Printed Surgical Navigation Tracker With Partial Absorbent Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical trackers are complex and costly, making them unsuitable for one-time use, and simpler trackers complicate manufacturing and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A tracker with a layer stack comprising a substrate with a reflective surface and an absorbent layer that covers less than the entire surface, protected by a protective layer, allowing for easy manufacturing and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a complex passive tracker with multiple reflective spheres is used, then tracking precision is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase, making it unsuitable for disposable use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (substrate with reflective surface, absorbent layer, protective layer, adhesive layer) into a single integrated tracker structure. This consolidation maintains tracking functionality while simplifying manufacturing and enabling disposable use, directly resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracker uses a composite structure combining different materials with specific functions: a reflective substrate for tracking, an absorbent layer for contrast enhancement, a protective layer for durability, and an adhesive layer for mounting. This composite approach achieves reliable tracking performance while simplifying the overall device architecture.
2Measurement precision
If a complex passive tracker with multiple reflective spheres is used, then tracking precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple functional layers into a single integrated tracker, the patent eliminates the need for assembling multiple separate components, thereby reducing labor costs and enabling cost-effective mass production while maintaining tracking precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified single-layer tracker design enables disposable use at low cost, allowing economical mass production and single-use disposal that maintains precision requirements while dramatically reducing per-unit manufacturing cost compared to complex reusable trackers.
3Device complexity
If a simpler passive tracker is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different use cases decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal tracker structure where the substrate with reflective surface can be mounted on different surgical instruments or patients, and the absorbent layer can be printed with various patterns for different tracking requirements. This modular design maintains simplicity while enabling broad adaptability across different surgical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracker allows local customization of the absorbent layer pattern on specific regions of the substrate, enabling adaptation to different use cases through pattern variation rather than structural complexity, thus maintaining device simplicity while achieving versatility.
4Ease of manufacture
If a reusable tracker is used, then cost is reduced, but surgical hygiene standards cannot be met due to contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables disposable tracker use through simplified single-layer construction, making it economically viable to use single-use trackers that eliminate contamination risk entirely. The low manufacturing cost allows disposal after one use, ensuring surgical hygiene standards are met without compromising cost-effectiveness.
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 solution enables cost-effective, disposable trackers that meet surgical hygiene standards and can be easily adapted for various use cases, reducing waste and manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate with at least one reflective surface configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
a printed absorbent layer configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A tracker for a surgical navigation system and a method for manufacturing the tracker are presented. The tracker comprises a layer stack that comprises a substrate with at least one reflective surface configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation. The layer stack further comprises a printed absorbent layer configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation, wherein the printed absorbent layer covers less than the entire reflective surface.