Composite Surgical Display for Real-Time ROI Slice Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical navigation systems face challenges in accurately and intuitively guiding medical instruments to a target anatomical feature due to the complexity of translating 2D information into multi-dimensional gestures, with current methods often being misleading and dangerous during manual or robot-assisted interventions.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines a 3D image with a 2D overall projection and a slice of the region of interest, providing complementary information by replacing a portion of the projection with corresponding slice information, ensuring accurate geometric alignment and displaying both types of information simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard navigation systems use 3D images with moving slices to display instrument position, then the system can track instrument position in real-time, but the spatial complexity increases and human factors limit the surgeon's ability to translate 2D information into multi-dimensional gestures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the 3D image with the 2D slice projection in a composite image, combining global anatomical context with local instrument position information in a single unified display. This eliminates the need to switch between multiple separate 2D slices and reduces spatial complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a 2D projection of the slice as an intermediary representation that bridges the 3D image and the instrument trajectory. This projection layer translates complex 3D spatial information into a simplified 2D format that is easier for surgeons to interpret while maintaining geometric accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed slice is displayed passing through the planned target position, then the planning phase is simplified, but the real instrument position is not shown until the instrument reaches the target, making the image misleading and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the slice projection dynamic by continuously updating it to pass through the real-time instrument position rather than remaining fixed at the planned target. This dynamic adjustment ensures the display always shows the current instrument location, eliminating misleading information while maintaining planning simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback by displaying the real instrument position on the composite image as it moves through the anatomy. This feedback loop allows the surgeon to immediately see deviations from the planned trajectory and correct them, ensuring reliability throughout the procedure.
3Loss of information
If multiple 2D slices are displayed in several planes to suggest 3D representation, then more anatomical information is provided, but the spatial complexity is higher and translation to multi-dimensional gestures becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges information from multiple 2D slices into a single composite image that displays the 3D anatomical context with overlaid instrument trajectory. This consolidation maintains anatomical completeness while presenting information in a more intuitive format that is easier to translate into surgical gestures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the display from multiple separate 2D planes to a single 2D composite image that encodes 3D information through layered overlays and projections. This dimensional reorganization preserves anatomical completeness while simplifying the cognitive load and improving ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a computer implemented method for processing images comprising the following steps: • a) obtaining (100) a 3D image (I-3D) of a region of interest (ROI) including an anatomical region of a patient; • b) obtaining (200) at least one projection (P1) of the region of interest (ROI) of the patient (3), said projection (P1) being a 2D overall image of said region of interest (ROI) and showing information of a first type about said region according to a point of view (Pov); c) obtaining (300) at least one slice (S) from the 3D image (I-3D), said slice (S) comprising a point of interest (POI) in said region of interest (ROI), said obtained slice containing information about the region of interest (ROI) of a second type around the point of interest (POI); d) computing (400) a composite 2D image wherein a portion (p) of one of the 2D overall image containing information about the point of interest (POI) is replaced by the projection of a corresponding portion of the obtained slice (S) from the same point of view (Pov) so that information of the second type is accurately arranged relatively to information of the first type present in the 2D overall image.