Surgical Tracking Head With Visual Line-of-Sight Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation systems experience line-of-sight errors when tracking objects due to obstructions, leading to delays and errors in surgical procedures, as they rely on unobstructed signals between tracking elements and sensors.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system with error indicators on the tracked object, such as light emitters, that activate to signal line-of-sight issues directly on the object, and a tracking device with a base and connector allowing movement in degrees of freedom to ensure proper orientation and reduce obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If navigation systems use remote monitors to display error messages, then the system can detect line-of-sight errors, but the surgeon may not notice the errors in a timely manner causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-changing light emitters (e.g., green to red) on the tracking device itself to indicate line-of-sight errors. When the sensor receives adequate tracking signals, the light emitter shows green; when line-of-sight is obstructed, it changes to red, providing immediate visual feedback directly at the surgical site that the surgeon can notice without looking at remote monitors.
Solution Approach 2:
The error indication is moved from a two-dimensional remote monitor to a three-dimensional spatial location directly on the tracking device at the surgical site. This dimensional change allows the error signal to be perceived in the surgeon's immediate field of view, eliminating the need to shift attention to a separate display device.
2Device complexity
If the tracking element and sensor maintain fixed positions, then the system structure is simple, but line-of-sight obstructions cannot be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable tracking element that can be repositioned relative to the surgical site. The tracking device includes a mounting mechanism that allows adjustment of the tracking element's position and orientation, enabling the system to dynamically adapt to changing surgical conditions and maintain line-of-sight with the sensor even as anatomical structures or surgical instruments move.
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 system quickly identifies and addresses line-of-sight errors on the tracked object, reducing delays and improving the likelihood of timely resolution without the need for remote error messages, thereby enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The error indicator includes a first light emitter and a second light emitter. A computing system determines if the sensor receives the tracking signal from the tracking element. The computing system also generates an error signal if the sensor did not receive the tracking signal and activates the first light emitter in response to generating the error signal.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tracking device (44, 46, 48) for use with a navigation system (20) that includes a localizer (34) comprises a tracking head (212, 312, 412), at least one tracking element (50) supported by the tracking head (212, 312, 412) and configured to transmit a tracking signal for the localizer (34), an indicator (300, 430) supported by the tracking head (212, 312, 412) and comprising an emitter (302, 404) configured to generate a visible light, and a tracker controller (62) supported by the tracking head (212, 312, 412) and being configured to receive a signal from the navigation system (20) indicative of the tracking signal being received by the localizer (34), and in response, control the indicator (300, 430) to activate the emitter (302, 404) to generate the visible light to produce a color to indicate to a user that the tracking signal is being received by the localizer (34).