Surgical Tracker IR-LED Layout With Low-Current Button Cell Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical trackers for navigation systems face issues such as contamination susceptibility, weight imbalance causing surgeon fatigue, and structural deformation or damage due to battery packs or power cords, with pulsed operation requiring complex synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A tracker with an arrangement of infrared light emitting diodes (IR-LEDs) on a lightweight polymer carrier, powered by a single button cell battery, limiting current to 15mA per LED, allowing continuous or quasi-continuous operation without synchronization, and featuring a lightweight design and wireless power reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a battery pack or power cord is used to power the active tracker, then the tracker can generate light continuously, but the weight of the battery pack or power cord affects the centre of gravity and makes holding the instrument tiresome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable button cell batteries (e.g., CR2032, CR2025, CR2016, or CR2020) instead of rechargeable battery packs or power cords. These small, inexpensive batteries provide sufficient power for the duration of a surgical procedure, eliminating the need for heavy rechargeable systems while maintaining continuous light generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reduces the current consumption of each IR-LED to not more than 15mA through circuit design optimizations. This parameter change allows the use of smaller, lighter button cell batteries that can sustain continuous operation throughout a surgical procedure without requiring heavy power sources.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the tracker uses a battery pack or power cord, then the tracker can operate continuously, but structurally weak instruments like biopsy needles may deform or be damaged by the weight of the tracker
Solution Approach 1:
The use of disposable button cell batteries eliminates the need for heavy rechargeable battery packs and power cords that could deform or damage structurally weak instruments like biopsy needles. The minimal weight of the button cell battery and lightweight tracker housing preserves instrument integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
By reducing IR-LED current consumption to ≤15mA, the patent enables continuous operation with minimal power requirements, allowing the use of extremely lightweight components that do not compromise the structural strength of delicate surgical instruments.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the tracker operates in a pulsed manner to reduce power consumption, then the battery life is extended, but synchronization with the navigation camera is required which increases the complexity of the tracker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs continuous operation of the IR-LEDs powered by small button cell batteries, eliminating the need for pulsed operation and camera synchronization. The low current consumption (≤15mA per LED) ensures sufficient battery life for continuous illumination throughout the surgical procedure without requiring complex timing circuits or communication interfaces.
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 accurate, contamination-resistant, and lightweight tracking without the need for external power sources, reducing surgeon fatigue and instrument deformation, while maintaining tracking accuracy and simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical circuit comprises an arrangement of more than two infrared light emitting diodes, IR-LEDs
Implementation Method 2
The electrical circuit further comprises a battery that is a single button cell, wherein the battery is configured to provide power to operate all of the IR-LEDs of the arrangement
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A tracker for a surgical navigation system and a surgical navigation system are provided. The tracker comprises a carrier and an electrical circuit disposed on the carrier. The electrical circuit comprises an arrangement of more than two infrared light emitting diodes, IR-LEDs, wherein the arrangement has no rotational symmetry, and a battery or a wireless power reception device configured to receive power wirelessly, wherein the battery or the wireless power reception device is configured to provide power to operate at least one IR-LED of the arrangement. The electrical circuit is configured to limit a current for at least one of the at least one IR-LED to not exceed 15mA.