Optical Marker Tracking for Surgical Instrument Position and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments lack effective tracking systems for precise positioning and movement control during procedures, particularly in transvaginal hysteroscopic surgeries, which can lead to potential damage to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
A system with a pattern of markers and a sensor assembly is used to track surgical instruments, enabling detection of longitudinal translation and rotation through sensors on the instruments, allowing for precise control and movement tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surgical instruments are used without tracking systems, then the device complexity is low, but the surgical precision and patient safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with optical detection. Optical sensors detect markers on surgical instruments to determine position and orientation, substituting mechanical encoders or resolvers with a simpler optical field-based measurement system that provides high precision without mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by using optical markers with specific reflectivity properties. The markers are designed to reflect infrared light at specific patterns, allowing the optical sensors to detect instrument position and orientation through optical parameter changes rather than mechanical position encoding
2Measurement precision
If optical sensors and markers are used for tracking, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The optical markers serve multiple functions: they provide position information, orientation information, and instrument identification simultaneously. The same marker pattern on the instrument shaft provides all tracking data, eliminating the need for separate sensors or encoders on the instrument
Solution Approach 2:
The optical markers act as intermediaries between the surgical instrument and the optical sensors. Rather than requiring direct mechanical coupling or complex electromagnetic coupling, the markers mediate the information transfer through optical reflection, simplifying the overall system architecture
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 tracking and control of surgical instruments, reducing the risk of damage to surrounding tissues and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one sensor is an optical sensor and the plurality of first markers is optically distinct from the plurality of second markers
Implementation Method 2
The at least one sensor is an optical sensor and the plurality of first markers is optically distinct from the plurality of second markers
Data Source
AI summary
A system for tracking a surgical instrument includes a pattern and a sensor assembly. The pattern is configured for positioning on a first surgical instrument and has a plurality of first markers longitudinally spaced relative to one another and a plurality of second markers circumferentially spaced relative to one another. The sensor assembly is configured to operably couple to a second surgical instrument and includes at least one sensor. The at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one of the first markers, thereby enabling determination of longitudinal translation of the first surgical instrument relative to the second surgical instrument, and to detect an at least one of the second markers, thereby enabling determination of rotation of the first surgical instrument relative to the second surgical instrument.