Cumulative Buffering for Surgical Surface Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical computer systems face challenges in achieving high-resolution visualization of bone preparation processes due to the inefficiencies of the 'clear and display' approach, particularly when using the iso-volume technique, and the growing complexity of CSG tree structures as the number of leaf nodes increases, making real-time processing and visualization cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cumulative buffering method that saves and updates display images incrementally, using a video card to perform CSG techniques, allowing for continuous visualization without the need to clear and re-display images, thereby reducing CPU load and enabling higher resolution rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the 'clear and display' approach is used with isovol technique, then real-time processing is achieved, but the resolution is low due to necessary computations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of bone volume and burr volume before rendering. The CPU calculates the intersection volumes and surface model data in advance, storing them in a buffer. This allows the graphics card to render high-resolution images without performing complex real-time computations during the display update cycle, thus resolving the contradiction between processing speed and visualization resolution.
2Manufacturing precision
If CSG technique is used with increasing number of leaf nodes, then visualization resolution improves, but the 'clear and display' approach becomes not feasible for sophisticated tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the intersection volume between the bone volume and burr volume, and pre-calculates the surface model data that needs to be rendered. These pre-computed results are stored in a buffer structure that can be efficiently updated and rendered by the graphics card. This approach maintains high visualization resolution using CSG techniques while improving processing efficiency by avoiding the need to clear and re-process the entire scene with increasing numbers of leaf nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the visualization task into distinct components: bone volume calculation, burr volume calculation, intersection computation, and surface model generation. Each component is handled separately and stored in structured buffers. This segmentation allows the graphics card to work with pre-processed data rather than dealing with the entire complex CSG scene, thus maintaining productivity even as the number of leaf nodes increases.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the burr is moved to a new location, then the visualization updates the new position, but the old surface model must be cleared and a new one calculated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores surface model data for multiple potential burr positions and configurations in a buffer structure. When the burr is moved to a new location, the system can quickly retrieve or incrementally update the pre-prepared surface model data rather than performing a complete recalculation. This significantly reduces the time required for dynamic updates while maintaining the ability to adapt to new burr positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a cumulative buffering approach where surface model data is continuously updated and accumulated in the buffer as the burr moves. Rather than clearing and starting from scratch, the system maintains the existing surface model information and incrementally updates it with new data. This continuous accumulation of useful information reduces recalculation time and maintains adaptability to dynamic changes in burr position.
Data Source
AI summary
The description relates to surgical computer systems, including computer program products, and methods for cumulative buffering for surface imaging. A display image is buffered that has been saved from a previous update. A model representing a tool is subtracted from the buffered display image. The subtracted display image is displayed using a CSG technique at a fixed angle. The subtracted display image is saved. This process is repeated so that the displayed image is cumulatively changed with each change in location of the model representing the tool.