Trackable Protective Packaging for Surgical Tool Installation Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tools require protective packaging to prevent exposure and ensure precise installation, but current methods for confirming tool alignment are cumbersome, inaccurate, and costly, often requiring additional instruments and manual operator involvement.
Innovation Solution
A trackable protective packaging with integrated features that allows for precise alignment and installation verification using a navigation system, eliminating the need for additional tools and manual calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If markers or trackers are attached to the tool for navigation system tracking, then the tool can be tracked by the navigation system, but the markers may negatively affect physical performance of the tool or be destroyed during sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the protective packaging as an intermediary carrier for the tracking marker. Instead of attaching the marker directly to the tool, the marker is placed on the packaging that contains the tool. This intermediary approach allows the tool to be tracked indirectly through the packaging, avoiding direct attachment of markers to the tool itself and thus preventing physical performance degradation while maintaining tracking capability.
2Measurement precision
If additional tracked digitization devices are used to confirm tool installation, then installation accuracy can be verified, but additional tools and operator steps are required increasing operating time and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective packaging with the tracking function by integrating a marker onto the packaging. This combination eliminates the need for separate tracking devices and manual digitization tools. The packaging serves dual purposes: protecting the tool and enabling automatic tracking and installation verification through the integrated marker, thereby reducing operating time and eliminating additional operator steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification of tool installation by automatically comparing the tracked position of the marker on the packaging with the expected position. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual operator involvement in verification, reducing both operating time and potential human error while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If a custom end effector with markers is used for calibration, then tool installation accuracy can be assessed, but the end effector must be customized increasing costs and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the protective packaging itself the carrier for the tracking marker, rather than customizing the end effector. The packaging can be universally used with different tools while carrying the marker for tracking. This multi-functional approach allows the same packaging design to serve both protective and tracking purposes across multiple tool types, eliminating the need for custom end effectors and reducing device complexity.
4Measurement precision
If the robot assumes certain poses for calibration, then tool installation accuracy can be evaluated, but operating room time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic installation verification by continuously tracking the marker on the packaging and comparing its position with the expected position in the surgical plan. This self-service verification occurs in real-time without requiring the robot to assume specific calibration poses, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual calibration process while maintaining high measurement precision.
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
Provides accurate, efficient, and cost-effective tool installation verification without additional instruments, reducing operating time and complexity by leveraging the protective packaging's trackable features and navigation system.
Implementation Method 1
a localizer configured to detect an actual state of the at least one trackable feature
Data Source
AI summary
Navigation systems, methods and software for assisting in determining whether a tool is properly installed on a surgical device. A protective packaging retains the tool and has a trackable feature. The trackable feature has a predetermined state defined relative to the tool and the trackable feature is detectable by a localizer. One or more controllers acquire the actual state of the tool based on the detected trackable feature and compare the actual state of the tool with an expected state of the tool, which is based on an expected condition in which the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device. Based on the comparison, the one or more controllers can determine whether the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device.