Reference Marker Bump Detection for Automatic Re-Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intraoperative navigation systems for spinal surgery require additional CT scans and radiation exposure when a reference marker is unintentionally moved, leading to prolonged operative times and potential surgical complications if not detected.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system with a reference marker and bump detection sensors that automatically re-register the marker without additional imaging, using a computing device to determine shifts and require re-registration based on predefined thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional CT scans are performed to re-register the reference marker after unintentional movement, then the navigation system can maintain accuracy, but radiation exposure increases and operative time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical imaging-based re-registration process (CT scans) with an optical sensor-based detection system. Optical sensors detect the position of the reference marker and calculate shifts without requiring additional ionizing radiation, thus maintaining navigation accuracy while eliminating the harmful radiation exposure associated with repeated CT imaging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical sensors as intermediary devices between the reference marker and the navigation system. These sensors continuously monitor the marker's position and provide real-time shift information, allowing the system to detect and compensate for unintentional movements without needing to perform additional CT scans, thereby reducing radiation exposure while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional CT scans are performed to re-register the reference marker after unintentional movement, then the navigation system can maintain accuracy, but operative time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidoperative time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous monitoring of the reference marker position through optical sensors throughout the surgical procedure. This continuous detection allows the system to immediately identify and respond to unintentional movements without interrupting the surgical workflow for additional CT scans, thereby maintaining navigation accuracy while minimizing operative time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback loop where optical sensors continuously monitor the reference marker position, calculate shifts in real-time, and provide this information to the navigation system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic or rapid manual re-registration without requiring time-consuming CT scans, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing operative time disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the reference marker is bumped and not detected, then the surgical procedure can proceed without interruption, but surgical complications may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidpatient safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces reliance on visual detection by the surgical team with an automated optical sensor system that continuously monitors the reference marker position. This substitution ensures that unintentional movements are detected automatically without requiring constant visual attention from the surgical team, thereby maintaining surgical efficiency while enhancing patient safety through continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the navigation system to self-monitor and self-alert when the reference marker is bumped. The optical sensors automatically detect position changes, calculate shifts, and trigger alerts or automatic re-registration procedures without requiring manual intervention from the surgical team, thus maintaining surgical productivity while ensuring patient safety through autonomous detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250318878A1Detection of unintentional movement of a reference marker and automatic re-registration

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUND

AI summary

Described herein is the automatic re-registration of a bumped reference marker, where the navigation system includes the reference marker, a bump detection sensor(s), and a computing device. The computing device can store positional relationships between the reference marker, the bump detection sensor(s), and the anatomy from an initial image registration and receive position data of the reference marker and bump detection sensor(s) at times during use. The computing device can determine a delta matrix based on the stored and received information and then determine if the reference marker has been bumped. If the reference marker has been bumped the computing device can determine if automatic re-registration is required and complete the automatic re-registration if needed to correct for the bump.