Portable Unit Marker Registration for Surgical Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tracking systems face challenges in accurately registering a model of an object with a reference coordinate system, particularly in medical applications where precise alignment of intraoperative information with patient body parts is required, as existing methods are cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a portable unit with an optical detection assembly and a processor to track the position and orientation of a portable unit in a reference coordinate system, determining the location of markers within the system, and registering the model based on the position-related information of these markers to achieve precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual registration methods are used to align model coordinate system with reference coordinate system, then registration can be achieved, but the process is cumbersome and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic registration by having the portable unit autonomously capture images of markers, track its own position and orientation, and compute the registration transformation without requiring manual intervention. The processor automatically processes the captured images and calculates the coordinate system alignment, enabling the system to register itself without external assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical registration operations with an automated optical and computational system. Instead of physically manipulating models or using manual alignment tools, the system uses an optical detection assembly to capture marker positions and a processor to computationally determine the registration transformation, substituting mechanical processes with optical sensing and mathematical computation.
2Productivity
If automatic registration using fixed camera assemblies is used, then registration speed is improved, but the system complexity and fixed installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed camera assembly into a dynamic, portable unit that can move freely while being tracked by the tracking system. The portable unit's position and orientation are continuously monitored, allowing it to capture marker images from various locations. This dynamic approach maintains automatic registration speed while eliminating the need for fixed installation and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both the tracking target (with its own tracker) and the imaging device (with optical detection assembly). This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate fixed camera assemblies and reference markers, simplifying the overall system while maintaining automatic registration capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If multiple markers are used for registration, then registration accuracy is improved, but the time required for marker identification and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images of multiple markers simultaneously in a single frame using the optical detection assembly, rather than sequentially scanning for each marker. The processor then identifies and processes all markers from this pre-captured image, significantly reducing the time required for marker identification while maintaining high registration accuracy through the use of multiple reference points.
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
Enables accurate and efficient registration of the model with the reference coordinate system, improving the display of intraoperative information and facilitating precise tracking of medical tools, thereby enhancing surgical precision and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection assembly for acquiring at least one representation of the at least one marker
Data Source
AI summary
A system for registering a coordinate system associated with a model of an object with a reference-coordinate-system, the object includes at least one marker, the system includes a portable-unit, a tracking-system and a processor. The portable unit includes and display and an optical-detection-assembly for acquiring at least one representation of the marker. The tracking-system tracks the position-and-orientation of the portable-unit in the reference-coordinate-system. The processor is configured to determine position-related-information respective of the marker in the reference-coordinate-system, to register the model with the reference-coordinate-system at least based on the position-related-information respective of the marker, and on a location of the marker in a coordinate system associated with the model, and to display registration-related-information on the display, at least one of the registration-related-information and the display location of the registration-related-information is related to the position-and-orientation of the portable-unit in the reference-coordinate-system.