Flexible Nasal Sensor Housing for Non-Invasive Patient Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image-guided medical procedures face challenges in accurately tracking patient movement during procedures, as traditional dynamic reference frames can be invasive and prone to movement errors.
Innovation Solution
A patient tracking device with a flexible conformable sensor housing is inserted into a body cavity, conforming to its shape and housing an electromagnetic sensor to collect position data and maintain registration between image and patient spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dynamic reference frame is affixed to the patient using bone screws, then the tracking accuracy is improved, but the invasiveness and complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical bone screw fixation system with an electromagnetic field-based tracking system. The electromagnetic sensor and localizer eliminate the need for physical mechanical attachment to bone, thereby maintaining tracking accuracy while removing the invasive surgical incisions and bone drilling required by traditional mechanical reference frame attachment methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary between the tracking system and the patient's anatomy. Instead of directly mechanically attaching reference frames to bone, the system uses electromagnetic fields to indirectly track position, allowing accurate measurement without direct physical intrusion into the body
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-invasive dynamic reference frame is attached using tape, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the tracking reliability deteriorates due to skin mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tape attachment system with an electromagnetic sensing system. Instead of relying on mechanical adhesion that suffers from skin mobility, the electromagnetic sensor detects position through electromagnetic field interactions that are not affected by superficial skin movement, thereby maintaining non-invasiveness while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic field serves as an intermediary that penetrates through the skin and underlying tissues to detect positional information from deeper anatomical structures. This intermediary approach allows the system to ignore superficial skin mobility and track the actual underlying anatomy with high reliability
3Measurement precision
If a dynamic reference frame is attached during pre-operative imaging, then the registration between image space and patient space is improved, but the procedure complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic sensor system serves multiple functions: it provides tracking during pre-operative imaging, maintains tracking throughout the surgical procedure, and enables real-time navigation. This single multi-functional system eliminates the need for separate reference frame attachment procedures and multiple different tracking systems, thereby reducing overall procedure complexity while maintaining registration accuracy
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 solution allows for non-invasive, accurate tracking of patient movement, enhancing the precision of image-guided medical procedures by maintaining registration between image and patient spaces.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor is disposed within the housing... An electromagnetic sensor is coupled to the sensor housing... collecting position data of the body cavity from the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A patient tracking device for insertion into a body cavity includes a flexible conformable sensor housing having a sensor cavity therein. The housing conforms to the body cavity when inserted therein. A sensor is disposed within the housing.