ENT Surgical Overlay Display for Spatially Guided Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons performing ENT procedures using image guided surgery navigation systems may become spatially disoriented while switching between direct viewing of the patient anatomy and simulated images, leading to erroneous instrument movements due to the lack of clear spatial and directional correspondence.
Innovation Solution
An image guided surgery navigation system with a visualization system that overlays correlated datasets, such as CT images and surgical instrument positions, directly onto the patient's anatomy through a head-mounted or handheld display, allowing surgeons to maintain spatial orientation without constant reference to external screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If surgeons switch between external display screens and direct patient anatomy views to navigate instruments, then they can access comprehensive surgical information, but they become spatially disoriented and make erroneous instrument movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the external display screen and the patient anatomy view into a single integrated display unit positioned at the surgeon's eye level. This merging eliminates the need to switch between separate viewing locations, allowing simultaneous access to comprehensive surgical information and direct anatomical views without spatial disorientation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the integrated display unit) that presents both the external display information and the patient anatomy view in a unified format. This intermediary mediates between the surgeon and the two different information sources, reconciling them into a single coherent visual field that maintains spatial accuracy
2Reliability
If surgeons constantly reference external display screens during ENT procedures, then they can monitor surgical progress, but they lose spatial awareness and require frequent view switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the surgical monitoring display with the patient anatomy view into a single integrated display positioned at eye level. This allows surgeons to monitor surgical progress continuously without removing their gaze from the patient, eliminating frequent view switching and maintaining both monitoring accuracy and spatial awareness
3Loss of information
If surgeons use traditional image guided surgery navigation with separate displays, then they can access detailed anatomical data, but they experience increased cognitive load and reduced surgical efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines detailed anatomical data display with the patient anatomy view in a single integrated display at eye level. This eliminates the cognitive load of constantly switching between separate displays and mentally correlating their spatial relationships, allowing surgeons to process anatomical information and navigate instruments simultaneously, thereby improving surgical efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A visualization system may be implemented with an image guided surgery navigation system for use during ENT procedures. Correlated datasets such as surgical paths and pre-operative image slices may be correlated with the coordinate system of the navigation system for reference during a procedure. A surgeon may wear a head mounted display (“HMD”) having a transparent screen through which the patient anatomy may be viewed. The orientation and distance of the head mounted display relative to the patient anatomy may be determined using magnetic position tracking, image analysis of images captured by a camera of the HMD, or both. Correlated datasets may then be transformed based on the relative distance and orientation and may be displayed via the transparent screen to overlay directly viewed patient anatomy. Some implementations may include optical fiducials integrated with a patient tracking assembly to aid in tracking the patient and determining perspective of the HMD.