Navigation Stylet With Segmented Tracking For Unobstructed Brain Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation systems for brain surgery lack the capability to provide simultaneous navigational information during minimally invasive access procedures, as existing navigational tools often obstruct optical imaging systems, limiting the precision and safety of accessing deep brain structures.

Innovation Solution

A navigation stylet integrated with a surgical access system, featuring a hollow outer sheath and obturator with atraumatic distal tips and tracking elements, allows for simultaneous use with optical imaging systems, providing enhanced spatial positioning and minimizing tissue trauma through atraumatic dilation and gentle tissue displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a navigation system is integrated into the surgical access system, then navigational precision and targeting accuracy are improved, but the system may obstruct optical imaging systems and reduce visualization quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigational precisionVSAvoidoptical imaging quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation system is segmented into separate tracking elements that can be positioned independently on the outer sheath or obturator, allowing the imaging system to maintain unobstructed view of the surgical field while navigation functions are distributed across multiple discrete components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation tracking elements are positioned in three-dimensional space around the surgical corridor rather than directly in the optical path, utilizing spatial dimensions perpendicular to the imaging axis to provide navigational data without blocking the optical imaging system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If traditional surgical retractors are used to access deep brain structures, then access to target tissue is achieved, but tissue trauma and retraction injury increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to target tissueVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The obturator is extracted as a separate, removable component that can be withdrawn after creating the surgical corridor, allowing the outer sheath to remain in place for continued access without requiring continuous retraction of brain tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The outer sheath functions as a flexible protective conduit that maintains the surgical corridor without requiring rigid retraction, allowing tissue to be displaced gently during insertion and then left undisturbed during the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a minimally invasive approach is used to access deep brain structures, then tissue trauma is reduced, but navigational guidance and precision targeting become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidnavigational guidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The outer sheath and obturator are designed with multiple functions integrated into single components, including structural support for minimally invasive access, mounting surfaces for navigation tracking elements, and guidance features that work together to provide both tissue protection and precise navigational guidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation tracking elements are nested on the outer surface or integrated into the structure of the outer sheath and obturator, allowing the navigation system to be embedded within the minimally invasive access system without increasing overall size or tissue disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables precise, minimally invasive access to deep brain structures with reduced trauma, allowing for accurate targeting of abnormalities while maintaining clear visualization and navigational guidance during surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

A navigation stylet integrated with a surgical access system, featuring a hollow outer sheath and obturator with atraumatic distal tips and tracking elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTracking elements detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10828123B2Navigation stylet for a tissue access system

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A navigation stylet assembly is disclosed. The navigation stylet comprises a navigation element, a handle, and an attachment member configured to be attached to a navigation array. The handle is attached to the navigation element, and the navigation element is partially disposed within the handle and exits the handle so as to be oriented at an angle that extends away from a central axis disposed through a body element of the navigation element.