Endoscopic Vein Harvesting Visual Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic vein harvesting procedures face challenges in visualizing clear components like dissection tips and manipulation devices against the surrounding tissue, making it difficult for surgeons to precisely position these tools relative to the vein during the procedure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating visual indicators on endoscopic components, such as dissection tips and manipulation devices, with high-contrast colors like fluorescent green, to enhance visibility and facilitate precise alignment and positioning within the optical data displayed during the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If clear components (dissection tip, manipulation devices) are used to allow optical sensors to capture video through them, then optical data capture is improved, but visibility of the components against surrounding tissue deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by incorporating visual indicators with high-contrast colors (such as fluorescent green) on clear components. This allows the components to maintain their transparency for optical data capture while the colored indicators provide visible contrast against surrounding biological tissue, solving the visibility problem without compromising optical functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicators act as intermediaries between the clear component and the surrounding tissue. They provide a visual reference that mediates the contrast problem, allowing surgeons to see component position and orientation without blocking the optical sensors' ability to capture video through the transparent material
2Illumination intensity
If clear components are used to facilitate optical sensing, then optical data capture is improved, but precise positioning and alignment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
High-contrast colored indicators on clear components enable precise positioning and alignment by providing visible reference points against surrounding tissue, allowing surgeons to accurately determine component location and orientation while maintaining optical transparency for sensing
Solution Approach 2:
The clear component is segmented into functional regions: transparent areas for optical data capture and colored indicator regions for visualization. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the transparent portions enable sensing while the colored portions provide positioning reference
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic vein harvesting system may include an endoscope including a proximal end having one or more of a collar or a handle and including a distal end. The system may include a component formed from a transparent material and configured to couple to the distal end of the endoscope. The system may include one or more visual indicators formed on or within a selected portion of the component. In some implementations, the one or more visual indicators may assist a harvester to determine a position of the component relative to a vein to be harvested.