Surgical Tracker Emitter Triggering for Low-Power Camera Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tracking systems face challenges in power management and complexity, with active trackers requiring power lines or batteries, leading to increased weight, cost, and complexity, especially for disposable trackers.
Innovation Solution
A tracker with emitters triggered by electromagnetic radiation intensity changes, using a detector to generate a trigger signal for simultaneous emitter activation, powered by a battery or wireless reception, and synchronized with camera exposure timing to reduce power consumption and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a power line is coupled to the tracker to provide sufficient power for emitters, then the power supply is reliable, but the handling of the tracker is negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power line from the tracker design, extracting the problematic component that hindered handling. The tracker is redesigned to operate without a physical power connection, using instead a battery or wireless power transfer mechanism, thereby eliminating the handling obstruction while maintaining power supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary power delivery mechanism (wireless power transfer or battery) between the power source and the tracker. This intermediary eliminates the need for a physical power line connection to the tracker, allowing reliable power delivery without compromising the tracker's ease of handling and movement in the surgical environment.
2Reliability
If a dedicated communication and processing device is added to the tracker to synchronize emitters with camera operation, then the emitters can pulse in synchronicity with camera exposure timing, but the power consumption, weight and material cost of the tracker increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication and processing functions into the existing camera system rather than adding a dedicated device to the tracker. The camera's internal processing unit handles the synchronization logic, and the shutter mechanism itself serves as the synchronization interface. This eliminates the need for separate communication hardware on the tracker while maintaining precise emitter-camera synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system performs self-service by using its own shutter timing and processing capabilities to control the tracker's emitter synchronization. The camera's exposure timing automatically triggers the emitter pulses without requiring external communication devices or additional processing units on the tracker, thereby reducing tracker complexity while achieving reliable synchronization.
3Ease of manufacture
If the tracker is designed as a disposable unit, then the cost and complexity are minimized, but the power consumption must be carefully managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by pulsing the emitters only during camera exposure timing rather than continuous operation. This pulsed emission pattern dramatically reduces power consumption, making the tracker suitable for disposable use. The emitters are activated in synchronized pulses that match the camera's exposure schedule, ensuring adequate power supply for the brief operational periods while maintaining cost-effectiveness for single-use applications.
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
The solution provides reliable tracking with reduced power consumption, weight, and cost, enabling efficient operation of surgical trackers without the need for dedicated communication devices or power lines.
Implementation Method 1
The circuitry comprises a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
The circuitry comprises a plurality of emitters configured to emit electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A tracker, a surgical tracking system, and a method for operating the tracker are provided. The tracker comprises an interface configured to attach the tracker to a surgical object that is to be tracked. The tracker further comprises circuitry comprising a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, wherein the circuitry is configured to generate a trigger signal upon detection of a change of intensity of electromagnetic radiation by the detector. The circuitry further comprises a plurality of emitters configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the plurality of emitters to emit electromagnetic radiation responsive to the trigger signal.