Endoscopic Video Enhancement for Smoke-Obscured Surgical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic procedures are hindered by smoke interference with the surgical site image, necessitating a fast, easy, and reliable method to maintain image quality.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with a system controller that automatically enhances video images by interacting with a video enhancer and controlling surgical tools and suction systems to improve image quality, detecting conditions like smoke and adjusting settings accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual control of video enhancer is used to maintain image quality during smoke creation, then image quality can be improved, but surgical procedure time increases and operator workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the system controller automatically monitors video images for smoke conditions and controls the video enhancer without requiring manual operator intervention. The system serves itself by detecting degradation and applying corrections autonomously, maintaining image quality while reducing procedural time and workload.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring video image quality parameters and using this information to automatically adjust video enhancer settings. The system controller receives video images, analyzes them for smoke interference, and dynamically controls the video enhancer based on real-time conditions, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal image quality throughout the procedure.
2Reliability
If manual control of video enhancer is used to maintain image quality during smoke creation, then image quality can be improved, but operator workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the system controller automatically monitors video images for smoke conditions and controls the video enhancer without requiring manual operator intervention. The system serves itself by detecting degradation and applying corrections autonomously, maintaining image quality while reducing procedural time and workload.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controller acts as an intermediary between the video capturing device and the video enhancer, automatically processing video images to detect smoke conditions and controlling the video enhancer accordingly. This intermediary automation eliminates the need for direct operator intervention in managing video quality during smoke creation.
3Productivity
If automated system controls video enhancer and surgical tools, then surgical procedure time is reduced and image quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system controller serves multiple functions by simultaneously monitoring video images for smoke conditions, controlling the video enhancer to maintain image quality, and coordinating surgical tools. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise be separate systems into a single integrated controller, managing complexity through consolidation while delivering coordinated automated control across multiple subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the video enhancement control and surgical tool control functions into a single integrated system controlled by one system controller. By combining these functions and centralizing control, the system manages complexity through integration while achieving coordinated automated operation that reduces procedural time and maintains image quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical system for providing an improved video image of a surgical site including a system controller that receives and processes video images to determine a video signature corresponding to a condition that interferes with a quality of the video images, with the system controller interacting with a video enhancer to enhance the video images from a video capturing device to automatically control the video enhancer to enhance the video images. The surgical system can also review the video images for a trigger event and automatically begin or stop recording of the video images upon occurrence of the trigger event.