Polyhedral Fiducial Markers for Stable Surgical Camera Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiducial markers used in surgeries like ACL reconstruction suffer from intermittent connectivity issues with camera systems due to their shape and configuration, leading to reduced procedural efficiency and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
The use of polyhedral fiducial markers with increased surface areas and improved installation tools, such as magnet-based, clip-based, and friction-based mechanisms, to enhance marker retention and tracking during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cube-shaped fiducial markers with female threads are used, then the marker can be securely attached to the driver, but the female thread creates unusable surface area causing intermittent connectivity with the camera system
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is divided into multiple discrete faces with individual tracking patterns, allowing the camera to detect at least one valid pattern even when other faces are partially obscured or unusable due to attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The marker transitions from a conventional cube to a polyhedral shape with 5 or more faces, adding dimensional complexity that increases the total usable surface area for tracking patterns while maintaining secure attachment capabilities
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional cube-shaped markers are used, then the design is simple and easy to manufacture, but the number of usable faces for tracking is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The marker evolves from a standard cube geometry to a polyhedral geometry with 5 or more faces, increasing total surface area and providing additional tracking faces while remaining manufacturable through conventional processes
Solution Approach 2:
The marker combines multiple functional surfaces on a single polyhedral body, each face potentially having different characteristics or patterns, allowing optimized tracking performance across the increased surface area
3Productivity
If conventional markers are used, then the installation mechanism is simple, but intermittent tracking connectivity slows down procedural efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system continuously monitors tracking patterns on multiple faces, providing real-time feedback that allows the system to maintain connectivity by switching between available faces, thereby eliminating interruptions and improving procedural efficiency
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
The improved fiducial markers and installation tools provide stable and efficient tracking, reducing errors and increasing procedural efficiency by ensuring consistent connectivity with camera systems.
Implementation Method 1
magnet-based embodiments
Implementation Method 2
friction-based embodiments
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for polyhedral fiducial marker configurations that improve the mechanisms for their placement as well how they can be relied upon for surgery. The disclosed fiducial markers are configured with polyhedral shapes and increased marker surfaces, and improved marker designs that offer improved installation and system tracking, which leads to improved procedural efficiency and outcomes from surgery. The disclosed polyhedral fiducial markers can have a shape geometry with a number of faces that is an increase from existing markers. This provides improved mechanisms for installation and tracking with a camera system. Moreover, improved installation tools for the polyhedral fiducial markers can be utilized, which can be based on how the fiducial marker is held at the distal end of the installation tool. Such categorical installation tools can include: magnet-based embodiments; clip-based embodiments (e.g., O-ring and spring clip variants); and friction-based embodiments.