Registration Probe Alignment Jig for Surgical Image Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inaccurate registration between medical images and tracking systems in image-guided surgery due to errors caused by non-perpendicular probe orientation and skin indentation, leading to inaccuracy in locating the distal end of the registration probe.
Innovation Solution
A medical apparatus with a registration probe featuring an alignment jig that includes three protrusions extending from the distal tip, which contact the patient's skin in a plane perpendicular to the probe's longitudinal axis, ensuring accurate and repeatable perpendicular orientation and minimizing skin indentation, thereby enhancing the registration between the image and tracking frames of reference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a probe is used for registration between medical images and tracking systems, then position tracking is enabled, but registration accuracy deteriorates due to non-perpendicular probe orientation and skin indentation
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment jig serves as an intermediary device between the probe and the patient's skin. It provides a mechanical interface that ensures the probe maintains a perpendicular orientation relative to the skin surface during registration, thereby eliminating orientation errors and improving both registration accuracy and position tracking reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment jig changes the geometric parameter of probe orientation by providing physical guidance surfaces that constrain the probe to maintain a perpendicular angle (90 degrees) relative to the skin. This parameter control ensures consistent and accurate registration measurements
2Ease of operation
If the probe contacts the skin directly for position measurement, then registration can be performed, but skin indentation occurs causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment jig acts as a mediator between the probe and skin, distributing the contact force through its structural design. This prevents excessive pressure that would cause skin indentation while still maintaining stable contact for accurate position measurement, thus preserving both ease of operation and measurement precision
3Device complexity
If manual probe orientation is used during registration, then the procedure is simple, but perpendicularity to the skin surface cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment jig controls the orientation parameter by providing mechanical constraints that force the probe to maintain a perpendicular angle to the skin surface. This simple geometric constraint ensures accurate orientation without requiring complex control systems or multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment jig is designed to self-align with the skin surface through its geometric features, automatically ensuring perpendicular probe orientation without requiring manual adjustment or complex positioning procedures by the operator
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 alignment jig ensures accurate and repeatable registration between medical images and tracking systems by maintaining the probe's perpendicular orientation and reducing skin indentation, improving the precision and reliability of position tracking during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a position sensor, which is disposed in the handle on the longitudinal axis at a predefined distance from the distal tip and is configured to output a signal indicative of a location of the probe
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A medical apparatus includes a probe including a handle having a longitudinal axis, a distal tip disposed on the longitudinal axis, and a position sensor, which is disposed in the handle on the longitudinal axis at a predefined distance from the distal tip and is configured to output a signal indicative of a location of the probe. An alignment jig includes a connector configured to be fixed removably to the distal tip of the probe and three protrusions, which extend from the connector and are configured to contact a surface of a body of a patient at respective points, which are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the connector is fixed to the distal tip of the probe.