Positioning and Tracking System
The positioning system is the core hardware for surgical navigation, and it is divided into two categories: Optical positioning and electromagnetic positioning.
Optical Positioning: This system captures reflected signals from surgical instruments or patient surface markers using an infrared camera, calculating spatial coordinates in real time with sub-millimeter accuracy. However, it is sensitive to visual obstruction.
Electromagnetic Positioning: This system uses a magnetic field generator and sensors to determine instrument position through electromagnetic signals. It is suitable for cavities or complex anatomical areas, but is susceptible to interference from metal devices.
Medical Imaging Equipment: This includes equipment such as CT and MRI machines used preoperatively to generate 3D anatomical models of the patient, and ultrasound and C-arm X-ray machines for real-time intraoperative imaging. Image data is matched with the patient's actual position using calibration and registration algorithms to form a navigation reference.
Navigation Workstation and Display Terminal: A high-performance computer handles image reconstruction, data fusion, and real-time calculations, displaying the 3D model, surgical path, and instrument positions on a high-resolution screen.
Specialized Surgical Instruments and Markers: Probes, catheters, or surgical tools with positioning sensors, and reference markers affixed to the patient's surface (for establishing a coordinate system).
