Electromagnetic Tracking System for Surgical Bone Pose Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electromagnetic tracking systems used in surgeries are susceptible to errors due to electromagnetic disturbances from metallic objects, which can lead to inaccurate measurements without clear indication of impairment, necessitating improved reliability and detection methods.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an electromagnetic tracking unit, a storage unit for recorded kinematic patterns, and a data processor that compares real-time kinematic data with pre-recorded patterns to detect deviations exceeding a threshold, triggering warnings and correcting poses by identifying and ignoring impaired measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electromagnetic tracking systems are used to track bone poses during surgery, then the tracking accuracy and reliability are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to electromagnetic disturbances from metallic objects that can impair measurements without clear indication
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the consistency of electromagnetic measurements through redundancy. Multiple electromagnetic transducers track the same bone, and the system compares their relative poses to detect inconsistencies. When a transducer provides inconsistent data compared to others, the system identifies and flags the impaired measurement, allowing the surgeon to trust only reliable measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses redundancy by deploying multiple electromagnetic transducers to track the same bone simultaneously. Each transducer creates a copy of the tracking function, and by comparing the relative poses between these copies, the system can identify which transducer is providing accurate measurements and which is affected by electromagnetic disturbances.
2Reliability
If two small electromagnetic sensors are placed on a unique bone at distant locations to detect measurement errors, then the detection capability is improved, but the procedure becomes more invasive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic transducers serve multiple functions: they track the pose of their attached bone and simultaneously serve as reference points for detecting measurement errors in other transducers. By comparing the relative pose between transducers, each transducer contributes to both tracking and validation functions, eliminating the need for separate detection sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic tracking system performs self-validation by using its own transducers to monitor each other's measurements. The system automatically compares relative poses between transducers and identifies impaired measurements without requiring external detection devices or additional invasive procedures, making the system self-diagnosing and self-correcting.
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
Enhances the reliability of electromagnetic tracking systems by accurately detecting and mitigating the impact of electromagnetic disturbances, ensuring precise tracking of bone poses during surgeries and preventing potential harm from inaccurate measurements.
Implementation Method 1
track relative poses of at least two bone portions linked to one another by at least one joint, based on measurements of an electromagnetic field emitted and received, respectively, by at least two electromagnetic transducers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (100) for determining that an electromagnetic disturbance is impairing measurements made by an electromagnetic tracking unit (200) during a surgery, the system comprisingthe electromagnetic tracking unit (200) configured to track relative poses of at least two bone portions linked to one another by at least one joint, based on measurements of an electromagnetic field emitted and received, respectively, by at least two electromagnetic transducers (201, 202) of the electromagnetic tracking unit (200),at least one storage unit (301) in which at least one kinematic pattern of authorized relative displacements of the tracked bone portions with respect to one another is recorded, andone data processor (302) in communication with the storage unit (301) and with the electromagnetic tracking unit (200),wherein the data processor (302) is configured toreceive the tracked relative poses of the bone portions with respect to one another and compute a real-time kinematic of the bone portions,compare the real-time kinematic of the bone portions with the recorded kinematic pattern,determine a difference between the real-time kinematic and the recorded kinematic pattern,determine that at least one of the measurements of the electromagnetic field is impaired when the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.