AR Surgical Navigation Overlay for Unobstructed Robotic Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgical systems require surgeons to divert their vision from the surgical site to navigate using fixed displays, obstructing their view and complicating minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
An augmented reality navigation system using a head-mounted display with a transparent screen and detectors to overlay navigational information directly onto the surgeon's field of view, eliminating the need for additional equipment and allowing real-time registration of patient anatomy and tool positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If fixed displays are used for navigation, then navigational information is provided to the surgeon, but the surgeon must divert vision from the surgical site and the display obstructs the view of the surgical environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions navigation information from a two-dimensional fixed display to a three-dimensional augmented reality overlay that integrates directly into the surgeon's field of view. The head-mounted transparent display projects navigational graphics into the surgical environment, allowing surgeons to access trajectory and anatomical information without diverting their gaze from the surgical site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a head-mounted transparent display as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the navigational information system. This intermediary projects augmented reality graphics that overlay surgical trajectories and anatomical models directly onto the surgeon's view of the patient, eliminating the need to look at separate fixed displays while maintaining unobstructed vision of the surgical field.
2Loss of information
If fixed displays are used for navigation, then navigational information is displayed, but the display physically obstructs the surgeon's view of portions of the surgical environment
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation information is moved from a physical fixed display in the surgical environment to a virtual augmented reality overlay projected through the head-mounted transparent display. This dimensional transition eliminates the physical obstruction caused by fixed displays while preserving complete visibility of the surgical field.
3Measurement precision
If multiple detectors are added to improve registration accuracy, then navigation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head-mounted transparent display integrates multiple functions into a single device: it serves as both the display medium for augmented reality navigation information and as the mounting platform for detectors. The detectors mounted on the head-mounted display register patient anatomy and surgical tools while the same device displays the navigational information, eliminating the need for separate fixed displays and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to augmented reality navigation systems and methods of their use that, inter alia, address the need for systems and methods of robotic surgical system navigation with reduced distraction to surgeons. Augmented reality navigation systems disclosed herein enable a surgeon to maintain focus on a surgical site and/or surgical tool being used in a surgical procedure while obtaining a wide range of navigational information relevant to the procedure. Navigational information can appear in the augmented reality navigation system as being presented on virtual displays that sit in a natural field of view of a surgeon during a procedure. Navigational information can also appear to be overlaid over a patient's anatomy. Augmented reality navigation systems comprise a head mounted display comprising an at least partially transparent display screen, at least one detector connected to the head mounted display for identifying real-world features, and a computer subsystem.