Surgical Tracker Emitters Triggered by Radiation Intensity Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tracking systems face challenges with power consumption, complexity, and cost due to the use of active trackers with emitters that require power lines, batteries, or complex laser-based scanning, which are not suitable for disposable trackers.
Innovation Solution
A tracker with circuitry that detects changes in electromagnetic radiation intensity to trigger emitters, using a detector and emitters configured to emit radiation in response to intensity changes, powered by a battery or wireless power, with controlled emission 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 extracts the power line from the tracker system by using a battery as a self-contained power source. This removes the external power line connection, improving ease of operation and handling while maintaining reliable power supply through the integrated battery package.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable tracker design with an integrated battery that is discarded after use. This eliminates the need for recharging or external power lines, improving ease of operation during surgery while accepting that the power source has limited duration corresponding to the single-use lifecycle.
2Reliability
If a dedicated communication and processing device is added to the tracker to receive and process camera operational parameters, then the emitters can pulse in synchronicity with camera operation, but the power consumption, weight and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tracker uses its own detector to sense electromagnetic radiation changes and generate trigger signals internally. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external communication devices, maintaining synchronization reliability while reducing device complexity, weight, and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the detector and emitter control functions into a single integrated circuit within the tracker. This merging of functions achieves emitter-camera synchronization without requiring separate communication and processing devices, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining synchronization reliability.
3Measurement precision
If a laser-based scanning light source is used to scan the work area, then positional tracking can be achieved, but the device becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex laser scanning system to actively illuminate and track the surgical field, the patent inverts the approach by placing passive or actively triggered emitters on the surgical objects themselves. The camera then detects these emitters to determine position, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining tracking precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple emitters positioned at known locations on the tracker to create a reference pattern that the camera detects. This copying of known geometric relationships through electromagnetic radiation allows precise position determination without requiring complex laser scanning infrastructure.
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 a lightweight, cost-effective, and reliable tracking system that minimizes power consumption and material costs, suitable for disposable use, while maintaining accurate positional data determination.
Implementation Method 1
a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, wherein the circuitry is configured to generate a trigger signal upon detection of a change of an intensity of electromagnetic radiation by the detector
Implementation Method 2
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
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.