Oral Patient Tracking Device Using Electromagnetic Sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current image-guided medical procedures face challenges in accurately tracking patient movement during procedures due to invasive or inaccurate methods of affixing dynamic reference frames, which can lead to undesirable movement and misalignment of image and patient spaces.
Innovation Solution
A flexible conformable sensor housing is inserted into a body cavity, conforming to its shape and containing an electromagnetic sensor to track patient movement non-invasively, maintaining registration of image and patient spaces and displaying navigated locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dynamic reference frame is affixed to the patient using bone screws, then the tracking accuracy is improved, but the invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical bone screw fixation system with an electromagnetic field-based tracking system. The dynamic reference frame contains electromagnetic sensors that detect position through electromagnetic fields, eliminating the need for invasive mechanical fixation while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electromagnetic field as a mediator between the dynamic reference frame and the tracking system. The electromagnetic sensors detect position through this field, allowing non-invasive tracking without direct mechanical attachment to bone.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-invasive dynamic reference frame is used, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the tracking accuracy deteriorates due to skin mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical attachment methods (which suffer from skin mobility issues) with electromagnetic field-based detection. The dynamic reference frame uses electromagnetic sensors that can detect position through tissues without direct skin contact, eliminating the skin mobility problem while maintaining non-invasive placement.
3Manufacturing precision
If bone affixed dynamic reference frames are used, then the registration accuracy is improved, but the procedure complexity increases due to incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical bone screw fixation procedure with a simpler non-invasive electromagnetic sensing approach. The dynamic reference frame uses electromagnetic sensors that can be positioned without surgical incisions, significantly reducing procedure complexity while maintaining registration accuracy through electromagnetic field detection.
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 solution provides accurate and non-invasive patient tracking, reducing movement-related errors and improving the alignment of image and patient spaces, thereby enhancing the precision of image-guided medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
An electromagnetic sensor is coupled to the sensor housing
Data Source
AI summary
A patient tracking device for insertion into an oral cavity includes a sensor housing comprising a first surface shaped to correspond to a pallet within the oral cavity. At least a portion of the first surface affixes the sensor housing to the oral cavity. An electromagnetic sensor is coupled to the sensor housing.