Trackable Needle Assembly with Integrated Camera for Percutaneous Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the ability to confirm or visualize the placement of surgical tools in relation to treatment locations inside a patient's body during percutaneous navigation procedures, making it difficult for clinicians to ensure accurate tool placement during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a trackable needle assembly with a camera and tracking sensors, an ultrasound sensor, and a computing device that tracks and displays the location of these components in real-time, allowing for continuous visualization and guidance during the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasound scans are used to confirm placement of surgical tools, then treatment location confirmation is improved, but real-time visualization of tool placement in relation to treatment locations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tracking technologies (electromagnetic tracking, optical tracking, ultrasound tracking) into a single integrated system that simultaneously tracks the ultrasound sensor, needle assembly, and surgical instrument. This merging allows real-time visualization of all components in relation to each other and to the treatment location, resolving the contradiction between confirming treatment location and maintaining real-time visualization information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computing device as an intermediary that receives tracking data from multiple sensors, processes the information, and generates a composite visual display. This intermediary system integrates data from ultrasound scans, electromagnetic trackers, and optical trackers to provide comprehensive real-time visualization of surgical tool placement relative to treatment locations, eliminating the information loss that occurs when using ultrasound alone.
2Measurement precision
If multiple tracking sensors are integrated into the system, then real-time location tracking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device serves multiple functions: it processes electromagnetic tracking data, processes optical tracking data, processes ultrasound tracking data, integrates all these data streams, and generates the composite visual display. By making the computing device universal and multi-functional, the patent reduces overall system complexity despite incorporating multiple tracking sensors, as one device performs all processing and integration tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking sensors are integrated directly into the surgical tools (needle assembly and surgical instrument), making them self-tracking. The sensors automatically provide location data without requiring external tracking equipment, and the computing device automatically processes and integrates this data. This self-service approach reduces the need for additional complex external tracking infrastructure.
3Loss of information
If a camera is attached to the needle assembly, then visual confirmation of placement is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is nested within or integrated into the needle assembly structure, with the camera positioned to view through the needle's lumen. This nesting approach allows the camera to be part of the needle assembly without significantly increasing external dimensions or manufacturing complexity, as the camera utilizes the existing needle structure rather than requiring a separate mounting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera provides a visual copy or representation of the internal view through the needle lumen, allowing clinicians to see surgical tool placement and anatomical structures without directly observing the interior. This optical copying function enables visual confirmation of placement while keeping the physical needle assembly relatively simple in structure.
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
Enables accurate and real-time visualization of surgical tool placement relative to treatment locations, enhancing the precision and safety of percutaneous navigation procedures by providing a streamlined method for treatment planning and execution.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field to be sensed by the sensor of the trackable needle assembly, the sensor of the surgical instrument, and the tracking element of the ultrasound sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
A method for performing a percutaneous navigation procedure is provided. A location of an ultrasound sensor is tracked. A trackable needle assembly is navigated to a target and the location of the trackable needle assembly is tracked. Images from a camera operably coupled to the trackable needle assembly are received. A location of a surgical instrument inserted through a lumen of the trackable needle is tracked. The tracked location of each of the ultrasound sensor, the trackable needle assembly, and the surgical instrument is displayed in relation to one another.