Rotating Patient Marker for Image-Guided Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image-guided surgery, patient markers often need to be adjusted to accommodate surgical access, which disrupts registration and requires re-registration, complicating the tracking process and limiting access without new image analysis.
Innovation Solution
A patient marker system with a base and adapter that allows multiple orientations, enabling adjustment between preselected orientations without requiring new registration or image analysis, using indicators to maintain tracking accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient marker is fixedly attached to the patient to maintain registration, then the registration remains valid and tracking is maintained, but surgical access to the patient is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The marker system transitions from a fixed attachment to a dynamic reconfigurable system. The base allows rotation to multiple discrete orientations (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°), enabling the marker to be repositioned during surgery without removal. This dynamic adjustment maintains registration validity while improving surgical access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the marker while maintaining its attachment to the patient. By rotating the marker to pre-determined discrete angles, the registration can be updated without re-registration, allowing surgical access while preserving tracking accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the marker is moved and re-attached to provide surgical access, then surgical access is improved, but the registration needs to be repeated
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discrete orientations are pre-configured into the base structure before surgery. These pre-determined orientations allow the marker to be adjusted during surgery without requiring re-registration, as the system already knows the possible positions and maintains tracking for all of them.
Solution Approach 2:
The base serves multiple functions: it anchors the marker to the patient and simultaneously provides multiple discrete orientations. This multi-functionality allows the single marker structure to serve both registration and surgical access needs without requiring re-registration when repositioned.
3Ease of operation
If the marker is moved to provide surgical access, then access is improved, but the tracking process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The base acts as an intermediary between the marker and the patient, providing a mechanism for controlled repositioning. By introducing this intermediate structure with discrete orientations, the system simplifies tracking complexity compared to arbitrary marker movements, as only specific pre-determined positions are possible.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient marker (52) couples to an anchoring device (34) via a base (44) having a base axis, base connections and a first indicator (168). The marker includes: an adapter (40) having a first surface with connections configured to mate with the base connections, and a second surface with connections congruent with the base connections, and at least one second indicator (172). The marker includes an alignment target (48), having a target region (74) with an alignment pattern, and a socket (78) connected to the target region with socket connections congruent with the first surface connections. In a first configuration the socket couples to the base by mating the first surface connections with the base connections and mating the socket connections with the second surface connections. In a second configuration, the socket fits onto the base by mating the socket connections with the base connections.