Multiple Surgical Navigation Views for Instrument-Specific Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical navigation systems often provide suboptimal single navigation views when multiple medical instruments are used, especially if they are far apart or handled by different surgeons, limiting the ability to navigate each instrument effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize multiple navigation views, each based on a respective set comprising a medical instrument and a patient tracker with a fixed spatial relationship, allowing simultaneous display of these views to enhance navigation accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single navigation view is used to visualize multiple medical instruments, then the system complexity is reduced, but the navigational accuracy and usability for each instrument deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation system structureVSAvoidnavigational accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single navigation view into multiple separate navigation views, each dedicated to a specific medical instrument. This segmentation allows each instrument to have its own optimized visualization, improving navigational accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional single view to a multi-dimensional display system where multiple views can be arranged in spatial configurations (e.g., grid layouts, cascading arrangements). This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous presentation of multiple instrument perspectives without overwhelming the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multiple navigation views are displayed simultaneously, then the navigational accuracy for each instrument is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigational accuracyVSAvoidnavigation system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal navigation view template that can be replicated and customized for different instruments. Each navigation view uses the same functional structure and controls, allowing the system to handle multiple instruments with consistent interface patterns, thereby managing complexity through standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic navigation views that can be adjusted, hidden, or reconfigured based on the current surgical context and user needs. The system can automatically activate or deactivate specific views based on which instruments are currently in use, adapting the display complexity to match the operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a single navigation view is used for multiple instruments handled by different surgeons, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity and workflow efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface usabilityVSAvoidsurgical workflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns specific navigation views to specific surgeons or instrument operators, allowing each user to have customized information tailored to their specific instrument and surgical task. This local customization improves workflow efficiency by presenting only the relevant information to each user, reducing cognitive load while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms where each navigation view provides immediate visual feedback about the specific instrument's position and status. This targeted feedback enables surgeons to work more efficiently with their respective instruments without needing to constantly monitor a single consolidated view, improving overall surgical workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4487803B1Technique for supporting clinical personnel with multiple navigation views
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS LIMITED
  • EP4487803B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4487803B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4487803B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for supporting clinical personnel with multiple navigation views is provided. The method comprises; obtaining patient tracking information indicative of tracked poses of two or more patient trackers, each of the patient trackers having a fixed spatial relationship relative to one or more anatomical elements of a patient's body; obtaining instrument tracking information indicative of tracked poses of two or more medical instruments; and triggering, based on the patient tracking information and the instrument tracking information, simultaneous display of multiple navigation views, each of the navigation views being determined based on a respective set comprising (i) at least one of the medical instruments and (ii) at least one of the patient trackers, wherein the sets differ from one another in the at least one of the patient trackers. A system, a computer program and a carrier are also provided.