Polaris Vega & Polaris Vicra Product Introduction
Building on passive optical measurement technology, Polaris Vega and Polaris Vicra use near-infrared (IR) light to detect and track the 3D positions of navigation markers attached to tools (e.g., passive marker spheres, Radix™ Lens). Each tool features a unique array of markers, allowing individual tools to be distinguished. Mapping the coordinate data of each marker to a specific tool enables the calculation of the tool’s transformation — that is, the determination of the tool’s position and orientation.
Similar to GPS navigation, the coordinate data localizes tools and their attached markers in 3D space in real time. Once the tracking data is integrated into the OEM host application, it can be used to navigate surgical instruments relative to the patient’s image dataset. Tracking is performed within a pre-calibrated pyramid or extended pyramid measurement volume, and all tool transformation information is reported within the global coordinate system of the Polaris optical tracker. The entire tracking process follows a clear, efficient workflow: first, markers are attached to OEM surgical instruments; then, the Polaris optical tracker illuminates the measurement volume with infrared (IR) light, which reflects from the markers back to the IR sensors on the tracker. The intersection of light rays is used to triangulate the 3D (X-Y-Z) coordinates of the markers within the measurement volume, and the coordinate data is then mapped to the corresponding instrument to compute its transformation (pose). Finally, once tracking data is transmitted to the host application, the relevant instruments overlaid on the patient’s image dataset are visualized and navigated in real time.
In addition to optical tracking technology, our Aurora® Electromagnetic (EM) Tracking solution is also an advanced option for OEM surgical navigation. It combines micro-sensors with electromagnetic field generators to deliver reliable position data and track OEM medical devices in confined, hard-to-access, or visually obscured areas. Continuous tracking is maintained without line-of-sight — even when sensors are invisible. Sensors can be embedded into rigid or flexible OEM devices such as ultrasound probes, endoscopes, guidewires, catheters, and even needle tips.
The complete workflow of Aurora® EM tracking is as follows: 1. Sensors are embedded into surgical instruments to serve as reference points for localization. 2. The field generator emits low-intensity, time-varying electromagnetic fields to define the tracking volume and determine the position of tracked objects. 3. When a sensor enters the EM field, a weak electric current is induced within its internal circuitry. 4. The induced current is transmitted to the sensor interface unit, where it is amplified, digitized, and converted into a digital signal. 5. The digitized signal is sent to the system control unit, which calculates the precise transformation — position and orientation — of each sensor. 6. Once tracking data is transmitted to the host application, the corresponding instruments overlaid on the patient’s image dataset are navigated in real time.
