Trajectory Frame Fiducials for Multi-Modality Surgical Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical navigation systems rely heavily on MRI imaging, which limits their application and increases radiation exposure and procedural time, as they often require continuous imaging and are not adaptable to multiple imaging modalities.
Innovation Solution
Development of trajectory frames and devices that employ optical and EM fiducials for tracking/navigation, allowing for use with MRI-guided, camera-based, and EM-based systems, including CT visible image fiducials, to confirm planned trajectories and reduce radiation exposure and procedural time by enabling navigation across multiple imaging modalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If MRI imaging is used for surgical navigation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure increases and procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiducial markers are designed to be visible across multiple imaging modalities (MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, optical tracking), allowing a single marker system to serve multiple navigation purposes without requiring modality-specific markers, thereby reducing overall radiation exposure from multiple imaging sessions
2Measurement precision
If continuous MRI imaging is used for navigation, then trajectory confirmation accuracy is improved, but procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Fiducial markers are placed on the patient and tools before the surgical procedure begins, and pre-operative imaging is performed to establish the registration framework in advance, eliminating the need for continuous intraoperative MRI scanning and reducing procedural time while maintaining navigation accuracy
3Device complexity
If a single imaging modality is used for navigation, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiducial markers are designed with materials and geometric features that make them visible across multiple imaging modalities (MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, optical tracking), allowing a single marker system to serve multiple navigation purposes without requiring modality-specific markers, thereby reducing overall radiation exposure from multiple imaging sessions
Solution Approach 2:
The fiducial markers incorporate composite materials with different radiological properties (e.g., titanium alloy with specific MRI signal characteristics and CT attenuation properties) that enable visibility across multiple imaging modalities simultaneously, achieving multi-modality adaptability through material composition
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 efficient navigation in surgical procedures by providing hybrid tools that can be used with multiple imaging modalities, reducing radiation exposure and increasing procedural speed and reliability, while allowing for confirmation of planned trajectories without continuous MRI imaging.
Implementation Method 1
The reflective members can be configured to be detectable by a camera-based tracking system
Implementation Method 2
an MRI-visible fluid that creates sufficient signal intensity for identifying a location and/or orientation of a target tool
Implementation Method 3
trajectory frames and/or devices attached thereto configured to hold or employ CT visible image fiducials for non-MRI imaging modalities
Data Source
AI summary
Trajectory frame assemblies for image guided surgical systems have a trajectory frame with a support column that can removably secure different components such as a tracking probe and an MER driver adapter to define and/or follow a desired intrabody trajectory. The trajectory frame assemblies include fins attached to the column support and a platform optionally with an X-Y table and/or arcuate reference brackets that are attached to the trajectory frame assemblies and can hold a reference frame with fiducials.