Dual-Scope Surgical Imaging With Tracking for Concealed Anatomy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical imaging systems struggle to recognize and convey information about concealed structures and dimensions within a three-dimensional space, leading to incomplete views and uncertain decision-making during surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system incorporating a first and second scope device, a tracking device, and a controller to generate a merged image of the surgical site, providing enhanced visualization by integrating data from both devices and tracking their relative positions and orientations, along with optional robotic assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a single imaging system is used to view the surgical site, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but it cannot recognize or convey information about concealed structures and three-dimensional dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about concealed structures and dimensionsVSAvoidimaging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple imaging systems (endoscopic and laparoscopic cameras) to create a composite three-dimensional view of the surgical site. This merging of multiple imaging sources provides comprehensive information about concealed structures and spatial dimensions that a single system cannot capture, directly resolving the information loss problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from two-dimensional single-view imaging to three-dimensional composite imaging by integrating multiple camera perspectives. This dimensional enhancement allows medical practitioners to perceive depth, spatial relationships, and concealed structures that are invisible in traditional single-plane imaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If multiple scope devices are used to capture different scenes, then the visualization information is enhanced, but the system complexity and difficulty of integration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of surgical site viewVSAvoidnumber of scope devices and integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system serves as an intermediary that automatically receives, processes, and integrates images from multiple scope devices. It performs tasks such as image alignment, composite generation, and display coordination, eliminating the need for manual integration by surgeons and reducing the operational complexity despite multiple imaging sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If traditional single-view imaging is used, then the system is simple to operate, but medical practitioners cannot accurately determine relative distances and positions of surgical tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelative distance and position measurementVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback by displaying composite images that show the relative positions and distances of surgical tools within the surgical site. This visual feedback loop enables practitioners to accurately assess spatial relationships and make informed decisions without requiring complex manual measurements or calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4281001B1Instrument control surgical imaging systems
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
  • EP4281001B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4281001B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4281001B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Surgical systems for are provided. The surgical system includes a first scope device configured to transmit image data of a first scene within a field of view of the first scope device. A second scope device is configured to transmit image data of a second scene within a field of view of the second scope device. A tracking device is associated with one of the scope devices and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a location of the one of the scope devices. A controller is configured to receive the transmitted image data and the transmitted signal to determine a relative distance between the scope devices and to provide a merged image of at least a portion of the scope devices in a single scene, where at least one of the scope devices in the merged image is a representative depiction.