External Reference Camera for Surgical Microscope Image Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical microscopes face challenges in accurately aligning preoperative image data with real-time images due to non-reproducible errors in magnification and focus changes, particularly when using navigation systems, as antennas of navigation systems cannot be calibrated to a zero tube, leading to increased tolerance chains and errors in data overlay.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional camera outside the beam path of the surgical microscope to capture overlapping regions with main cameras, allowing for comparison and determination of correction parameters to adjust main images based on the additional image as a reference, thereby correcting for non-reproducible errors in magnification and focus changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If continuous magnification and focus adjustment are implemented in the beam path, then imaging flexibility is improved, but optical axis displacement occurs causing non-reproducible errors in image positioning
Solution Approach 1:
A reference camera is introduced as an intermediary system that captures images of the same surgical field from a fixed position outside the beam path. This reference camera serves as a stable mediator to detect optical axis displacements caused by magnification and focus changes, enabling correction of positioning errors in the main imaging system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing images from the reference camera with images from the main camera. The detected deviations in optical axis position are fed back to correct the positioning of captured images, ensuring accurate overlay of preoperative and intraoperative data despite continuous magnification and focus adjustments.
2Device complexity
If navigation system antennas are calibrated only to beam path cameras instead of zero tube, then device complexity is reduced, but tolerance chain increases leading to greater overlay errors
Solution Approach 1:
The reference camera acts as an intermediary calibration reference that connects the navigation system to the actual optical axis position. By using the reference camera's fixed position as a stable reference point, the system enables accurate calibration of navigation antennas without requiring direct calibration to the zero tube, thus reducing complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference camera creates a copy of the surgical field view from a stable, fixed position. This copied view serves as a reliable reference for calibration purposes, allowing the navigation system to be accurately calibrated to the actual optical path without requiring physical access to or calibration with the zero tube assembly.
3Measurement precision
If additional reference camera is added outside beam path, then image positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference camera is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides a stable reference for detecting optical axis displacements, enables calibration of the navigation system, and facilitates correction of positioning errors in real-time. This multi-functionality justifies the addition of the extra camera by maximizing its utility across different operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a surgical microscope and microscope are disclosed, wherein at least one main image of a capture region, which is imaged through a beam path of an imaging optical unit of the surgical microscope, is captured by means of at least one main camera arranged in or at the beam path, wherein at least one additional image is captured by means of at least one additional camera arranged outside the beam path, wherein a capture region of the at least one additional camera at least partially overlaps with the imaged capture region of the at least one main camera, wherein the captured at least one main image and additional image are compared by an image processing device, and wherein, at least one correction parameter for the at least one main image is determined and provided.