Optical Tracking System for Oral Surgery Instrument Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current image-guided surgery systems for oral procedures face challenges in accurately tracking patient movement and instrument location due to the need for prefabricated passive guides, limited mouth opening, and the inability to adjust plans during surgery, especially in oral surgery where optical tracking requires external fixtures that interfere with the surgical zone.
Innovation Solution
An image guidance system with a removably attachable oral fixture and tracking assemblies featuring optically visible patterns, captured by external cameras, which processes images to triangulate the location and orientation of surgical instruments relative to a CT scan, allowing for real-time adjustment and tracking without the need for external fixtures within the mouth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a passive surgical guide is used to direct the doctor to the proper location, angle and depth, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to prefabrication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static passive guide to a dynamic active tracking system. The oral fixture with tracking patterns and external cameras enables real-time monitoring and adjustment of surgical instrument position, allowing the surgical plan to be modified during the procedure without requiring prefabrication of a fixed guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical passive guide system with an optical/electronic tracking system. Instead of using a physical guide that mechanically constrains the surgical instrument, the system uses optical cameras to track the position of tracking patterns on the oral fixture and instrument, substituting mechanical guidance with optical measurement and digital display.
2Measurement precision
If optical sensors are placed inside the mouth to track movement, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to interference with the surgical zone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical sensors from the oral cavity and places them outside the mouth. The tracking patterns are projected onto the oral fixture and surgical instrument from the exterior, allowing movement tracking without placing sensors or fixtures inside the surgical zone, thus eliminating interference with the surgical field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tracking patterns as an intermediary between the oral fixture/instrument and the external optical sensors. These patterns serve as mediators that carry movement information from the surgical tools to the external cameras, enabling measurement without direct contact between sensors and the surgical zone.
3Measurement precision
If a head mounted fixture is used for tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to limited mouth opening requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the tracking function into multiple components: an oral fixture that can be attached to teeth or bone, tracking patterns on the fixture and instrument, and external cameras. This segmentation allows the tracking system to work with minimal mouth opening by placing patterns on the instrument itself rather than requiring a large head-mounted fixture.
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
This system enables precise tracking and adjustment of surgical instruments in real-time, improving accuracy and flexibility during oral surgery by eliminating the need for prefabricated guides and reducing patient discomfort, while allowing for changes in surgical plans without requiring extensive reconfiguration.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of cameras are mounted away from the surgical area at a position that permits the cameras, when activated, to capture images of the optically visible patterns on the first and second tracking pattern surfaces
Implementation Method 2
The processing system is configured to recognize the optically visible patterns and triangulate the locations and orientations of the first and second tracking assemblies
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An image guidance system for tracking a surgical instrument during a surgical procedure. The image guidance system includes a plurality of cameras adapted to be located external to a surgical area for capturing images of optically visible patterns. A processing system receives and processes the images to recognize the patterns and triangulate the locations and orientations of each pattern relative to a camera. The processing system uses a reference dataset which defines a reference coordinate system based on alignment to a portion of the oral anatomy. The processing system determines the location and orientation of the tracked instrument based on the reference dataset.