Surgical Instrument Navigation via Electromagnetic Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive procedures, such as surgical operations, face challenges in accurately tracking and navigating instruments within a subject due to limited direct visibility, which can complicate precise positioning and orientation of instruments relative to specific anatomical areas.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that utilizes tracking devices connected to instruments, generating electromagnetic or optical fields to determine the instrument's position and orientation within a predefined volume, allowing for real-time visualization and feedback on proximity to anatomical structures through a display device, enabling precise navigation even in obscured work areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive procedures are used to limit direct viewing of the work area, then recovery time and discomfort to the subject are decreased, but accurate tracking and navigation of instruments becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tracking devices as intermediaries that attach to instruments and emit electromagnetic or optical signals. These signals are detected by external sensors to determine instrument position and orientation without requiring direct visual access to the work area, thus resolving the contradiction between minimally invasive access and accurate tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical visual observation with electromagnetic field-based tracking systems. Sensors detect electromagnetic or optical signals from tracking devices on instruments, converting mechanical positioning problems into electromagnetic field detection, enabling accurate tracking through tissue without direct line-of-sight.
2Measurement precision
If tracking devices are connected to instruments for navigation, then instrument position and orientation can be determined accurately, but the instrument becomes specific to a particular tracking or navigation system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes tracking devices that can be attached to various instruments and work with different navigation systems through standardized electromagnetic or optical signal protocols. This multi-functionality allows a single tracking device design to serve multiple instrument types and compatibility with different system architectures, reducing instrument specificity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electromagnetic or optical signal copies to represent physical instrument positions. Instead of requiring direct mechanical coupling between specific instruments and navigation systems, the tracking devices create signal representations (copies) of instrument states that can be interpreted by different navigation systems, enabling interoperability.
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
Enables accurate tracking and navigation of instruments during minimally invasive procedures, enhancing precision and safety by providing real-time visual and auditory feedback on instrument position relative to predefined areas, thus facilitating complex surgeries like spinal decompression and fusion without direct line-of-sight requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A navigation system that utilizes tracking devices connected to instruments, generating electromagnetic or optical fields to determine the instrument's position and orientation within a predefined volume
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and system for performing a procedure. The system may include a navigation system and/or a surgical robot to be used to at least assist in the procedure. The system may assist in delineating objects and/or determining physical characteristics of subject portions. The system may assist in performing and/or a workflow of the procedure.