Rotational Tracker Adapter Biasing to Maintain Surgical Tracker Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems face challenges in maintaining visibility of trackers due to potential obstruction by objects, leading to inaccurate tracking, and existing mounting solutions are cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A repositionable tracker adapter system for surgical instruments, featuring a biasing mechanism that secures the tracker to the instrument while allowing rotation and limiting movement, using a base with a biasing element to maintain visibility and simplify assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the tracker is mounted in a fixed or static position to the surgical instrument, then the mounting structure is simple, but the visibility of the tracker may be inhibited by objects positioned between the localizer and the tracker
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly enables the tracker to be repositionable about the surgical instrument through a rotation mechanism, transforming the static mounting into a dynamic one. This allows the tracker to be adjusted to different positions and orientations to maintain visibility with the localizer while the surgical instrument is manipulated, resolving the contradiction between simple mounting structure and reliable visibility.
2Reliability
If the tracker is made repositionable about the surgical instrument to maintain visibility, then the visibility of the tracker is maintained, but the device requires a large number of components that add weight and make the surgical instrument heavy and more difficult to manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly merges the tracker mounting function with the surgical instrument interface by integrating the adapter to the end effector and coupling the tracker to the adapter. This unified structure reduces the number of separate components compared to traditional separate mounting systems, thereby reducing weight while enabling repositionability to maintain tracker visibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If the device for mounting the tracker includes a complex arrangement of components to maintain spatial positioning, then the spatial positioning of the tracker is maintained, but the device is difficult to manufacture and assemble, adding cost and time
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into three main components: the adapter assembly attached to the surgical instrument, the tracker, and the coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled separately with standardized interfaces, simplifying the overall manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining precise spatial positioning of the tracker relative to the surgical instrument.
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
Ensures accurate tracking by maintaining visibility of trackers, reduces weight and complexity, and simplifies assembly, thereby enhancing surgical instrument maneuverability and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
creating a friction force between the adapter, the stop, and the surgical handpiece to limit free rotation of the adapter relative to the surgical handpiece
Implementation Method 2
creating a friction force between the adapter, the stop, and the surgical handpiece to limit free rotation of the adapter relative to the surgical handpiece
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical navigation tracker assembly including a rotational adapter for removably attaching a tracker to a surgical instrument assembly including a surgical handpiece. The adapter may be coupled to an end effector of the surgical instrument and configured to allow the end effector to actuate relative to the adapter. The end effector may comprise a stop, the adapter configured to abut the stop when coupled to the end effector. The adapter may comprise a mount for releasably securing the tracker to the adapter. The adapter may also comprise a biasing element, and the biasing element may comprise an abutment interface configured to engage either of the surgical handpiece or the stop when the end effector is coupled to the surgical handpiece. The biasing element is configured to limit rotation of the adapter relative to the surgical handpiece when the abutment interface is engaged with the surgical handpiece or the stop.