Sterile Surgical Drape Cover for Tracking Reference Array Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sterile surgical drapes do not effectively accommodate tracking reference arrays for computer-assisted surgery, requiring separate draping and calibration, which is time-consuming and can disrupt navigation precision.

Innovation Solution

A sterile surgical drape with a rigid, form-adapted cover portion made of PETG material that accommodates tracking markers, providing stability and transparency for navigation while minimizing reflections and allowing for remote control functionality, enabling seamless integration with existing navigation systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sterile surgical drape is used to cover the tracking reference array, then sterility is maintained, but the tracking markers become obscured and navigation precision is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidnavigation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The drape is segmented into a sterile cover portion and a transparent window portion, allowing different regions to serve different functions: the cover maintains sterility while the window preserves optical access to tracking markers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drape has non-uniform optical properties with transparent regions (high light permeability) positioned at tracking marker locations and opaque regions elsewhere, providing local transparency where needed while maintaining overall sterility barrier function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the cover portion is made opaque to maintain sterility, then sterility is ensured, but optical tracking and microscope verification are blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidoptical access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover portion incorporates transparent clear areas with high light permeability at specific locations where tracking markers and microscope verification points are positioned, while remaining opaque in other regions to maintain sterility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent window portion acts as an intermediary that allows optical signals to pass through the sterile barrier, enabling tracking and verification without compromising sterility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If separate draping procedures are used for the tracking reference array, then the array can be kept out of the sterile field, but additional time is required and navigation calibration is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoiddraping time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking reference array is integrated into the sterile drape assembly, with the cover portion designed to accommodate the array during a single draping procedure, eliminating separate draping steps and maintaining navigation calibration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drape serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sterility barrier, accommodates tracking markers through transparent windows, and maintains navigation precision, all in a single integrated device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid cover portion is used to provide stability, then structural stability is improved, but the cover may create reflections that interfere with optical tracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidreflections

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid cover portion has differentiated surface properties with retro-reflection minimizing areas at tracking marker locations and transparent clear areas with optimized surface roughness to reduce reflections while maintaining structural stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution allows for efficient draping of tracking reference arrays, maintaining navigation precision and enabling sterile operation without additional calibration, while providing transparent access for microscope verification and remote control functionality.

Implementation Method 1

the part covering tracking markers on the tracking reference array... high light-permeable... line-of-sight information can be accessed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

areas with minimized retro-reflection characteristics, which areas have a surface or surface structure avoiding reflections

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRetro-reflection minimization: Retroreflector

Data Source

PatentUS10842582B2Sterile surgical drape with inherently stable tracking reference array cover

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 BRAINLAB AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a sterile surgical drape comprising a cover portion for a tracking reference array, wherein at least a part of the cover portion is formed inherently stable and has a form adapted to accommodate multiple tracking markers of a tracking reference array for computer-assisted surgery. Further, it relates to a surgical draping system and a medical navigation method using such a drape.