Minimally Invasive Navigation System with Port Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation systems for minimally invasive neuro-surgical procedures lack integration of pre-operative and intra-operative plans, leading to inaccuracies and challenges in port-based surgery due to uncontrolled port axis orientation, limited access, and ongoing loss of neuronavigation accuracy during procedures.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system that utilizes a multi-segment path trajectory based on pre-operative anatomical information, providing real-time guidance and overlay images to assist surgeons in aligning surgical tools coaxially with planned paths, and adaptively updates pre-operative MRI images with intra-operative data for accurate tracking and positioning of tools and anatomical structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If port-based surgery is performed with free port axis orientation, then surgical access flexibility is improved, but navigation accuracy deteriorates due to uncontrolled orientation parameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical access flexibilityVSAvoidnavigation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A port tracking device is introduced as an intermediary between the port and the navigation system. This device includes fiducial markers that enable the navigation system to accurately track the port's position and orientation, thereby maintaining navigation accuracy while preserving surgical access flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The port tracking device serves multiple functions: it provides fiducial markers for navigation tracking, defines the port axis orientation, and enables both direct and indirect tracking modes. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by integrating navigation accuracy requirements into the surgical access framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If multiple imaging modalities are displayed on separate screens, then information completeness is improved, but surgical workflow efficiency deteriorates due to cognitive integration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidsurgical workflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple imaging modalities (optical video feed and navigated MRI/CT/PET data) into a single integrated display. The optical information and navigated imaging data are combined on one screen with proper registration, eliminating the need for separate screens and reducing cognitive integration requirements while maintaining complete information presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses color coding and visual differentiation to distinguish between different imaging modalities and information layers in the integrated display. This allows the surgeon to easily differentiate between optical video, MRI, CT, and PET data in the combined view, improving workflow efficiency while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If indirect access port tracking is used due to limited access, then surgical feasibility is improved, but tracking accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical feasibilityVSAvoidtracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A port tracking device with fiducial markers serves as an intermediary that can be tracked indirectly through the limited surgical access. The fiducial markers enable accurate optical tracking even when direct line-of-sight to the port is blocked, maintaining tracking accuracy while preserving surgical feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If navigation system is registered statically through viewing station, then system complexity is reduced, but real-time accuracy deteriorates due to ongoing loss of neuronavigation accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidreal-time navigation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The port tracking device with fiducial markers is pre-configured and registered with the navigation system before surgery begins. This preliminary setup establishes accurate initial registration that persists throughout the procedure, preventing the ongoing loss of accuracy that occurs with static viewing station registration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously tracks the port tracking device throughout the surgery using optical tracking technology. This real-time feedback mechanism maintains navigation accuracy by continuously updating the port position and orientation, counteracting the ongoing loss of accuracy that occurs with static registration methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10433763B2Systems and methods for navigation and simulation of minimally invasive therapy

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein is navigation and simulation systems and methods for minimally invasive therapy in which the navigation system imports a planning method using patient specific pre-operative images. The navigation system uses intraoperative imaging during the medical procedure to update the preoperative images and provides images of tracked surgical tools along the surgical path prepared from the preoperative images.