Angled Endoscope Rotation for Panoramic Surgical Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic surgical systems have limited visualization of body cavities during minimally invasive procedures, often requiring multiple endoscopes and additional openings, which increase costs and procedural complexity.
Innovation Solution
An angled endoscope with an image capture device that can be positioned and rotated to provide a panoramic view of the body cavity, allowing capture of a larger volume beyond the initial surgical site, and automatically generating this view upon specific commands or events, such as instrument withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple endoscopes are used to increase visualization of the body cavity, then the field of view is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope incorporates a rotatable elongated body that can dynamically change its orientation and viewing angle. The system transitions from a static single-view endoscope to a dynamic multi-angle endoscope, allowing one device to capture multiple views by rotating to different positions during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
A single endoscope is designed to perform multiple functions: it can visualize the surgical site directly, rotate to capture panoramic views, and provide wide-angle observations of the body cavity. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized endoscopes.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple endoscopes are used to provide comprehensive visualization, then the coverage area is improved, but the number of openings required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope utilizes dynamic rotation of its elongated body to sweep through different angular positions, allowing a single opening to provide access for one endoscope that can visually cover areas that would otherwise require multiple fixed endoscopes through multiple openings.
3Measurement precision
If the endoscope is positioned close to the surgical site for detailed visualization, then the image quality is improved, but the field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the endoscope's position and orientation. The elongated body can rotate to different angles and translate along its longitudinal axis, allowing the endoscope to move from close-up positioning (for detailed images) to extended positioning (for wider field of view), optimizing both image quality and coverage area as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of visualizing a body cavity during a surgical procedure including positioning an elongated body of an angled endoscope in a first position within a body cavity of a patient, rotating the elongated body about a longitudinal axis in response to a command point, capturing a plurality of images with an image capture device positioned within the elongated body as the elongated body is rotated, and generating a panoramic view of the body cavity from the plurality of images. In the first position of the elongated body, a surgical site is within a field of view of the image capture device. The field of view of the image capture device capturing a first volume of the body cavity, including the surgical site, when the angled endoscope is in the first position.