Spinous Process Clamp With Magnetic Fiducial Coupling Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tracking systems in augmented reality environments for surgical procedures struggle with unstable or unreliable positioning of fiducial markers, affecting the accuracy and performance of surgical navigation systems.

Innovation Solution

The development of a surgical spinous process clamp that securely attaches to a patient's spinous process, allowing for stable and reliable coupling of fiducial markers through magnetic interaction, with adjustable arms and a clamp coupling component for precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional tracking systems use fiducial markers for augmented reality navigation, then surgical procedures can be planned and navigated, but the positioning becomes unstable and unreliable during surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidattachment device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical attachment devices with a magnetic coupling system. The clamp includes magnetic components that interact with magnetic fiducial markers to provide stable positioning, eliminating the need for complex mechanical attachment mechanisms while improving positioning reliability during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the coupling mechanism from mechanical to magnetic interaction. By using magnetic fields instead of mechanical connections, the system achieves more reliable positioning while simplifying the overall device structure. The magnetic components allow for stable attachment without complex mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If fiducial markers are attached to patient body landmarks, then tracking can be performed, but positioning accuracy decreases when things move during surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidmarker position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses magnetic coupling instead of mechanical attachment to secure fiducial markers to the patient's spinous process. This magnetic connection maintains stable positioning even when the patient moves during surgery, preserving tracking accuracy throughout the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp is designed to be positioned and secured to the spinous process before the surgical procedure begins. The magnetic components are pre-configured to hold the fiducial markers in precise locations, ensuring accurate tracking from the start of surgery through any patient movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If complex attachment devices are used to secure fiducial markers, then positioning stability improves, but the devices become cumbersome and difficult to use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidattachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical attachment devices with a simplified magnetic coupling system. The clamp uses magnetic components that automatically attract and hold the fiducial markers, eliminating the need for complicated mechanical fastening mechanisms and making the device much easier to operate while maintaining positioning stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Facilitates the stable and reliable positioning of fiducial markers during surgery, enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of augmented reality tracking systems by maintaining a constant orientation and location of surgical devices.

Implementation Method 1

allowing for stable and reliable coupling of fiducial markers through magnetic interaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic interaction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS20260020921A1Surgical spinous process clamp

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 MEDIVIS INC

AI summary

A spinous process clamp includes a main body, first arm, second arm, shaft, traveling component, and clamp coupling arrangement. The main body has a top region, first and second side regions and a pin extending therebetween. Each arm has a top portion, bottom portion, and midsection configured to rotate about the pin. The shaft extends through the top region of the main body. The traveling component is configured to travel along the shaft and to push against the top portions of the first and second arms when the traveling component travels sufficiently downward along the shaft. Pushing against the arm top portions causes the arms to rotate about the pin such that the arm bottom portions clamp onto a spinous process placed therebetween. The clamp coupling arrangement couples the spinous process clamp to a separate surgical device, such as a fiducial marker array, and the coupling can be magnetic.