Endoscope Image Orientation Correction for Tool Direction Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surgical operations using endoscopes, the significant difference in the direction of the endoscope and the visual line of the operator or assistant leads to misalignment of treatment tools in displayed images, requiring operators and assistants to adapt their manipulations, which can be cumbersome and non-intuitive.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with measuring instruments to determine the imaging and reference directions, processing the image based on the calculated angles to align the image correctly on monitors, including rotation and flip processing to match the actual tool directions with the displayed image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the endoscope is inserted into the body to acquire images, then the surgical operation can be performed minimally invasively, but the direction of the endoscope and the visual line of the operator become greatly different, causing misalignment of treatment tools in displayed images
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the angle between the endoscope imaging direction and the monitor reference direction before displaying the image. This pre-computed angle information is then used to automatically rotate or flip the image, ensuring that the treatment tool direction in the image matches the actual tool direction from the operator's perspective, thereby resolving the directional misalignment issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the displayed image based on the calculated angle. By rotating the image by the computed angle or flipping it horizontally, the system transforms the image so that the directional information aligns with the operator's visual line, eliminating the confusion between endoscope direction and operator's visual direction.
2Productivity
If multiple monitors are disposed in the operation room for operators and assistants to observe images, then both can perform surgical operations simultaneously, but the directional mismatch requires operators to mentally correct tool orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the image rotation or flipping operation without requiring manual intervention from the operator or assistant. The processor unit autonomously calculates the angle, determines the appropriate transformation, and applies it to the image, making the system self-adjusting to the operator's position and visual line direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback about the operator's position and the endoscope's imaging direction to dynamically adjust the image display. By continuously monitoring or receiving information about the operational context, the system can maintain proper directional alignment throughout the surgical procedure.
3Device complexity
If the image is displayed without rotation or flipping processing, then the display system remains simple, but the treatment tool direction in the image does not match the actual tool direction viewed by the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static image display to a dynamic one where the image can be automatically rotated or flipped based on the operational conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to different endoscope insertion angles and operator positions, maintaining accurate directional representation without requiring complex manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes an endoscope, at least one monitor, a first measuring instrument configured to measure a first direction, at least one second measuring instrument configured to measure a second direction, a reception circuit configured to receive the image from the endoscope, and a processor. The first direction corresponds to a horizontal component of an imaging direction of the endoscope. The second direction corresponds to a horizontal component of a reference direction. The reference direction is a direction in which the at least one monitor faces or is a direction toward or away from an image display surface of the at least one monitor. The processor is configured to calculate an angle between the first direction and the second direction, process the image based on the angle, and display the processed image on the at least one monitor. The processing includes a rotation processing or a horizontal flip processing.