Rotational Tracker Adapter With Biasing for Unobstructed Surgical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems face challenges in maintaining visibility of trackers due to potential obstruction by objects, leading to inaccurate tracking, and existing solutions are cumbersome and costly with complex component arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A repositionable tracker adapter for surgical instruments that includes a biasing mechanism to maintain visibility and secure the tracker to the instrument, allowing for accurate tracking without adding weight or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tracker is mounted in a fixed or static position to the surgical instrument, then the spatial positioning of the tracker relative to the surgical instrument is maintained, but the visibility of the tracker to the localizer may be inhibited by objects positioned between the localizer and the tracker
Solution Approach 1:
The tracker is mounted on a rotational adapter that allows the tracker to rotate freely about the surgical instrument shaft. This dynamic mounting enables the tracker to be repositioned to different angular positions around the shaft, allowing the localizer to maintain visibility of the tracker even when objects may be positioned between the localizer and the tracker at certain angles.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a repositionable tracker is mounted to the surgical instrument, then the visibility of the tracker to the localizer is maintained, but the device requires a large number of components that add weight and make the surgical instrument heavy and more difficult to manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational adapter integrates multiple functions into a single compact component: it provides the rotational degree of freedom for the tracker, includes a coupler mechanism for attaching to the surgical instrument shaft, and incorporates a biasing element with abutment features for positioning. This merging of functions reduces the total number of separate components needed, thereby reducing weight while maintaining the repositionable tracker capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a repositionable tracker is mounted to the surgical instrument, then the visibility of the tracker to the localizer is maintained, but the mounting device includes a complex arrangement of components that is difficult to manufacture and/or assemble, adding cost and time
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational adapter combines the coupler mechanism, biasing element, and abutment features into a single integrated component structure. This reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying the manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining the functionality of the repositionable tracker mounting.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the tracker is allowed to rotate freely about the surgical instrument, then the visibility of the tracker is maintained, but the spatial positioning of the tracker relative to the surgical instrument cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational adapter allows controlled rotational freedom while maintaining a consistent radial position through the biasing element and abutment mechanism. The tracker can rotate about the surgical instrument shaft to maintain visibility, but the adapter ensures that the tracker remains at a predetermined radial distance from the shaft, thereby maintaining acceptable spatial positioning for accurate tracking.
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 adapter ensures consistent tracking accuracy by maintaining visibility of the tracker, reducing weight and manufacturing costs, and simplifying assembly, while allowing for easy repositioning without compromising precision.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element extending from one of the proximal end and the distal end of the base to an abutment interface arranged for engaging the surgical handpiece, with the biasing element configured to compress in response to attachment of the retainer to the surgical handpiece
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A surgical navigation tracker assembly including a rotational adapter for removably attaching a tracker to a surgical instrument assembly including a surgical handpiece. The adapter may be coupled to an end effector of the surgical instrument and configured to allow the end effector to actuate relative to the adapter. The end effector may comprise a stop, the adapter configured to abut the stop when coupled to the end effector. The adapter may comprise a mount for releasably securing the tracker to the adapter. The adapter may also comprise a biasing element, and the biasing element may comprise an abutment interface configured to engage either of the surgical handpiece or the stop when the end effector is coupled to the surgical handpiece. The biasing element is configured to limit rotation of the adapter relative to the surgical handpiece when the abutment interface is engaged with the surgical handpiece or the stop.