Surgical Instrument Tracking Marker with Asymmetric Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical monitoring systems rely on multiple fiducials and require complex imaging to track surgical instruments accurately, which can be cumbersome and less efficient in dynamic surgical environments.

Innovation Solution

A surgical monitoring system utilizing a handheld implement with a passive vectorized tracking marker featuring a rotationally asymmetric pattern, integrated with a microchip containing geometric information, allowing for contactless tracking and precise location and orientation determination using a non-stereo optical tracker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple fiducials are used for tracking surgical instruments, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple fiducial markers into a single integrated tracking marker assembly that includes a spherical marker and a planar marker with unique patterns. This merged structure provides multiple tracking references simultaneously, maintaining high tracking accuracy while reducing the number of separate components that need to be managed during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tracking marker assembly serves multiple functions: the spherical marker provides three-dimensional position tracking, while the planar marker with unique patterns enables orientation determination and instrument identification. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate fiducials into a single universal tracking component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple fiducials are used for tracking surgical instruments, then tracking accuracy is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If complex imaging is used to track surgical instruments, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking precisionVSAvoidsurgical efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical imaging systems with an optical tracking system that uses non-stereo optical cameras to capture images of the tracking marker. This substitution maintains high measurement precision while significantly improving surgical efficiency by eliminating the need for complex imaging procedures and allowing real-time tracking without interrupting the surgical workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The tracking marker is pre-integrated with the surgical instrument, and its unique patterns are pre-configured to encode instrument identification information. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time imaging and processing during surgery, as the system can directly identify and track the instrument based on the pre-established marker patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If a rotationally asymmetric pattern is used on the tracking marker, then orientation determination accuracy is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation determination accuracyVSAvoidpattern manufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a rotationally asymmetric pattern on the planar marker, consisting of multiple elements arranged in a non-uniform configuration. This asymmetric arrangement creates a unique visual signature that enables precise determination of the marker's rotational orientation. The asymmetry ensures that each rotational position produces a distinct image pattern, allowing the tracking system to accurately calculate orientation without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12070365B2System and method for determining the three-dimensional location and orientation of identification markers

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 NAVIGATE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a tool system comprising a handheld implement having a passive vectorized tracking marker permanently integrated with the implement at a predetermined location on the implement in a predetermined orientation with respect to the implement; and a database comprising geometric information describing the at least one of a rotationally asymmetric shape of the tracking marker and a rotationally asymmetric pattern disposed on the tracking marker. The system may further comprise: a tracker configured for obtaining image information about the tracking marker when the tracking marker is in a field of view of the tracker; and a controller having a processor and memory, the controller in communication with the database and the tracker, the processor programmable for receiving and processing image information from the tracker; accessing the database to retrieve the geometric information; and comparing the image information with the geometric information. The handheld implement may be three-dimensionally tracked by the tracker.