AR Vascular Guidance Overlay for Accurate Real-Time Tool Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality (AR) systems in healthcare face challenges in accuracy and usability, particularly in life-critical medical procedures, limiting their potential in enhancing medical guidance.
Innovation Solution
A holographic endovascular guidance system that integrates a fiducial marker patch, external medical imaging, a camera, and a display to provide a real-time, 2D or 3D image overlay of medical tools within a patient's body, using AI-powered deformable vascular map extraction and sensor technologies to enhance visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional AR systems are used in medical procedures, then basic visualization is provided, but accuracy and usability are limited in life-critical situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT, MRI) with optical tracking and AR display into a unified guidance system. The controller integrates data from external imaging systems, optical tracking cameras, and tool sensors to generate fused 3D visualizations that provide both high accuracy and comprehensive information without requiring multiple separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The AR guidance system is designed to support multiple medical procedures and imaging modalities through a single platform. The system can track various surgical tools, process different types of medical imaging data, and adapt to different procedural requirements, reducing the need for procedure-specific equipment while maintaining high measurement precision.
2Loss of information
If AR overlay is added to real-world view, then visualization enhancement is achieved, but distinction between computer-generated and real-world images becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different visual characteristics to different regions of the AR display. Real-world video feed maintains natural colors and textures, while computer-generated 3D overlays use distinct rendering styles with enhanced edge definition and color differentiation. This localized differentiation allows surgeons to easily distinguish between actual anatomical structures and virtual guidance elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The AR system uses color coding to differentiate between various types of information. Computer-generated overlays employ distinct color palettes from the real-world video feed, with specific colors assigned to different anatomical structures, tools, and guidance elements. This color differentiation enhances information completeness while preventing visual confusion between real and virtual elements.
3Productivity
If real-time imaging processing is implemented, then procedural efficiency is improved, but computational resources and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of medical imaging data during patient preparation and planning phases, generating pre-computed 3D models and anatomical maps before the actual procedure. During the procedure, the real-time processing focuses only on tracking tool positions and updating the AR overlay, significantly reducing computational energy requirements while maintaining high procedural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The AR guidance system dynamically adjusts processing intensity based on procedural needs. During critical phases requiring high precision, the system increases computational resources for enhanced image processing and tracking accuracy. During less critical phases, processing intensity is reduced to conserve energy. This dynamic adaptation optimizes both procedural efficiency and energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, real-time visualization of medical tools and vascular structures, improving surgical precision and procedural outcomes by combining real-time imaging with virtual 3D models, thereby enhancing medical guidance systems.
Implementation Method 1
imaging the fiducial marker on the body with a camera
Implementation Method 2
imaging the fiducial marker on the body with an external medical imaging system; The external medical imaging system can be an x-ray system
Implementation Method 3
The patch can include radiopaque features; Estimating can include detecting a 2D projection of the radiopaque feature in the images from the external medical imaging system
Implementation Method 4
The patch can include infrared-visible features
Data Source
AI summary
A system for displaying enhanced reality images of a body includes a fiducial marker patch, an external medical imaging system, a camera, a tool, a controller, and a display. The fiducial marker is configured to be placed on the body. The tool is configured to be inserted into the body for a medical procedure. The controller is configured to develop 2D or 3D images of the tool positioned within the body in real time based upon images from the external medical imaging system and the camera. The display is configured to display the 2D or 3D images in real time.