Retroreflective Markers for Surgical Navigation Tracking Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical navigation systems are cumbersome, provide inaccurate tracking, and fail to prevent accidental collisions between items and personnel in the operating room, leading to potential trauma and injury.
Innovation Solution
The development of trackable devices with retroreflective features for use in surgical navigation systems, which optimize the spatial relationship between objects and subjects, preventing collisions and enhancing tracking accuracy through multi-modal imaging and detection solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional optical tracking systems are used, then tracking capability is provided, but tracking accuracy is insufficient and spatial referencing is inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies retroreflective markers with specific geometric patterns that reflect light in distinctive patterns detectable by optical tracking systems. These markers create unique optical signatures that enable precise identification and tracking of surgical instruments and anatomical landmarks, significantly improving measurement precision and spatial referencing accuracy compared to traditional optical tracking without such markers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces retroreflective markers as intermediary elements between the optical tracking system and the surgical instruments/anatomical structures. These markers serve as mediators that enhance the interaction between light and the tracking system, providing reliable feedback signals that improve both tracking accuracy and spatial referencing reliability.
2Measurement precision
If surgical navigation systems are used, then tracking capability is provided, but the systems are cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex navigation system components and replaces them with simple retroreflective markers that can be easily attached to surgical instruments and anatomical landmarks. This extraction of complexity from the system while maintaining tracking capability reduces overall system complexity and makes the navigation system more user-friendly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable retroreflective markers that are inexpensive and easily replaceable. These markers can be attached to surgical instruments and anatomical structures for the duration of the procedure and then discarded, eliminating the need for complex, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain tracking systems while providing reliable tracking capability.
3Loss of information
If traditional tracking methods are used, then position monitoring is provided, but collision prevention between items and personnel is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where retroreflective markers on surgical instruments and anatomical landmarks provide continuous position information to the optical tracking system. This real-time feedback enables the system to monitor the spatial relationships between surgical tools and personnel, allowing for collision prevention by alerting the surgical team when unsafe conditions arise.
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 use of trackable devices with retroreflective features improves the accuracy of spatial referencing in the operating room, reducing the risk of collisions and minimizing trauma by providing precise tracking of objects and subjects during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
trackable devices with retroreflective features for use in surgical navigation systems
Data Source
AI summary
Trackable apparatuses and methods involving at least one arrangement of at least one trackable feature configured for disposition in relation to at least one substrate, each arrangement of the at least one arrangement having a distinct pattern of trackable features configured to facilitate determining at least one of: an identity of at least one object and at least one subject, a disposition of at least one object and at least one subject, a disposition between at least one object and at least one subject, and a disposition among at least one object and at least one subject, and each arrangement of the at least one arrangement configured to optimize tracking by a navigation tracking system, whereby at least one spatial relationship among the at least one object and the at least one subject is optimizable. The navigation tracking system is optionally multi-modal.