Endoscope Tip Motion Control for Hands-Free Function Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical visualization devices require operators to remove a hand from the device or seek assistance to activate functions, leading to potential misalignment and increased costs with button additions.
Innovation Solution
A medical visualization system that allows function activation through movement patterns detected from image frames, using a bendable distal portion of the insertion cord and a processing unit to interpret these patterns, enabling hands-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a button is added on the handle of the visualisation device to activate functions, then function activation becomes easier, but the device cost increases and existing devices require replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical button system with an image-based control system. The image sensor captures images of the patient's anatomy, and specific image features (such as anatomical landmarks or patterns) automatically trigger functional activations. This substitutes the mechanical interaction (pressing a button) with an optical/image-based interaction, eliminating the need for physical buttons on the device handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation by automatically detecting image features and activating functions without requiring manual button presses. The visualisation device itself captures the images and the system automatically processes these images to determine when function activation is needed, making the device self-activating based on the visual field rather than requiring external manual control.
2Ease of operation
If the operator removes one hand from the device to activate functions, then function activation becomes possible, but the visualisation device moves and is no longer in the desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control (hand pressing buttons) with an automated image-based control system. The system continuously monitors the image feed and automatically activates functions based on detected image features, eliminating the need for the operator to remove their hand from the device. This maintains continuous visualisation stability while enabling function activation through automated image analysis rather than manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing visualisation devices are upgraded with additional buttons and controls, then functionality is improved, but replacement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical hardware additions (buttons, controls) with a software-based image processing system. The existing visualisation device continues to function as before, but an image processing system is added that analyzes the captured images and automatically activates functions based on detected features. This software-based approach allows functionality enhancement without modifying the physical device structure, avoiding replacement costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The image-based control system provides universal functionality that can be applied to existing visualisation devices without modification. The system processes images from the existing sensor and can trigger multiple different functions based on different image features, making the enhancement universally applicable across different device models without requiring device-specific hardware modifications or replacements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical visualisation system, a monitor device for a medical visualisation system and an associated method for controlling one or more functions in the medical visualisation system are disclosed. The method comprising: receiving a plurality of image frames captured by an image sensor including a first series of image frames, determining based on the first series of image frames a movement pattern of a distal cord end, determining whether the movement pattern satisfies one or more movement criteria, and in accordance with the movement pattern satisfying a first movement criterion of the one or more movement criteria activating a first function of the medical visualisation system.