screen, which can be viewed through the drape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the patient's internal anatomy through medical imaging. This digital replica allows surgeons to plan and determine port orientation and trajectory externally, then transfer this information to the actual surgical field without requiring direct physical measurement through the limited access port.
3Measurement precision
If real-time registration of surgical trajectory is performed, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the system requires integration of multiple imaging modalities and real-time data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal surgical navigation system that can process multiple imaging modalities (CT, MRI, ultrasound) through a single integrated platform. The system is designed to handle different image types and registration methods uniformly, allowing real-time trajectory registration without requiring separate specialized systems for each imaging modality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary registration and trajectory planning using pre-acquired imaging data before the actual surgery begins. The system pre-calculates the surgical trajectory and port orientation based on pre-operative CT or MRI scans, so that during surgery, real-time updates can be made more efficiently without performing complete registration from scratch.
4Measurement precision
If neuro-navigation accuracy is maintained throughout surgery, then navigation precision is preserved, but factors like draping, skin retractors, and surgery duration cause silent loss of accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback mechanisms where the navigation system periodically updates and re-registers the surgical trajectory during the procedure. Real-time imaging or tracking data is fed back to the system, which then corrects for any drift or accuracy loss caused by draping, retractors, or tissue movement, maintaining navigation precision throughout the entire surgery duration.
Data Source
AI summary
The navigation systems and methods facilitate aligning a tool in relation to a trajectory in real-time to receive input data from a pre-operative plan image, at least one multi-modal image, and at least one real-time multi-modal image; interactively track at least one neural fiber, whereby interactively tracked fiber data is obtainable; automatically generate output data by way of data transformation using the input data and the interactively tracked neural fiber data; and transmit the output data to at least one of: at least one display device for rendering at least one real-time interactive navigation display for facilitating neural navigation, and at least one drive device for positioning at least one tracking device in relation to the tool in real-time, whereby real-time alignment data is achievable, and whereby at least one neurological structure is preservable.