Endoscope Visual Guidance Vectors for Landmark Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steerable endoscopes can become disoriented during minimally invasive surgical procedures, making it difficult for operators to accurately navigate the tip towards a target site, which can lead to tissue damage and increased procedure time.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that provides visual guidance by determining the current position of the endoscope tip relative to a reference frame, calculating vectors to landmarks, and displaying graphical representations of these vectors alongside the endoscope's image to indicate the correct steering direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a steerable endoscope is used to navigate through body lumens, then the ability to reach target sites is improved, but the operator loses orientation and cannot accurately track the current direction of the endoscope tip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reach target sitesVSAvoidoperator orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback by displaying visual indicators (arrows, vectors, or directional cues) on the monitor that show the current orientation of the endoscope tip relative to the target site. This feedback loop allows the operator to continuously monitor and adjust the endoscope direction, compensating for the loss of spatial orientation inherent in flexible endoscope navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary visual display system that acts as a mediator between the operator and the endoscope tip orientation. Instead of relying on direct visual feedback from the endoscope camera alone, the system processes orientation data and presents it through intuitive graphical indicators, bridging the gap between the operator's control inputs and the actual tip position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the operator manually steers the endoscope tip without visual guidance, then the device flexibility is maintained, but the procedure time increases and tissue damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure timeVSAvoidtissue damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary computation of the vector from the current endoscope tip position to the target site before displaying it. By pre-calculating the directional guidance information and presenting it to the operator in advance, the system enables proactive steering decisions, reducing the time needed for trial-and-error navigation and minimizing unnecessary movements that could cause tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the endoscope tip is turned multiple times to reach the target site, then the navigation capability is improved, but the endoscope winds up and loops around itself causing disorientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation capabilityVSAvoidendoscope configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces mechanical tracking methods with computational approaches. Instead of relying on mechanical sensors to track endoscope bends and twists, the system uses image processing and computer vision algorithms to detect anatomical landmarks and calculate the endoscope tip position and orientation, thereby avoiding the complexity of mechanical tracking systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20210177299A1Method And System For Providing Visual Guidance To An Operator For Steering A Tip Of An Endoscopic Device Towards One Or More Landmarks In A Patient

Publication Date: 2021.06.17 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

Landmark directional guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscopic device by displaying graphical representations of vectors adjacent a current image captured by an image capturing device disposed at a tip of the endoscopic device and being displayed at the time on a display screen, wherein the graphical representations of the vectors point in directions that the endoscope tip is to be steered in order to move towards associated landmarks such as anatomic structures in a patient.