Multi-Plane Marker Arrays for Continuous XR Surgical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigated surgery systems experience intermittent tracking failures due to objects being moved outside the camera's field of view or obstructed, leading to pauses and reduced accuracy, robustness, and ergonomic issues.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool tracking array with multiple marker holders and an extended reality (XR) headset system that allows for real-time tracking and control of surgical tools, enabling continuous tracking by adjusting camera positions and providing augmented or virtual reality views to enhance user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single stereo camera system is used to track surgical instruments, then the system complexity is reduced, but tracking reliability deteriorates due to intermittent failures when objects move outside field of view or become obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple camera systems (primary stereo camera and secondary cameras) into a unified tracking system. The secondary cameras are integrated to provide additional viewing angles and ensure continuous tracking when the primary system loses sight of markers, thereby improving reliability without creating entirely separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between primary and secondary cameras based on real-time tracking conditions. When markers move outside the primary camera field of view or become obstructed, the system automatically activates secondary cameras to maintain continuous tracking, making the system adaptable to changing surgical environments.
2Reliability
If markers are tracked in a limited camera field of view, then the tracking area is reduced, but tracking accuracy is improved, however robustness deteriorates when objects move outside the tracking area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds spatial dimensions to the tracking system by deploying secondary cameras at different locations and angles. This creates a multi-dimensional tracking volume that expands the effective tracking area while maintaining the precision of individual camera views through coordinated multi-camera observation.
3Measurement precision
If multiple marker holders in independent planes are used to improve tracking accuracy, then manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking array is segmented into multiple independent marker holders positioned in different planes. Each marker holder can be manufactured and calibrated separately, then assembled into the complete array. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving high tracking accuracy through the multi-plane geometric configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tool tracking array can include a first marker holder, a second marker holder, and a tool holder. The first marker holder is configured to couple a first marker to the surgical tracking array in a first plane. The second marker holder is configured to couple a second marker to the surgical tool tracking array in a second plane that is independent and substantially parallel to the first plane. The tool holder is configured to couple a portion of a surgical tool to the surgical tool tracking array in a third plane that is independent from the first plane and the second plane.