Display Control for Endoscope Image Switching and Distal-End Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems struggle to provide clear and efficient visual guidance during minimally invasive surgeries, particularly in scenarios where the distal end of the treatment instrument is not clearly visible in the primary image, necessitating a secondary image for precise procedural confirmation.
Innovation Solution
A display control apparatus and method that dynamically switches between a main and a sub image based on sensor inputs, determining the appropriate image for confirmation using multiple image pickup units with different fields of view, ensuring clear visibility of the treatment instrument's distal end when required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single primary image is used for display, then the display system is simple and easy to operate, but the treatment instrument distal end may not be clearly visible when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically switches between primary and secondary images based on the operational state of the treatment instrument. When the instrument is in a state where its distal end needs confirmation, the system automatically transitions from displaying only the primary image to displaying the secondary image that provides the necessary visual confirmation, thus adapting to changing operational requirements without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses detection means to monitor the operational state of the treatment instrument and provides feedback to the display control mechanism. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically determine when the distal end of the instrument needs to be confirmed and accordingly switches the display between primary and secondary images, ensuring reliable visibility without requiring complex manual control.
2Reliability
If multiple images are always displayed simultaneously, then the treatment instrument distal end is always visible, but the display becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than continuously displaying multiple images simultaneously, the system dynamically switches between displaying the primary image alone and the secondary image alone based on operational needs. This dynamic approach ensures the treatment instrument distal end is visible when required while maintaining display operation simplicity by avoiding the complexity of simultaneous multi-image display.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different display qualities to different operational states. When the treatment instrument distal end needs confirmation, the secondary image is displayed with full quality; otherwise, only the primary image is displayed. This local quality approach ensures reliable visibility when needed while maintaining ease of operation by avoiding unnecessary complex display configurations during normal operation.
3Reliability
If a secondary image pickup device is added to capture distal end views, then the distal end visibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a secondary image pickup device that remains dormant during normal operation and activates only when the treatment instrument distal end needs to be confirmed. This dynamic activation approach improves distal end visibility when required while minimizing device complexity by keeping the secondary imaging system inactive during routine procedures, thus avoiding the need for complex simultaneous multi-camera coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary image pickup function is extracted as a separate, independent subsystem that operates only when specifically needed for distal end confirmation. This extraction allows the primary imaging system to remain simple while adding distal end visibility capability through a dedicated secondary system that activates only in specific operational states, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A display control apparatus includes a processor, and the processor determines, in work on an object within a space, which one of a first picked-up image by a first image pickup device disposed at a first predetermined position within the space and a second picked-up image by a second image pickup device disposed at a second predetermined position different from the first predetermined position within the space is appropriate for confirmation of procedure in a state associated with the work on the object using a treatment instrument, outputs a determination result and controls display using at least one of the first picked-up image or the second picked-up image based on the determination result.