Augmented Endoscope View for Real-Time Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult for medical professionals other than the operator to accurately track the position and orientation of a steerable endoscope within a patient's cavity during procedures due to unpredictable motion translation and limited visibility of the endoscope screen.
Innovation Solution
A computer-controlled endoscope system with a steerable distal tip and orientation sensor, combined with augmented reality displays that overlay computer-generated anatomical models and a real-time endoscope marker, providing a composite view that includes a rendered model of patient anatomy and a graphical marker indicating the endoscope's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a steerable endoscope is used to navigate through patient cavity, then the ability to obtain desired views and navigate through anatomy is improved, but the difficulty of tracking the endoscope position and orientation for other team members increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the endoscope (graphical marker) that mirrors the physical endoscope's position and orientation within the 3D anatomical model. This virtual representation allows team members to track the endoscope location without directly observing the physical device or relying on limited screen visibility. The graphical marker is continuously updated based on orientation sensor data, providing accurate real-time position information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a 3D anatomical model as an intermediary representation that bridges the gap between the physical endoscope and the observers. Instead of directly observing the complex steerable endoscope or its limited camera feed, team members observe the simplified graphical marker within the contextual 3D model, which mediates the information transfer and makes position tracking intuitive.
2Illumination intensity
If the endoscope screen is used to display camera images, then visualization of anatomical structures is improved, but the visibility of the endoscope position for other team members deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the position information from a 2D screen display to a 3D spatial representation. The graphical marker exists within a three-dimensional anatomical model, allowing observers to comprehend the endoscope's position, orientation, and depth in a more intuitive manner than flat 2D screens可以提供的信息.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the endoscope's position as a graphical marker that can be observed independently from the endoscope screen. This separate visual representation allows multiple team members to track position information simultaneously without competing for visibility of the camera feed.
3Measurement precision
If real-time endoscope position data is integrated with pre-acquired anatomical models, then the accuracy of position visualization is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs orientation sensors with universal applicability that can be integrated into various endoscope designs. The same sensor technology and data processing approach work across different endoscope types and anatomical applications, reducing the complexity increment from integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a virtual graphical marker that copies the essential position and orientation information without requiring complex physical modifications to the endoscope. This informational copy approach maintains measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of physically tracking the steerable segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable endoscope system is provided with an augmented view. An augmented reality display includes a rendered model of an anatomical structure corresponding to a patient anatomy pinned in the field of view, an endoscope marker moving through the virtual model, and an image from an endoscope at a location within the patient anatomy.