Neurosurgical System Decoupling Imaging and Planning from Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery using stereotactic devices is time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring two stages: imaging and planning, and procedure execution, which burdens patients, physicians, and operating room resources.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system that decouples the imaging and planning stage from the procedure execution stage by using anchor screws, a surgical frame, and a stereotactic device with adjustable components, allowing for precise placement of instruments and electrodes, reducing the need for extensive operating room time and resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a traditional stereotactic device is used for DBS surgery, then precise electrode placement can be achieved, but the surgery becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive due to two separate stages requiring operating room resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode placement precisionVSAvoidsurgery duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the stereotactic frame into two independent components: a permanent anchor screw array attached to the patient's skull, and a removable stereotactic device that can be attached and detached as needed. This allows the imaging and planning stage to be completed outside the operating room while maintaining precise electrode placement capability during the actual surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor screws are installed and the stereotactic frame is attached during the imaging and planning stage before the actual surgery. This preliminary action allows all measurements and planning to be completed in advance, so that during the surgery itself, only the essential electrode placement needs to be performed, significantly reducing operating room time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If a traditional stereotactic device is used for DBS surgery, then accurate surgical planning can be performed, but operating room resources and personnel are burdened due to the need for two stages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical planning accuracyVSAvoidoperating room efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the time-consuming imaging and planning processes from the operating room environment by allowing the stereotactic frame to be attached and removed. This enables planning to be completed in a different setting (outside OR), freeing up operating room resources for the actual surgical procedure only.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

All surgical planning, imaging, and coordinate determination are performed in advance while the frame is attached, before the patient enters the operating room. This preliminary completion of planning tasks eliminates the need for lengthy in-OR setup and planning phases, thereby improving operating room productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If a stereotactic headframe is used during imaging and planning, then surgical coordinates can be determined, but patient comfort deteriorates due to discomfort from the headframe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinate determination accuracyVSAvoidpatient discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the stereotactic frame into permanent anchor screws that remain attached to the patient's skull, and a removable stereotactic device that can be detached after imaging and planning. This segmentation allows the bulky device portion to be removed, reducing patient discomfort while maintaining the accuracy of previously determined coordinates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

All coordinate determination and surgical planning are completed while the frame is attached during the imaging stage. Once these measurements are obtained, the removable portion of the frame can be detached, eliminating the source of patient discomfort before the actual surgery begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3749197B1Neurosurgical systems
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH
  • EP3749197B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3749197B1 patent drawingFigure 6
  • EP3749197B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

A surgical system includes a skull attachment device that includes a support base configured to seat against a skull of a patient and one or more pins extending from a bottom surface of the support base and configured to pierce the scalp to seat the skull attachment device against the skull. The surgical system also includes an interface disposed along a top surface of the support base and having a shape that compliments a profile of a mating feature of a stereotactic device for defining a position and an orientation of the stereotactic device with respect to the support base while the interface is engaged with the mating feature.