Rigid Camera Head Clamp for Accurate Image-Guided Cranial Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image-guided cranial surgery, conventional head clamps introduce navigational errors due to relative movement between the localizing camera and the patient's head, and the need for a nonsterile dynamic reference frame complicates the sterile field, leading to inaccuracies in tracking and registration processes.
Innovation Solution
A fixed camera head clamp system that rigidly secures a localizing camera to the patient's head, eliminating the need for a dynamic reference frame and minimizing relative motion, while allowing for a sterile drape to be applied without camera removal, thus maintaining camera position and improving navigation accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dynamic reference frame is fixed to the head clamp to maintain camera-head spatial relationship, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases and requires additional tracking markers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the dynamic reference frame component from the system. Instead of adding a reference frame with markers to the head clamp, the invention uses the head clamp itself as the reference structure and rigidly mounts the camera directly to it, removing the need for separate tracking markers and reducing system complexity while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the camera mounting structure with the head clamp structure. The camera is rigidly mounted directly to the head clamp, combining two previously separate components (camera mount and head clamp) into a single integrated assembly, thereby eliminating the need for a separate dynamic reference frame and reducing overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the localizing camera is moved to maintain line of sight to dynamic reference frame markers, then tracking capability is maintained, but navigational error is introduced due to camera movement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the camera to track the reference frame (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by making the camera stationary relative to the head clamp and allowing the head clamp to be positioned optimally from the start. The camera maintains its position rigidly mounted to the clamp, eliminating movement-induced errors while preserving tracking capability through proper initial setup
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a nonsterile dynamic reference frame is removed and replaced with a sterile reference frame through drapes, then sterile field is maintained, but registration errors are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is rigidly mounted to the head clamp before the surgical procedure begins, establishing a fixed reference relationship in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need to remove and replace reference frames during surgery, thereby maintaining both sterile field requirements and registration accuracy without interruption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate sterile and nonsterile reference frame components. By rigidly mounting the camera directly to the head clamp, the system requires only a single reference structure that can be sterilized along with the head clamp, removing the problematic step of exchanging reference frames and associated registration errors
4Ease of operation
If loose fittings are used in the head clamp to allow head adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but relative movement between head and clamp introduces navigational error
Solution Approach 1:
The head clamp is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow the head to be positioned and secured firmly. Once positioned, the rigid mounting of the camera to the clamp ensures that no relative movement occurs during surgery. The system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamically adjustable structure that achieves both ease of operation and measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for providing a rigid connection between a localizing camera and a patient's head for image-guided surgery. A fixed camera head clamp includes a camera mount for rigidly securing a localizing camera to the head clamp. In one embodiment, a proximal end of the camera mount is selectively secured to a receptacle of a frame of the head clamp and a distal end of the camera mount includes a camera receptacle configured to receive a localizing camera. A fixed camera head clamp system includes the head clamp and a localizing camera. A camera mount system includes a camera mount secured to a patient's head and a localizing camera secured to a camera receptacle on the camera mount.