Rotatable 3D Face Scanner for Prone Surgical Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical procedures face challenges in accessing and treating areas of the body that are not readily accessible, such as the brain, due to the limitations of conventional imaging and navigation techniques, particularly when the patient is in a prone position.

Innovation Solution

A 3D scanning device is used to create a digital mesh model of the patient's face in a prone position, registered with medical diagnostic images, enabling electromagnetic or optical navigation through contactless or touchless registration, utilizing a rotatable 3D scanner member and a reference frame for precise surgical guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional imaging and navigation techniques are used, then surgical procedures can be performed, but access to hard-to-reach areas like the brain is limited when the patient is in a prone position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to hard-to-reach areasVSAvoidsurgical navigation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical imaging and navigation systems with a 3D optical scanning system that uses optical fields to capture spatial data. The optical scanner captures three-dimensional data of the patient's face and references markers, creating a digital mesh model that can be registered with medical images for accurate navigation to hard-to-reach areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional conventional imaging to three-dimensional optical scanning. The optical scanner captures spatial data in three dimensions, creating a digital mesh model that provides comprehensive spatial information about the patient's anatomy, enabling accurate navigation to areas that are difficult to access with traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If a 3D scanning device is used to create a digital mesh model, then surgical navigation precision is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical navigation precisionVSAvoidscanning device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical scanner is designed as a multi-functional device that can capture three-dimensional data of various elements including the patient's face, surgical references, and anatomical structures. This universal scanning capability allows a single device to perform multiple functions throughout the surgical workflow, from preoperative planning to intraoperative navigation, thereby managing complexity through versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy or mesh model of the patient's anatomy and surgical references through optical scanning. This digital representation can be manipulated, measured, and registered with medical images without requiring complex mechanical positioning systems, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Object-affected harmful factors

If contactless registration technique is used, then patient safety and accessibility are improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring spatial data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidspatial data detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The optical scanner uses optical fields to detect spatial data without physical contact with the patient. By capturing reflected light patterns and using reference markers with distinct optical characteristics, the system can accurately measure three-dimensional coordinates and orientations without touching the patient, thereby maintaining safety while enabling precise spatial data collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces reference markers as intermediaries that contain encoded spatial information. These markers are placed on the patient's body and surgical instruments, and the optical scanner detects their positions and orientations to establish accurate spatial relationships. The markers act as mediators that simplify the detection process while maintaining contactless operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12579737B2Rotating 3D scanner to enable prone contactless registration

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 MEDTRONIC NAVIGATION INC

AI summary

Systems and methods used to perform touchless 3D scanning of a patient's face in the prone position are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems include a rotatable 3D scanning device to capture 3D spatial data points of the patient's face and a reference frame. 3D digital mesh models are generated from the 3D spatial data points. A patient 3D digital mesh model is registered with a patient 3D model and a reference frame digital mesh model is registered with a reference frame 3D model. The 3D scanning device can include a handheld rotatable 3D scanner member or a mechanically rotatable 3D scanner member.