Sbir phase I: novel camera-projector device leveraging markerless skin registration and projected augmented reality software to enable navigation for minimally invasive procedures

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program, supports the development and validation of a novel, projection-based surgical navigation platform by Illuminant Surgical Inc. The $274,865 award, effective January 15, 2024, aims to create a system that projects visual anatomical references and guidance directly onto a patient's skin during minimally invasive spinal procedures. This is expected to improve accuracy and reduce complications associated with these common surgeries, which can cost up to $15 billion annually in the U.S. The project will develop hardware and software to reliably detect and align radiological images onto patients, as well as the core algorithms needed to meet industry-standard accuracy requirements for lumbar spinal procedures. The prototype will be tested on bench-top phantoms prior to further development. No sub-awards are planned under this grant.

Abstract

This small business innovation research (SBIR) phase I project is a novel projection-based platform, enabling direct visual mapping during surgical procedures. The project aims to develop a system that directly projects images that guide surgical intervention in real time onto the patient. By enabling direct visualization and by requiring minimal consumable components, the project aims to address usability and cost barriers that hinder adoption of current surgical mapping platforms. This product targets the spinal lumbar surgical market accounting for nearly 200,000 U.S. Procedures each year. Spinal surgery requires high levels of accuracy, with inaccurate interventions resulting in reoperation rates of up to 16%, and readmissions costing nearly $15 billion in both direct and indirect costs, as well as poorer patient outcomes. This small business innovation research (SBIR) phase I project aims to develop and validate a novel, projection-based, surgical navigation platform. The system utilizes three dimensional sensors to non-invasively orient to each individual patient and project visual anatomical references and guidance onto their skin surface, aiding surgeons in real time. This project will develop and validate the hardware and software to repeatably and reliably detect and align radiological images onto patients. IT will also develop and validate the core algorithms needed to ensure the required accuracy and system performance suitable for surgical use. The prototype will be tested on bench-top phantoms and its performance compared to the defined industry-standard accuracy measures required for lumbar spinal surgical procedures. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.