Surgical Pointer Tip Sensor for Navigation Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pointer instruments used in medical navigation require complex calibration and user-intensive operation, leading to difficulties in recording contour data accurately during movement, as the navigation system must constantly be informed about the tip's position and interaction with surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a handle portion and integrated tip sensor that detects features of the tip, including presence, type, and force, allowing for automatic communication with the navigation system to simplify user interaction and improve data accuracy, featuring a tip sensor with a presence sensor, force sensor, and data communicator for seamless integration with medical navigation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration and constant user input are used to track tip position, then the navigation system can record landmark positions, but the operation becomes very user-intensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tip sensor enables the instrument to automatically detect and report its own tip position and status to the navigation system without requiring manual calibration or constant user input. The sensor self-monitors tip presence, type, and interaction forces, eliminating the need for user-intensive operations while maintaining precise tracking
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calibration and user input operations with an automated sensor-based detection system. The tip sensor uses non-contact or minimal-contact sensing mechanisms to automatically determine tip position and status, substituting the mechanical user interaction process with automated electronic detection
2Productivity
If the navigation system constantly monitors tip position manually, then contour data can be recorded, but meaningless data is recorded during transfer movements when the tip is lifted
Solution Approach 1:
The tip sensor provides continuous feedback to the navigation system about tip status, including whether the tip is in contact with a surface or lifted during transfer movements. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between valid contour recording moments and transfer movements, preventing meaningless data from being recorded while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor automatically monitors and reports tip interaction status without user intervention, enabling the navigation system to autonomously determine when to record contour data and when to ignore transfer movements, thereby improving both efficiency and data reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tips are exchangeably fastened to the handle, then the instrument becomes versatile for different surgical tasks, but the complexity of managing different tips increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening adaptor provides a universal interface that accommodates multiple different tip types through a single standardized connection mechanism. This allows the instrument to be versatile for different surgical tasks while keeping the handle and fastening system simple and unified, reducing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical instrument comprising a handle portion and a tip, wherein a tip sensor is provided on the handle portion. The tip sensor enables detection of when a tip is inserted into and/or removed from the handle. In addition, the tip sensor enables a navigation system to be notified when landmarks are probed with the surgical instrument, thereby ensuring accurate capture of the location of the landmark.