Stabilizing Frame Fiducial Mounting for SEEG Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing patients for stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) require multiple incisions and invasive anchoring of fiducials into the skull, which can be painful and reduce accuracy, and increase procedural time.
Innovation Solution
A stabilizing frame with a base extending at least 180 degrees, featuring adjustable anchors and registration fiducials mounted relative to the base, allowing for increased fiducial placement without additional incisions, enhancing accuracy and simplifying the surgical procedure by positioning fiducials on the frame rather than directly on the skull.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fiducials are anchored directly into the skull, then fiducial placement accuracy is improved, but the number of incisions and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing frame serves as an intermediary device between the skull and the fiducials. Instead of directly anchoring fiducials into the skull, the frame is anchored to the skull and the fiducials are mounted on the frame. This mediator approach reduces the number of direct skull incisions needed while maintaining fiducial placement accuracy, as the frame provides a stable reference structure for fiducial positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the stabilizing frame (anchored to skull), the fiducials (mounted on frame), and the registration probe. This segmentation allows the fiducials to be positioned on the frame rather than directly in the skull, reducing the number of incisions required while maintaining measurement precision through the frame's stable anchoring.
2Measurement precision
If multiple fiducials are placed on the skull, then image registration accuracy is improved, but the number of incisions and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fiducials are pre-mounted on the stabilizing frame before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary action allows multiple fiducials to be positioned accurately on the frame without requiring multiple separate incisions and anchoring procedures during surgery, thereby improving image registration accuracy while reducing surgical procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing frame acts as an intermediary platform that holds multiple fiducials in predetermined positions. This approach allows multiple fiducials to be placed without multiple skull incisions, as the fiducials are accessed through the frame structure, reducing surgical time while maintaining registration accuracy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fiducials are anchored into the skull, then fiducial position stability is improved, but patient trauma and procedural invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing frame serves as a mediator between the skull and fiducials. The frame is anchored to the skull to provide stable positioning, while the fiducials are mounted on the frame rather than directly in the skull. This reduces patient trauma from multiple skull incisions while maintaining fiducial position stability through the frame's secure anchoring and rigid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the anchoring function (performed by the frame on the skull) from the fiducial mounting function (performed on the frame). This segmentation allows the fiducials to be positioned stably on the frame without requiring direct skull anchoring for each fiducial, thereby reducing patient trauma while maintaining position stability.
4Device complexity
If fiducials are mounted on the stabilizing frame, then the number of incisions is reduced, but fiducial placement flexibility is changed
Solution Approach 1:
The fiducials are mounted on the stabilizing frame in a configurable manner, allowing their positions to be adjusted or reconfigured as needed. This dynamic mounting approach provides flexibility in fiducial placement while reducing the number of incisions, as the fiducials can be positioned on the frame without requiring permanent skull anchoring for each location.
Data Source
AI summary
Stabilizing frames comprise a base extending at least 180 degrees about an axis of the stabilizing frame to define a reception area. The stabilizing frames further comprise a plurality of anchors configured to be embedded within a skull of a patient. The stabilizing frames further comprise a registration fiducial mounted relative to the base, the registration fiducial comprising a recess configured to receive a distal tip of a registration probe of a robot. Methods of positioning a patient's head relative to a robot for a surgical procedure comprise positioning a patient's head and/or neck within a reception area of a stabilizing frame comprising a registration fiducial. The methods further comprise removably fixedly attaching the stabilizing frame to the skull and the stabilizing frame to the robot. The methods still further comprise inserting a tip of a probe of the robot into a recess of the registration fiducial.