Comparison of an Optical and a Mechanical Navigation System

Abstract

Abstract. D ifferent technologies have been used for computer assisted orthopaedic surgery for acquisition of surfaces and motions, but the most efficient are optical and mechanical [2]. In this study we compared two specific systems of these categories: FlashPoint TM 5000 (Image Guided Technologies, USA) and FAROArm TM (FARO Technologies, USA). FARO Arm showed an intrinsic uncertainty of 0.1mm overcoming FlashPoint (0.2mm). However their use in noisy conditions resulted in similar application-uncertainty. FARO Arm can track motion at 31Hz while FlashPoint at 17Hz, therefore FlashPoint spatial resolution m ay be critical during fast m ovements. I n simulated medical applications FARO Arm showed some difficulties (i) when used for passive motion with negligible forces, because the surgeon has to compensate its weight and (ii) during sample trajectory, because it has isolated singularities within its workspace. FlashPoint was affected by reflected light and required complete visibility during tracking of large trajectories. H owever its use in in-vivo conditions is more promising than FARO-Arm's.

Double-bundle ACL reconstruction: influence of femoral tunnel orientation in knee laxity analysed with a navigation system – an in-vitro biomechanical study

“…The specimens were kept moist during preparation and testing, by spraying with 0.9% normal saline solution. The anatomical and kinematic acquisitions were performed using FlashPoint optical navigation system (Image Guided, Boulder, Colorado, USA) to accurately record the relative motion of the tibia and the femur and to digitize anatomical data [ 10 , 11 ].…”

M/Oris

“…• mechanical or optical trackers [21], used for tool tracking or object registration. They include traditional trackers (Polhemus, Atracsys) and force-feedback devices (FCS, Force Dimension).…”

Using optical tracking for kinematic testing of medical robots

“…Several other studies have independently evaluated the performance of tracking measurements. These studies used special rigs as the gold standard references, and compared the optical trackers to mechanical arms or different trackers against each other …”