Contactless Medical Imaging Control via Optical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In intraoperative medical imaging, existing methods for controlling regions of interest (ROI) in X-ray imaging systems require physical contact, which can contaminate sterile environments and are time-consuming, posing challenges during interventional procedures.
Innovation Solution
A contactless control system that uses sensing devices and tracking units to detect the position of a user's body parts, allowing for the definition and alteration of image aspects such as ROI without physical contact, utilizing a control zone defined relative to the user's body to control medical imaging systems and adjust radiation exposure accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a stylus or finger is used to control ROI on a screen, then the physician can precisely define the region of interest, but the sterile environment is compromised and time is lost due to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based control method (stylus or finger touching screen) with an optical tracking system that detects the position of a sterile tool or body part without physical contact. The tracking system uses optical sensors to monitor the position and orientation of the sterile tool, translating these movements into ROI control commands on the display screen, thereby eliminating the need for direct contact between non-sterile hands and sterile surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sterile tool as an intermediary object that the physician holds to control the ROI. This sterile tool acts as a mediator between the physician's hand and the sterile surgical field, allowing precise control of imaging parameters while maintaining the sterile barrier. The tracking system monitors the sterile tool's position rather than directly contacting the physician's hand
2Ease of operation
If a stylus or screen is used for ROI selection, then the physician can interact with the imaging system, but the process becomes time-consuming due to sterilization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for physical contact with non-sterile control interfaces by replacing the mechanical stylus-screen interaction with an optical tracking system. The system continuously tracks the position of a sterile tool or body part and translates these positions into control commands, allowing the physician to interact with the imaging system throughout the procedure without interruption for sterilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous control of the imaging system throughout the surgical procedure by maintaining the sterile barrier. The optical tracking system operates continuously, allowing the physician to adjust ROI and imaging parameters at any time during the procedure without breaking the sterile field or requiring time-consuming sterilization steps
3Ease of operation
If conventional contact-based control is used, then the physician can control imaging parameters, but radiation exposure to non-target areas increases due to less precise ROI definition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based control with optical tracking that enables more precise ROI definition. The tracking system provides continuous, real-time feedback on the position of the sterile tool or body part, allowing for more accurate and deliberate ROI selection compared to traditional stylus or finger control, thereby reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to areas outside the defined ROI
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for contactless control of a medical imaging system. A medical image can be acquired and displayed, and an aspect of the image can be altered based on a tracked position of a user body part. The user can be sensed by a sensing device, and the user body part tracked by a tracking unit in a first processing unit. A second processing unit can be coupled to the first processing unit and can have a control unit for controlling the medical imaging system.