Tracked Drill Assembly for Real-Time Tool Tip Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During surgical and other procedures, the location of a tool tip is often hidden from direct view, requiring reliance on visual cues and experience, which can lead to inaccuracies in performing tasks like drilling or burr hole formation.
Innovation Solution
A powered drill assembly is equipped with a tracking device that allows real-time navigation and visualization of the tool tip relative to a subject's image, using systems like optical or electromagnetic tracking, enabling precise location determination and display on a navigation system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tracking device is added to the powered drill, then measurement precision of tool tip location is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device is integrated into the powered drill assembly by nesting it within the existing structure. The tracking device is positioned to be carried by the drill, allowing it to follow the drill's movements without requiring a separate mounting system, thus adding measurement capability while minimizing structural complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device acts as an intermediary between the physical drill and the navigation system. It converts the drill's physical position and orientation into trackable signals that can be processed by the navigation system, enabling precise location determination without directly modifying the drill's core functionality.
2Loss of information
If real-time tracking is implemented, then information availability about tool location is improved, but loss of time for setup and calibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device is pre-integrated into the powered drill assembly during manufacturing, so that the tracking capability is already established before the procedure begins. This preliminary integration reduces the time required for setup and calibration during the actual surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device automatically tracks the drill's position and orientation without requiring manual intervention or calibration during the procedure. The system self-adjusts and provides continuous real-time information about tool location, minimizing the time loss associated with manual tracking adjustments.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is a system to engage one or more tools. In the system a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. Further, a tracking device may be used to track a location of at least a portion of the tool.