Surgical Tool Position Detection Using Magnetic and Optical Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical robotic systems are error-prone and tedious due to lack of mechanical feedback and visual placement issues when drilling into complex bone structures, particularly in procedures like vertebrae fusion, where accurate hole drilling is crucial for mechanical integrity and force balance.
Innovation Solution
A guided surgical tool assembly with sensors, such as magnetic and optical sensors, integrated into a guide tube and surgical instrument, allowing for precise detection and tracking of the instrument's position within the tube using detectable features like magnetic strips and optical markings, enabling accurate and autonomous movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual positioning of drill guide tube is used with conventional guidance system, then surgeon can control the drilling process, but the process is tedious and time-consuming with high dependency on surgeon dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument assembly performs self-positioning and self-tracking through integrated sensors and detectable features. The system automatically determines the position and orientation of the guide tube relative to the bone structure without requiring continuous manual adjustment or external guidance system intervention, enabling the system to serve itself during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect features on the guide tube and surgical instruments, providing real-time feedback about their positions and orientations. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor and adjust the surgical process automatically, reducing reliance on surgeon dexterity and minimizing procedure time while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
2Reliability
If robotic assistance is provided through conventional systems like da Vinci, then hand tremor is eliminated and micro-movements are achieved, but the system is expensive, obtrusive, and error-prone due to lack of mechanical feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical robotic systems with a sensor-based detection and tracking system. Instead of using expensive robotic manipulators that convert surgeon movements, the system uses sensors to directly detect the position and orientation of surgical instruments through magnetic and optical fields, eliminating the need for complex mechanical feedback mechanisms while maintaining or improving surgical accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces detectable features (magnetic strips, optical markings) as intermediaries between the surgical instrument and the detection system. These features act as mediators that enable precise tracking without requiring direct mechanical coupling or complex robotic mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while improving reliability through automated position determination.
3Measurement precision
If visual placement is used to track instrument position, then placement can be monitored, but visual tracking becomes difficult when instrument is submerged within patient tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces visual placement methods with sensor-based detection using magnetic and optical fields. These fields can penetrate tissue, allowing sensors to detect the position of detectable features on surgical instruments even when they are submerged within patient tissue, eliminating the limitation of visual tracking methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from visual (optical) to magnetic and optical field sensing. By using magnetic strips and optical markings that can be detected through tissue by sensors, the system transforms the detection mechanism to work effectively when instruments are submerged, maintaining measurement precision regardless of tissue coverage.
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
This solution enhances surgical precision and reduces human error by providing real-time feedback and accurate positioning of the surgical instrument, improving the mechanical integrity and success rate of procedures like vertebrae fusion.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is a position sensor capable of detecting the magnetic flux field
Implementation Method 2
the longitudinal position of the surgical instrument in the guide tube can be at least partially determined by optically sensing light from the high contrast marking using the at least one optical sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Medical robot systems, surgical tool assemblies, devices, and methods regarding the same. The medical robot system may include a robot coupled to an end-effector having a guide tube. The robot may be configured for controlled movement and positioning of the end-effector. The system further includes a motor assembly coupled to the robot. The motor assembly may be configured to move the end-effector along one or more of an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis. The surgical instrument is positionable and/or slidable within the guide tube. The surgical instrument includes at least one detectable feature, such as a reflective lens or stripe. A detection device is configured and arranged to detect the at least one detectable feature. The system enables a depth of the surgical instrument in the guide tube to be determined by the at least one detectable feature on the instrument.