Shoulder Navigation Reference Frame Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation-assisted systems for shoulder operations, particularly when replacing the humeral component with a prosthesis, face challenges due to the risk of nerve and vessel injury, bone instability, and infection from attaching reference units, and lack precision in positioning treatment apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first tracking unit attached to the section of the bone to be removed, a detection unit for landmark detection, a second tracking unit attached to another section of the bone, and a camera unit to determine their locations, with a computational unit calculating relative positions to enable precise positioning of navigated treatment apparatuses by switching reference frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tracking unit is attached to the bone section to be removed using screws, then navigational precision is improved, but bone stability deteriorates and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking unit is attached to the bone section before removal, allowing navigation to be established in advance. The system performs preliminary registration of anatomical landmarks and establishes the coordinate system before the bone section is removed, so navigation can continue using the pre-established reference frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a virtual copy of the bone section's position and orientation in the navigation system's coordinate system. By registering anatomical landmarks and calculating transformation matrices, the system creates a digital replica of the spatial relationships, allowing navigation to reference the original position even after physical removal.
2Measurement precision
If reference units are attached to the shoulder region, then navigational accuracy is improved, but the risk of nerve and vessel injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the navigation reference function from physical markers attached near nerves and vessels, and transfers it to the bone section itself and then to the virtual coordinate system. By removing the need for persistent physical reference units in the surgical field, the system eliminates the associated risks while maintaining navigational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical attachment of physical tracking units with a computational coordinate transformation system. Instead of relying on mechanically attached reference units that require physical contact with the patient, the system uses mathematical transformations of anatomical landmark coordinates to maintain navigational reference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tracking units are attached to different bone sections, then navigational versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal coordinate transformation framework that can handle multiple tracking units attached to different bone sections. The system calculates transformation matrices between various coordinate systems (anatomical landmarks, first tracking unit, second tracking unit) allowing any combination of reference units to be used interchangeably for navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a coordinate transformation matrix as an intermediary between different reference frames. This mathematical mediator allows the navigation system to translate positions and orientations between the anatomical landmark system, the first tracking unit system, and the second tracking unit system, enabling seamless switching and integration of multiple reference units.
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
This approach reduces the risk of injury and infection by avoiding additional incisions and ensures precise positioning of treatment apparatuses during shoulder operations, maintaining navigational assistance even after the first tracking unit is removed, thereby enhancing the accuracy and safety of the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
a camera unit which simultaneously detects the first and second tracking unit, in order to determine their respective location
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a system for navigation-assisted shoulder operations in which the humeral component is partially replaced with a prosthesis, comprising:a first tracking unit which is configured to be fastened to a section of a bone which is to be removed during the operation;a detection unit which is configured to detect landmarks on the bone;a second tracking unit which is configured to be attached to another section of the same bone;a camera unit which simultaneously detects the first and second tracking unit, in order to determine their respective location; anda computational unit which is connected to the camera unit and is configured to:determine a first relative location of the landmarks relative to the first tracking unit from data acquired by means of the detection unit; andcalculate a second relative location of the landmarks relative to the second tracking unit on the basis of the first relative location;such that additional navigated treatment apparatuses can be exactly positioned during the operation by referring to the second tracking unit.