Surgical Navigation Camera Fixation for Stable Instrument Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image-guided surgery systems face navigational errors due to relative motion between the localizing camera and the dynamic reference frame, which is exacerbated by changes in viewing angle and patient repositioning during surgery.

Innovation Solution

The system fixes the camera relative to the surgical site and immobilizes the patient using a specialized OR table with sloping pelvis support pads and fixation sheets, ensuring the camera and patient remain stationary relative to each other, and employs a registration array that is tracked to maintain accurate spatial correlation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the localizing camera is moved to maintain line of sight for localizing the dynamic reference frame, then the camera can accommodate microscopes, instruments, and personnel entering the surgical field, but navigational error is inadvertently induced due to relative motion between the camera and markers on the dynamic reference frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera adaptabilityVSAvoidnavigational accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the camera to accommodate surgical needs, the patent inverts the approach by fixing the camera in a stationary position and allowing the surgical field to adapt to the camera's fixed viewpoint. This eliminates the relative motion that causes navigational errors while maintaining the ability to accommodate microscopes, instruments, and personnel through the fixed camera's stable field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the patient is repositioned during surgery by rotating or adjusting the operating room table, then surgical access is improved, but navigational error is induced when the camera moves relative to the markers on the dynamic reference frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessVSAvoidnavigational accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the traditional approach by keeping the camera stationary and allowing the patient and surgical table to be repositioned freely. This inversion eliminates the problem of camera movement relative to the dynamic reference frame, enabling patient repositioning for improved surgical access without inducing navigational errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the viewing angle between the camera and markers on the dynamic reference frame changes, then the camera can accommodate different surgical positions and personnel, but the accuracy of spatial coordinate measurements changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing angle flexibilityVSAvoidspatial coordinate accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the problem by fixing the camera in a stationary position with a fixed viewing angle. This eliminates the issue of changing viewing angles affecting measurement accuracy, while still allowing flexibility in surgical positioning and personnel arrangement within the camera's fixed field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12569301B2Surgical navigation system for alignment of a surgical instrument

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 ALPHATEC SPINE INC

AI summary

A surgical navigation method utilizing a computer system. The method includes the steps of: (a) fixing a camera relative to a surgical site on a patient such that the camera does not move relative to the surgical site; (b) restraining the body portion of the patient which includes the surgical site relative to an operating table supporting the patient, such that the body portion does not move relative to the operating table; and (c) detecting with the camera the position of a medical instrument having a tracker array.