Real-Time Anatomical Movement Tracking Without Ionizing Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical imaging technologies fail to accurately track and monitor the movement of patient anatomy during procedures, requiring time-consuming re-registration and often involving ionizing radiation, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for real-time tracking and annotating anatomical elements using artificial intelligence, sensors, and computational image adjustment to provide updated images without ionizing radiation, utilizing computing devices and augmented reality for display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional surgical imaging technologies are used to track anatomical movement, then anatomical elements can be monitored, but ionizing radiation is exposed and re-registration is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ionizing radiation-based imaging systems (X-ray, CT) with a camera-based optical system that uses visible light to track anatomical elements. Sensors capture images and track movement of anatomical elements without exposing the patient to harmful radiation, while maintaining measurement precision through computer vision algorithms and image processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual markers or fiducial markers attached to anatomical elements as intermediaries for tracking. These markers are detected by camera sensors to infer the position and movement of the underlying anatomical structures, enabling non-radiation-based tracking with high precision.
2Measurement precision
If traditional surgical imaging technologies are used, then anatomical movement can be detected, but re-registration procedures are required which consume time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous real-time tracking of anatomical elements throughout the surgical procedure using camera sensors and image processing algorithms. This eliminates the need for periodic re-registration procedures, maintaining continuous monitoring of anatomical movement without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary registration by attaching visual markers to anatomical elements before surgery and pre-processing reference images. This preliminary setup enables continuous tracking throughout the procedure without requiring repeated re-registration, saving significant time during the surgery.
3Productivity
If real-time monitoring of anatomical elements is implemented, then updated images can be provided to surgeons, but computational processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational task by separating reference image processing from real-time tracking processing. Reference images are pre-processed and stored, while real-time sensors capture and process only the movement of marked anatomical elements, reducing the complexity of real-time computational processing while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for monitoring one or more anatomical elements are provided. An image depicting one or more anatomical elements and a plurality of annotations may be received. The image may comprise a plurality of image elements. Each annotation may correspond to one of the one or more anatomical elements and may be associated with one of the plurality of image elements. Movement information about movement of at least a portion of a particular anatomical element may be received. Image elements corresponding to the particular anatomical element may be identified to yield a set of image elements. The set of image elements may be adjusted based on the movement information to yield an updated image reflecting changes to affected anatomical elements.