Model Registration via Anatomical Landmarks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tracking systems face challenges in accurately registering a model of an object with a reference coordinate system, particularly in medical contexts where precise alignment of intraoperative information with patient body parts is required, often relying on fiducial markers and complex registration processes.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an optical, electro-magnetic, or ultrasonic tracking system to determine the position and orientation of a portable unit relative to fiducial markers or anatomical landmarks, using multiple registration positions and image processing techniques to establish correspondence between the model and tracking system coordinate systems, allowing for precise registration and tracking of medical tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fiducial markers are used for registration, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the registration function from complex fiducial marker systems and implements it through natural anatomical landmarks that are inherently present on the patient's body. This eliminates the need for additional external markers and fixtures, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly reducing device complexity and setup requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing algorithms as an intermediary between the tracking system and anatomical landmarks. These algorithms automatically identify and match landmarks across different coordinate systems, enabling precise registration without requiring physical fiducial markers, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple registration positions are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary capture of images at multiple registration positions before processing. By acquiring all necessary image data in advance during a brief setup phase, the system can then perform computationally intensive matching algorithms without extending the actual surgical procedure time, thus improving precision while minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual, time-consuming mechanical alignment procedures with automated image processing and computational matching. The system uses algorithms to automatically identify anatomical landmarks and compute transformation matrices, substituting slow mechanical adjustment with fast computational processing to achieve high precision registration efficiently.
3Ease of operation
If automatic recognition of anatomical landmarks is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system displays detected anatomical landmarks to the operator for verification. The operator can review the automatic detection results and make corrections if necessary, ensuring that ease of operation is maintained while reliability is preserved through human-in-the-loop validation of the automatic recognition process.
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 registration of the model coordinate system with the reference coordinate system, facilitating the display of intraoperative information and tool tracking, thereby enhancing surgical precision and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The portable unit includes an optical detection assembly
Implementation Method 2
an electro-magnetic tracking system to determine a position and an orientation of a portable unit
Implementation Method 3
an ultrasonic tracking system to determine a position and an orientation of a portable unit
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
System for registering a coordinate system associated with a pre-acquired model of an object with a reference coordinate system. The system includes a portable unit which includes a display, a tracking system for tracking the portable unit and a processor. The processor is coupled with the portable unit and with the tracking system. The processor determines the position and orientation of the portable unit. The processor further determines the position of at least one marker located on the object according to at least one of, a tracked pointer and respective position related Information. The processor further displays registration related information' on the display. At least one of the registration related information and the display location of the registration related information are related to the position and orientation of the portable unit. The position of the at least one marker, in the coordinate system associated with the pre-acquired model is predetermined.