Pose-Controlled Ablation System with Real-Time Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical ablation systems lack precision and reproducibility in creating ablation volumes within target objects, such as tumors, due to manual or robotic placement of needle-like applicators without effective energy control.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an applicator with a head that emits energy, a tracking system to monitor the relative pose of the applicator head to the target object, and an energy control unit to dynamically control energy emission based on spatial and temporal relationships, allowing for precise creation of ablation volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual or robotic placement of needle-like applicators is used, then the ablation process can be performed, but the precision and reproducibility of ablation volume creation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously tracks the pose of the applicator head relative to the target object and feeds this information back to the energy control unit, which adjusts energy emission in real-time to maintain precise ablation volume creation despite movements or positioning variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical placement with an automated system that uses tracking technology and computer-controlled energy emission, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with an integrated electromechanical control system that ensures consistent precision and reproducibility
2Manufacturing precision
If energy emission is controlled dynamically based on tracking data, then ablation volume precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system serves multiple functions: it tracks the applicator head position, determines relative pose to the target object, provides real-time feedback data, and enables automated energy control, thereby consolidating multiple system functions into a single integrated subsystem that reduces overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts energy emission based on real-time tracking data without requiring manual intervention, with the energy control unit self-regulating the ablation process based on feedback from the tracking system, thereby simplifying operation despite increased internal complexity
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 the creation of ablation volumes with controlled properties, including position, orientation, size, and shape, improving precision and sensitivity for irregularly shaped targets, and allowing for automatic generation of complex shapes.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic tracking, a transmitter (magnetic field generator) is preferably used to induce a current in sensor coils that can be embedded into the tracked objects
Implementation Method 2
optical tracking, a stereo camera is preferably used to track fiducial markers that are attached to the instrument or anatomical structure of interest
Implementation Method 3
time-of-flight based tracking, a range imaging camera system may be used that resolves distance based on the known speed of light, measuring the time-of-flight of a light signal
Implementation Method 4
the applicator is configured to emit via said head energy provided to the applicator so as to create an ablation volume comprising at least a region of said target object
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (S) for creating an ablation volume (20) within a target object (1), comprising: an applicator (2) comprising a head (2a), which applicator (2) is configured to be inserted into the patient's body so as to position said head (2a) into or close to a target object (1) located inside said body, and wherein the applicator (2) is configured to emit energy (E) provided to the applicator (2) via said head (2a) so as to create an ablation volume (20) comprising at least a region of said target object (1), a tracking system (6) configured to track the pose (4) of the head (2a) with respect to the pose (5) of the target object (1), wherein the tracking system (6) is further configured to provide a signal (6a) indicative of the relative pose of the head (2a) of the applicator (2) with respect to the target object (1), and an energy control unit (10) configured to control emission of said energy (E) by the head (2a) of the applicator (2) in response to said signal (6a).