Contactless Pointer Unit for Optical Observation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical observation systems in medical settings require precise and biocompatible mechanical pointers for alignment and navigation, which are costly and prone to errors due to mechanical contact and sterilization processes, necessitating time-consuming calibrations.
Innovation Solution
A contactless pointer unit with a real component and a virtual tip, where the virtual tip is defined by a calculation prescription, allowing for high accuracy and cost-effective operation without physical contact, using a real component with a position labeling device and a control unit to ascertain and display the virtual tip's position within the captured image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical pointer device is used for navigation and alignment, then the system can capture position and alignment data, but the pointer requires biocompatible materials and sterilization processes which reduce reliability and increase cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pointer tip with a virtual tip generated by computer processing. The real component contains position labeling devices (optical antennas or target markers) that are tracked by the image recording unit, and the control unit calculates the virtual tip position based on the captured position and alignment of the real component. This substitution eliminates the need for biocompatible materials and sterilization of the pointer tip, while maintaining navigation and alignment functionality through virtual representation.
2Measurement precision
If a mechanical pointer device is used for navigation, then position data can be captured, but time-consuming calibrations are required to ensure accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the pointer tip through computer processing rather than relying on a physical mechanical tip. The control unit generates a virtual tip representation based on the captured position and alignment of the real component's position labeling devices. This virtual copying approach eliminates the need for repeated mechanical calibrations, as the virtual tip position is continuously calculated from the tracked real component position, maintaining measurement precision without time-consuming calibration procedures.
3Length of moving object
If a mechanical pointer with long length is used for navigation, then the user can reach distant positions, but angle errors increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pointer structure with a virtual tip system where the real component's position labeling devices are tracked and the virtual tip position is calculated by the control unit. This substitution allows the system to achieve precise angle measurement regardless of the effective reach distance, as the virtual tip position is computationally determined from the tracked real component position and the known geometric relationship, eliminating angle errors associated with long mechanical pointers.
4Ease of manufacture
If disposable pointer devices are used, then sterilization issues are avoided, but manufacturing precision and cost-effectiveness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pointer system into a real component (containing position labeling devices) and a virtual component (the computationally generated tip). The real component can be manufactured with standard precision using cost-effective materials, while the critical precision requirements are met through the virtual tip calculation performed by the control unit. This segmentation allows disposable or low-cost real components to be used without compromising overall system accuracy, as the virtual representation ensures measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical observation system includes a contactless pointer unit having a real component including a position labeling device and a virtual component including a virtual tip which is at least intermittently spaced apart from the real component. The system includes a unit for capturing at least one portion of an object and a unit for capturing a position and an alignment of the real component and a unit configured to display the captured portion of the object. The system includes a control unit for ascertaining a position of the virtual tip based on the captured position and alignment of the real component and for arranging for the image output unit to display, with a mark, the position of the virtual tip in the displayed captured portion of the object. An operating method, a pointer device suitable as a real component and a computer program product are provided.