A surgical suture needle search system and method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a search system and method for surgical suture needles, which can realize fast and efficient search for suture needles. An annular groove is arranged at the tail of the suture needle, and the groove is filled with the first and second fluorescent initiators and fluorescent dyes that interact with each other, which are coated with soft and tough materials and separated by brittle isolation sheets; when subjected to external force, the isolation sheet breaks, so that the two fluorescent initiators mix to produce fluorescent reactions, and the fluorescent dyes produce fluorescence of a specific wavelength; the image matching unit searches for the needle holder in the field of view through an image recognition method, and calculates the direction and probability of the suture needle bouncing and losing according to the angle of the needle holder on the ground by comparing with the experimental database, and displays the direction and probability of the suture needle losing through AR glasses, and matches the shape of the suture needle through the image matching unit, and when the suture needle is found, its position is displayed through AR glasses, which is convenient for users to search; the wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the suture needle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical image processing, and in particular to a search system for a surgical suture needle, and a working method of the search system for a surgical suture needle. Background Art

[0002] Suture needles are one of the indispensable tools for surgical suturing. They are also the most likely items to be left in the patient's body or lost during surgery and be searched for as foreign objects. During surgery, doctors use suture needles to suture incisions, but due to careless operation or other reasons, suture needles can easily fall into the surgical area, which brings great risks and challenges to the surgery. Loss of suture needles during surgery is a common medical accident. Some researchers have summarized 240 surgical-related safety incidents, of which 37.9% were attempted safety incidents of intraoperative surgical suture needle loss. Surgical suture needles are small in size and are easily lost during surgical operations, especially during laparoscopic surgery, when suture needles are easily lost during the delivery process. Once a suture needle is lost, it will be difficult to find it, resulting in delays in surgery due to the search for the lost suture needle, increasing the risk of surgery for patients, and seriously affecting the quality of medical care and patient safety; at the same time, searching for lost suture needles during surgery will not only delay surgery time, consume the energy of medical staff, and cause certain psychological pressure on medical staff, but also bring great negative impacts to hospitals and departments, and may even lead to medical disputes.

[0003] To solve this problem, doctors often use special tools and techniques to find suture needles in addition to the traditional visual search method. For example, they may use imaging techniques such as X-rays or CT scans to determine where the suture needles are. In addition, doctors can also use special magnets to find suture needles.

[0004] However, CT and X-rays cannot detect small-sized suture needles. The effect of using magnets to find them is not ideal either, as other surgical instruments are often attracted by the magnets, making the suture needles invisible.

[0005] In summary, the existing methods for searching for lost suture needles generally have the following shortcomings:

[0006] 1. Traditional visual inspection methods are time-consuming and subject to the possibility of human negligence.

[0007] 2. X-rays and CT scans expose patients to more radiation and are ineffective for searching for small-gauge suture needles.

[0008] 3. Using magnets to search for lost suture needles will attract other instruments, and the search area is small, which is less efficient.

[0009] 4. When searching for a suture needle under laparoscope, the visual angle is limited and the complete suture needle cannot be observed, which increases the difficulty of finding the needle. Summary of the invention

[0010] In order to overcome the defects of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a search system for surgical suture needles, which can realize fast and efficient search for suture needles lost during surgery.

[0011] The technical solution of the present invention is: this surgical suture needle search system comprises: a fluorescent marking suture needle, an image search device;

[0012] The fluorescent marking suture needle has an annular groove at the tail of the suture needle 1, and the groove is filled with a first fluorescent initiator 2, a second fluorescent initiator 3 and a fluorescent dye that interact with each other, which are coated with a soft and tough material and separated by a brittle isolation sheet 4; when subjected to external force, the isolation sheet breaks, so that the two fluorescent initiators mix to produce a fluorescent reaction, so that the fluorescent dye produces fluorescence of a specific wavelength;

[0013] The image search device includes: an image matching unit, a filter 5, and AR glasses 6, wherein the image matching unit searches for the needle holder in the field of view through an image recognition method, calculates the direction and probability of the suture needle bouncing and losing according to the angle of the needle holder on the ground by comparing with the experimental database, and displays the direction and probability of the suture needle losing through the AR glasses, matches the shape of the suture needle through the image matching unit, and when the suture needle is found, its position is displayed through the AR glasses to facilitate user search; the wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the suture needle, filters out light that is greatly different from the specific wavelength, and enhances the display effect of the fluorescence of the specific wavelength.

[0014] The present invention provides an annular groove at the tail of a suture needle, in which two fluorescent initiators and a fluorescent dye that interact with each other are filled, the groove is coated with a soft and tough material, and separated by a brittle isolation sheet. When subjected to external force, the isolation sheet breaks so that the two fluorescent initiators mix to produce a fluorescent reaction, causing the fluorescent dye to produce fluorescence of a specific wavelength; an image matching unit searches for a needle holder in the field of view through an image recognition method, calculates the direction and probability of the suture needle bouncing and being lost according to the angle of the needle holder on the ground by comparing with an experimental database, and displays the direction and probability of the suture needle being lost through AR glasses, matches the shape of the suture needle through the image matching unit, and when the suture needle is found, its position is displayed through the AR glasses for easy search by users; the wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the suture needle, filters out light that is greatly different from the specific wavelength, and enhances the display effect of the fluorescence of the specific wavelength; therefore, it is possible to quickly and efficiently search for suture needles lost during surgery.

[0015] A method for searching a surgical suture needle system is also provided, comprising the following steps:

[0016] (1) The fluorescently labeled suture needle breaks under the clamping force of the needle holder to trigger a fluorescent reaction and produce fluorescence of a specific wavelength;

[0017] (2) The wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the fluorescently labeled suture needle, filtering out light that is significantly different from the specific wavelength;

[0018] (3) The image matching unit uses the camera of the AR glasses to capture the operating room image, search for a matching needle holder, and obtain the position and angle where the needle holder fell;

[0019] (4) By querying the relationship between the speed and direction probability of the fluorescent-marked suture needle flying and the landing angle of the needle holder obtained in advance, combined with the searched and matched needle holder angle, the probability of the direction of the fluorescent-marked suture needle flying is calculated;

[0020] (5) Displaying the directional probability curve in the AR glasses, and starting the matching of fluorescent-marked suture needles, searching for fluorescent-marked suture needles with fluorescent features in the images captured by the AR glasses;

[0021] (6) When the fluorescent-marked suture needle with fluorescent features is successfully matched, the image of the fluorescent-marked suture needle is marked in the display of the AR glasses, prompting the user to pick up the lost fluorescent-marked suture needle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fluorescent marking suture needle according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Cross-sectional view along AA direction.

[0024] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the image search device proposed in the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 4 The present invention is a flowchart of a method for searching a surgical suture needle system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the scheme of the present invention, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] It should be noted that the term "comprises" and any variations in the specification and claims of the present invention and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, apparatus, product or equipment that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or are inherent to these processes, methods, products or equipment.

[0028] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the surgical suture needle search system includes: a fluorescent marking suture needle, an image search device;

[0029] The fluorescent marking suture needle has an annular groove at the tail of the suture needle 1, and the groove is filled with a first fluorescent initiator 2, a second fluorescent initiator 3 and a fluorescent dye that interact with each other, which are coated with a soft and tough material and separated by a brittle isolation sheet 4; when subjected to external force, the isolation sheet breaks, so that the two fluorescent initiators mix to produce a fluorescent reaction, so that the fluorescent dye produces fluorescence of a specific wavelength;

[0030] The image search device includes: an image matching unit, a filter 5, and AR glasses 6, wherein the image matching unit searches for the needle holder in the field of view through an image recognition method, calculates the direction and probability of the suture needle bouncing and losing according to the angle of the needle holder on the ground by comparing with the experimental database, and displays the direction and probability of the suture needle losing through the AR glasses, matches the shape of the suture needle through the image matching unit, and when the suture needle is found, its position is displayed through the AR glasses to facilitate user search; the wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the suture needle, filters out light that is greatly different from the specific wavelength, and enhances the display effect of the fluorescence of the specific wavelength.

[0031] The present invention provides an annular groove at the tail of a suture needle, in which two fluorescent initiators and a fluorescent dye that interact with each other are filled, the groove is coated with a soft and tough material, and separated by a brittle isolation sheet. When subjected to external force, the isolation sheet breaks so that the two fluorescent initiators mix to produce a fluorescent reaction, causing the fluorescent dye to produce fluorescence of a specific wavelength; an image matching unit searches for a needle holder in the field of view through an image recognition method, calculates the direction and probability of the suture needle bouncing and being lost according to the angle of the needle holder on the ground by comparing with an experimental database, and displays the direction and probability of the suture needle being lost through AR glasses, matches the shape of the suture needle through the image matching unit, and when the suture needle is found, its position is displayed through the AR glasses for easy search by users; the wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the suture needle, filters out light that is greatly different from the specific wavelength, and enhances the display effect of the fluorescence of the specific wavelength; therefore, it is possible to quickly and efficiently search for suture needles lost during surgery.

[0032] Preferably, the specific wavelength is matched according to the most sensitive photosensitivity frequency of the camera configured with the AR glasses, so as to improve the efficiency of capturing the suture needle fluorescence.

[0033] Preferably, the two fluorescent initiators are hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate, respectively.

[0034] Preferably, the brittle isolation sheet isolates the two fluorescent initiators in the form of a balloon coating, so that the suture needle is broken under the clamping force of the needle holder 7 to induce a fluorescent reaction.

[0035] Preferably, the brittle isolation sheet is an isolation sheet made of glass, low molecular weight polypropylene or polystyrene material.

[0036] Preferably, the outer diameter of the fluorescent marking suture needle does not exceed the diameter of the suture needle.

[0037] Preferably, the filter filters out part of the visible light other than the fluorescence wavelength excited by the fluorescence reaction, allowing the camera of the AR glasses to capture the fluorescence and the remaining visible light at the same time, and increasing the proportion of fluorescence in the visible light, thereby improving the capture efficiency of the image matching unit.

[0038] like Figure 4 As shown, a method for searching a surgical suture needle system is also provided, which comprises the following steps:

[0039] (1) The fluorescently labeled suture needle breaks under the clamping force of the needle holder to trigger a fluorescent reaction and produce fluorescence of a specific wavelength;

[0040] (2) The wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the fluorescently labeled suture needle, filtering out light that is significantly different from the specific wavelength;

[0041] (3) The image matching unit uses the camera of the AR glasses to capture the operating room image, search for a matching needle holder, and obtain the position and angle where the needle holder fell;

[0042] (4) By querying the relationship between the speed and direction probability of the fluorescent-marked suture needle flying and the landing angle of the needle holder obtained in advance, combined with the searched and matched needle holder angle, the probability of the direction of the fluorescent-marked suture needle flying is calculated;

[0043] (5) Displaying the directional probability curve in the AR glasses, and starting the matching of fluorescent-marked suture needles, searching for fluorescent-marked suture needles with fluorescent features in the images captured by the AR glasses;

[0044] (6) When the fluorescent-marked suture needle with fluorescent features is successfully matched, the image of the fluorescent-marked suture needle is marked in the display of the AR glasses, prompting the user to pick up the lost fluorescent-marked suture needle.

[0045] Preferably, in step (2), the filter filters out part of the visible light other than the fluorescence wavelength excited by the fluorescence reaction, so that the camera of the AR glasses can capture the fluorescence and the remaining visible light at the same time, and the proportion of the fluorescence in the visible light is increased, thereby improving the capture efficiency of the image matching unit.

[0046] Preferably, the following steps are performed after step (2): when the fluorescent-marked suture needle is lost during the operation, the auxiliary light source is turned off, and the fluorescence of the fluorescent-marked suture needle is observed through the laparoscopic camera to find the lost fluorescent-marked suture needle; when the fluorescent-marked suture needle is within the field of view of the laparoscopic camera, the position of the fluorescent-marked suture needle is located by the generated fluorescence; when the fluorescent-marked suture needle is not within the field of view of the laparoscopic camera, the fluorescence is irradiated to other tissue surfaces in the laparoscopic surgical area, so that it can be observed through the laparoscopic camera, and the laparoscopic camera is guided to rotate in that direction based on the reflected fluorescence, so as to find the lost fluorescent-marked suture needle.

[0047] The solution provided by the embodiment is described in detail below through specific embodiments and their application scenarios in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Example 1

[0048] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the basic embodiment of the present invention provides a rapid search system for surgical suture needles, and the system includes a suture needle with a fluorescent marker. The tail of the suture needle 1 has a groove with a depth of 0.2 mm and a width of 4 mm, and the grooves are filled with two fluorescent initiators 2 and 3 respectively, and separated by a spacer 4; during the use of the suture needle 1, the tail is clamped by a needle holder, and the spacer 4 is crushed, causing the fluorescent initiators 2 and 3 to mix, and a fluorescent reaction occurs, causing the fluorescent agent to emit light. Once the suture needle 1 is lost, it can be more easily searched by fluorescence.

[0049] Optionally, the fluorescent initiators 2 and 3 are hydrogen peroxide solution and phenyl oxalate, respectively.

[0050] Optionally, the isolation sheet 4 is made of a brittle material, including glass, low molecular weight polypropylene and polystyrene.

[0051] Optionally, after the fluorescent initiator 2 and the fluorescent initiator 3 are coated in the groove of the suture needle 1, the maximum external diameter thereof does not exceed the diameter of the suture needle 1, so as not to cause greater damage when the suture needle passes through the tissue. Example 2

[0052] The basic embodiment of the present invention provides a rapid search system for surgical suture needles, wherein the system comprises an image search device.

[0053] The image search device includes an image matching unit, a filter 5 and AR glasses 6, wherein the image matching unit first collects the operating room image through the camera configured by the AR glasses 6, searches for and matches the needle holder 7, obtains the position and angle of the needle holder 7 falling, and then calculates the probability of the direction of the suture needle 1 flying and the landing angle of the needle holder 7 by querying the relationship between the speed and direction probability of the suture needle 1 flying obtained in advance and the landing angle of the needle holder 7, combined with the searched and matched angle of the needle holder 7, and displays this probability curve in the AR glasses 6, and starts the suture needle matching unit to search for the suture needle 1 with fluorescent features in the image collected by the AR glasses 6; when the suture needle 1 with fluorescent features is searched by the matching unit, the image of the suture needle 1 is marked in the display of the AR glasses 6, prompting the user to pick up the lost suture needle 1, thereby realizing the quick search function for the suture needle 1.

[0054] Optionally, the filter 5 can filter out part of the visible light other than the fluorescence wavelength excited by the reaction of the fluorescence initiator 2 with the fluorescence initiator 3, so that the camera configured by the AR glasses 6 can capture the fluorescence and other visible light at the same time, and increase the proportion of fluorescence in the visible light, thereby improving the efficiency of the suture needle image matching unit. Example 3

[0055] During laparoscopic surgery, the suture needle with a fluorescent mark is used. The suture needle is first clamped by a needle holder so that the isolation sheet 4 is crushed, and the fluorescent initiators 2 and 3 are mixed to produce fluorescence. When the suture needle is lost during the operation, the auxiliary light source can be turned off, and the fluorescence of the suture needle can be observed through the laparoscopic camera to find the lost suture needle. When the suture needle with fluorescence is within the field of view of the laparoscopic camera, the position of the suture needle can be located by the generated fluorescence. When the suture needle with fluorescence is not within the field of view of the laparoscopic camera, the generated fluorescence will irradiate other tissue surfaces in the laparoscopic surgery area, so that it can be observed through the laparoscopic camera, and the medical staff can guide the laparoscopic camera to rotate in that direction based on the reflected fluorescence, so that the lost suture needle can be found more quickly.

[0056] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. Any simple modification, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention are still within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A search system for lost surgical suture needles, characterized in that: It includes: Fluorescently marked suture needles, image search devices; The fluorescent marking suture needle (1) has an annular groove at the tail of the suture needle, the groove is filled with a first fluorescent initiator (2), a second fluorescent initiator (3) and a fluorescent dye that interact with each other, and is coated with a soft and tough material and separated by a brittle isolation sheet (4); when subjected to external force, the isolation sheet breaks, so that the two fluorescent initiators mix to produce a fluorescent reaction, causing the fluorescent dye to produce fluorescence of a specific wavelength; The image search device comprises: an image matching unit, a filter (5), and AR glasses (6), wherein the image matching unit searches for a needle holder in the field of view by using an image recognition method, calculates the direction and probability of a suture needle bouncing and being lost according to the angle of the needle holder on the ground by comparing with an experimental database, and displays the direction and probability of the suture needle being lost through the AR glasses, matches the shape of the suture needle through the image matching unit, and when a suture needle is found, displays its position through the AR glasses to facilitate user search; the wavelength of the filter matches the fluorescence of the suture needle, filters out light that is greatly different from the specific wavelength, and enhances the display effect of the fluorescence of the specific wavelength.

2. The search system for lost surgical suture needles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The specific wavelength is matched according to the most sensitive photosensitivity frequency of the camera configured with the AR glasses to improve the efficiency of capturing the suture needle fluorescence.

3. The search system for lost surgical suture needles according to claim 2, characterized in that: The two fluorescent initiators are hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate respectively.

4. The search system for lost surgical suture needles according to claim 3, characterized in that: The brittle isolation sheet isolates the two fluorescent initiators in the form of a balloon coating, so that the suture needle is broken under the clamping force of the needle holder (7) to trigger a fluorescent reaction.

5. The search system for lost surgical suture needles according to claim 4, characterized in that: The brittle isolation sheet is an isolation sheet made of glass, low molecular weight polypropylene or polystyrene.

6. The search system for lost surgical suture needles according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the fluorescent marking suture needle does not exceed the diameter of the suture needle.

7. The search system for lost surgical suture needles according to claim 6, characterized in that: The filter filters out part of the visible light other than the fluorescence wavelength excited by the fluorescence reaction, allowing the camera of the AR glasses to capture the fluorescence and the remaining visible light at the same time, and increases the proportion of fluorescence in the visible light, thereby improving the capture efficiency of the image matching unit.

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