Nerve Tract Position Shift Detection in Surgical Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

During navigation-assisted surgery, especially for soft tissues like the brain or liver, the position of body structures can shift relative to markers during the operation, making it challenging to accurately compare preoperative and intraoperative data for precise surgical planning.

Innovation Solution

A method that automatically determines and visually highlights changes in position and shape of body structures by comparing preoperative and intraoperative data using marker devices, image processing algorithms, and probabilistic methods, allowing for real-time adjustment of surgical plans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If preoperative data are used for surgical planning, then detailed spatial information is available, but the position of body structures shifts relative to markers during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial resolution of preoperative dataVSAvoidposition accuracy relative to markers
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of data acquisition timing by acquiring additional intraoperative data at different time points than preoperative data. This allows the system to capture temporal changes in body structure position while maintaining the high spatial resolution characteristics of preoperative imaging, thereby resolving the contradiction between detailed spatial information and position accuracy over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by comparing preoperative and intraoperative data to detect positional shifts of body structures relative to markers. This feedback mechanism allows real-time identification of position changes and enables automatic or assisted adjustment of surgical plans to maintain measurement precision despite positional changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If visual comparison of preoperative and intraoperative images is performed, then position changes can be detected, but the process requires manual operator assessment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of position changesVSAvoidmanual visual check requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by automatically performing the comparison and detection of position changes between preoperative and intraoperative images. The computer system independently identifies positional shifts and generates appropriate outputs without requiring manual visual inspection by operators, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual visual comparison with an automated computer-based image processing and analysis system. This substitution uses algorithms to detect position changes, eliminating the need for manual operator assessment while maintaining or improving detection precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2044884B1Detection and determination of changes in position of structural parts of a body
Publication Date: 2015.12.09 BRAINLAB AG
  • EP2044884B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2044884B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2044884B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The method involves determining whether the change in position is occurred on the basis of pre-operative position of a nerve tract (100) and the intra-operative position of a nerve tract relative to a marker device. The difference in the position is identified when the position of pre-operative nerve tract differs from the position of intra-operative nerve tract and both the positions are respectively displayed. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) computer program for determining and identifying change in position of nerve tract; (2) device for determining and identifying change in position of nerve tract; and (3) navigation system.