Organ Conformable Panel with Passive Ultrasound Markers for Surgical Tool Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
During medical procedures, precise and accurate positioning of surgical tools within a patient is challenging due to organ movement, which existing technologies fail to address effectively, especially when involuntary movements occur during surgery.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ultrasound sensing system that utilizes an organ conformable panel with passive ultrasound detectable markers and an organ surface ultrasound probe to track organ movement in real-time, allowing for precise tool positioning by distinguishing between different acoustic impedances and providing both ultrasound and optical data for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional surgical tool positioning methods are used, then the procedure is simpler to perform, but positioning precision deteriorates due to organ movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the monitoring task by placing multiple passive ultrasound detectable markers at different locations on the organ surface. Each marker independently reflects ultrasound signals, allowing the system to track multiple points of organ movement simultaneously. This segmentation enables precise calculation of organ displacement and rotation, thereby improving tool positioning precision without requiring a single complex active sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
Passive ultrasound detectable markers serve as intermediaries between the organ surface and the ultrasound sensing system. These markers do not generate their own signals but reflect ultrasound waves from the organ surface, making the subtle movements of the organ detectable. This intermediary approach enhances measurement precision by providing high-contrast reflection points while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
2Measurement precision
If real-time organ movement tracking is implemented, then tool positioning accuracy improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passive ultrasound markers create acoustic impedance contrasts that serve as detectable signatures against the background organ tissue. By using materials with distinctly different acoustic properties than the surrounding tissue, the markers produce strong, easily distinguishable ultrasound reflections. This approach simplifies the detection process by creating high-contrast signals that are straightforward to identify and track in real-time ultrasound images.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the organ surface geometry by tracking the positions of multiple markers relative to each other. This marker-based coordinate system replicates the organ's surface topology and movement patterns, allowing the system to infer overall organ displacement and rotation from marker trajectories. This copying approach simplifies measurement by reducing complex continuous surface tracking to discrete point tracking.
3Measurement precision
If multiple detection modalities (ultrasound and optical) are used, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passive markers are designed to serve multiple detection modalities simultaneously. The same physical markers that reflect ultrasound waves also possess optical properties (such as fluorescent or reflective characteristics) that enable optical detection. This multi-functionality allows a single marker design to work with both ultrasound and optical sensing systems, improving positioning accuracy through multi-modal tracking while avoiding the need for separate marker systems for each modality.
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 more precise and accurate positioning of surgical tools relative to the target tissue, compensating for movement caused by tool interaction or involuntary respiration, thereby improving the precision and safety of medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the marker having a second acoustic impedance different than the first acoustic impedance
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound sensing system may include an organ conformable panel to be positioned on an exterior surface of an internal organ and a passive ultrasound detectable marker supported by the organ conformable panel. The organ conformable panel has a first acoustic impedance while the marker has a second acoustic impedance different than the first acoustic impedance.