Polyhedral Bone Marker for Reliable Tracking in Obscured Arthroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical sites during arthroscopic procedures are often obscured by debris and loose tissue, which can obscure QR codes used for tracking medical instruments, leading to loss of computer-assisted navigation.
Innovation Solution
A bone marker with a polyhedron having fiducial patterns on multiple outward-facing surfaces and a flange to trap tissue, combined with a self-tapping screw for secure attachment to the bone, ensuring fiducial patterns remain visible despite debris and tissue obscuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a QR code is attached to a medical instrument for tracking, then computer-assisted navigation is enabled, but the QR code becomes obscured by debris and loose tissue in the surgical site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional QR code on a flat surface to a three-dimensional polyhedral marker with fiducial patterns distributed across multiple faces. This dimensional change allows the tracking system to detect the marker from various angles and depths, making it resistant to obscuration by surgical debris and tissue that would block a traditional 2D QR code.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent places fiducial patterns on multiple local surfaces (faces) of the polyhedral marker rather than relying on a single location. Each face can be independently detected, and the system can select the most visible face for tracking, ensuring reliable detection even when some faces are obscured by debris or tissue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flange is added to the bone marker to trap tissue, then tissue obscuration of fiducial patterns is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element, provides a bearing surface to compress and trap soft tissue away from the marker, and helps position the marker correctly on the bone. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange is integrated with the polyhedral marker body as a single unified structure rather than being a separate attachment component. This merging of the marker body and tissue-compression flange simplifies the overall device architecture while achieving both tracking and tissue management functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Tracking objects in medical procedures. At least one example is a method comprising: retaining a bone marker on a distal end of an installation tool, the bone marker comprising a polyhedron having a fiducial pattern on each of at least three outward facing surfaces of the polyhedron, an externally-threaded screw extending distally from the polyhedron, and a flange proximate to an intersection of the polyhedron and the externally-threaded screw; positioning a distal end of the externally-threaded screw against a bone at a marker location; screwing the externally-threaded screw into the bone by way of the installation tool; and trapping tissue against the bone beneath the flange.