Adaptive Overlay Stabilization for False Color Heatmaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic visualization systems fail to effectively render advanced visualization data, such as false color overlays, on color video streams in a light-deficient environment, and lack stabilization mechanisms for improved user experience.

Innovation Solution

The system generates advanced visualization video streams with stabilized false color overlay heatmaps, allowing for real-time sensitivity adjustments and adaptive persistence displays to stabilize the movement of false color overlays, enhancing target object identification in endoscopic procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If false color overlay heatmaps are rendered on color video streams to identify target objects, then visualization information is improved, but overlay movement instability occurs reducing user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualization informationVSAvoidoverlay movement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by stabilizing the false color overlay heatmap before rendering it on the color video stream. This involves processing the advanced visualization data to correct for camera movement and positional drift in advance, ensuring the overlay remains stable when displayed to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary processing step between capturing advanced visualization data and rendering the false color overlay. This intermediary layer includes algorithms that separate camera movement from actual scene changes, stabilizing the overlay by compensating for unintended movement while preserving genuine target object visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If sensitivity settings are adjusted to improve target object identification, then detection capability is improved, but false color overlay accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget object detection capabilityVSAvoidfalse color overlay accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic sensitivity adjustment that adapts to different surgical scenarios and lighting conditions. The sensitivity threshold is not fixed but can be modified in real-time based on scene characteristics, allowing optimal balance between detection capability and overlay accuracy for different target objects and environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by allowing adjustment of sensitivity thresholds and overlay rendering parameters. Users can modify detection sensitivity levels to prioritize either detection capability or precision based on surgical needs, with the system dynamically recalibrating the false color overlay generation to maintain accuracy across different sensitivity settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If advanced visualization data is captured in light deficient environments, then additional information is obtained, but rendering challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvanced visualization dataVSAvoidrendering system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple data streams by combining color video stream data with advanced visualization data (such as fluorescence or multispectral information) into a single integrated false color overlay. This consolidation simplifies the rendering process by processing combined information together rather than handling separate complex streams independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves multi-functionality by creating a unified rendering pipeline that handles various types of advanced visualization data (fluorescence, multispectral, depth mapping) through a common false color overlay mechanism. This universal approach reduces complexity by using the same stabilization and rendering algorithms across different data types rather than requiring separate specialized processing for each modality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12316965B2Adaptive overlay stabilization of false color overlay heatmaps

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

Systems for endoscopic visualization with advanced overlay image frames including color image data and multispectral or fluorescence image data. A system includes an image sensor comprising a pixel array that detects electromagnetic radiation and reads out a plurality of data frames. The system includes an image sensor processor that receives the plurality of data frames read out by the image sensor, wherein the plurality of data frames comprises a plurality of color data frames and a plurality of advanced data frames. The image signal processor renders a video stream comprising a plurality of advanced overlay data frames, wherein each of the plurality of advanced overlay data frames comprises a color data frame and a false color overlay generated based on an advanced data frame. The image signal processor executes an adaptive persistence algorithm to stabilize movement of the false color overlay across the plurality of advanced overlay data frames.