Endoscopic Video System for Surgical Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical microscopes have limitations such as large size, shallow depth of field, high maintenance costs, and require dedicated equipment and personnel, which restricts mobility and increases fatigue for surgeons and assistants during microsurgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A video system using existing operating room equipment, including endoscopic camera heads and camera control units, with a telescope lens and mechanical arm to provide magnified images of a surgical field from outside the body, allowing for adjustable focus and reduced eye strain, and compatibility with standard lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a surgical microscope is used to obtain magnified views of the surgical field, then image magnification is achieved, but the device size becomes large and limits working space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct optical viewing path with a video camera system that captures optical images and converts them to electronic video signals. This copying process allows the surgical field to be viewed on a display screen rather than through microscope eyepieces, eliminating the need for a large physical microscope structure while maintaining magnification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical optical microscope system with an electronic video-based system. Instead of using complex optical lenses and eyepieces that require large physical space, the system uses a video camera, signal processing electronics, and a display screen to achieve the same magnification and viewing function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple binoculars are added to allow multiple users to view magnified images, then viewing capability is improved, but image intensity is reduced by the factor equal to the number of binoculars
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using beam splitters to divide the optical path to multiple eyepieces, the patent uses a video camera to capture the optical image and convert it to electronic signals. These signals can then be distributed to multiple display screens without any loss of image intensity, as electronic copying does not diminish the original signal like optical beam splitting does.
3Measurement precision
If the surgeon and assistant peer through binocular pupils to view magnified images, then image viewing is achieved, but constant proximity to viewing pupils causes fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the viewing interface from a two-dimensional optical path through eyepieces to a large two-dimensional display screen in front of the surgeon. This dimensional change allows the surgeon to view magnified images at a comfortable distance rather than having to lean close to small eyepieces, thereby reducing neck and back fatigue while maintaining surgical precision.
4Measurement precision
If a surgical microscope is used to provide magnified views, then detailed visualization is achieved, but the depth of field is extremely shallow at approximately 1-2 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a zoom lens system that allows dynamic adjustment of the focal plane and depth of field. Unlike fixed-focus microscope optics, the video camera with zoom capability can dynamically refocus and adjust the range of acceptable focus, providing a deeper effective depth of field that accommodates the three-dimensional nature of surgical fields while maintaining detailed visualization.
5Reliability
If a dedicated technician is required to operate and maintain the surgical microscope, then device operation is ensured, but maintenance time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses standard video camera equipment and display systems that are commonly found in operating rooms for other purposes. This universal equipment can be operated by existing surgical staff without requiring specialized training for dedicated microscope technicians, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing maintenance time and costs through multi-functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances surgical visualization with a deeper field of view, reduces eye strain, and integrates with existing equipment, lowering costs and improving operational efficiency by using standard lighting and existing AV technology.
Implementation Method 1
a lens arrangement inside the tube for receiving, affecting and transmitting optical images
Implementation Method 2
said lens arrangement is adapted to have a field of view where the field of view is the surgical field, said field of view has a depth of field between 8 mm and 20 mm
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a video system for viewing an object on a body, including an endoscopic lens for capturing an image, an endoscopic camera head attached to the endoscopic lens for transmitting the image, and a camera control unit attached to the endoscopic camera head for receiving the transmitted image. The endoscopic lens has a field of view, where the object is within the field of view. The endoscopic camera lens has a depth of field between approximately 10mm and approximately 15 mm. The system also has an arm attached to the endoscopic lens for holding the endoscopic lens between approximately 180mm and approximately 220 mm away from the surgical field. The magnified image is conveniently seen on large high definition screen.