Computer-Aided Eye Surgery Image Overlay System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current intraocular lens (IOL) surgery process is cumbersome and lacks accurate assistance for surgeons, particularly in pre-surgery planning and execution, due to manual marking and lack of real-time imaging guidance, leading to potential errors and inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for computer-aided eye surgery that involves acquiring a reference image, enriching it with context information, registering it with real-time images, and overlaying this information onto the surgical field using eye movement tracking, allowing precise placement of surgical markers and data during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual marking methods are used for pre-surgery preparation and surgery execution, then the surgeon can perform the surgery with basic tools, but the accuracy and precision of surgical markings and alignment are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the patient's eye anatomy through image acquisition and processing. A reference image is captured and processed to generate a digital model that can be overlaid with surgical markings and guidance information. This digital copy allows precise measurement and marking without physical contact, eliminating the inaccuracies of manual ink markers while providing a virtual workspace for surgical planning and execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional manual markings on the eye surface to a multi-dimensional digital overlay system. By capturing images in multiple dimensions and processing them through coordinate transformation algorithms, the system creates a three-dimensional understanding of eye anatomy that can be displayed and manipulated in two-dimensional space, allowing surgeons to visualize depth, curvature, and spatial relationships that are impossible to convey with simple ink markers.
2Reliability
If manual marking with ink pens is used, then the process is simple and quick, but the markings become fuzzy or disappear over time, negatively affecting surgical accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on physical ink markers that fade or smear, the patent creates a digital copy of the surgical markings that can be stored, reused, and displayed with perfect fidelity. The reference image and associated marking data can be preserved indefinitely and recalled throughout the surgical procedure without degradation, ensuring consistent reference information is always available to the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary image acquisition, processing, and marking generation before the actual surgery begins. By preparing the digital reference image and surgical markings in advance, the system eliminates the need for repeated marking during the procedure. The pre-processed information is ready for immediate use, saving time and ensuring that all necessary guidance is established before the surgical field changes.
3Loss of information
If the surgeon relies only on real-time microscope view without additional guidance, then the surgical field is clear and unobstructed, but the surgeon lacks contextual information and planning indicators during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple information sources into a unified visual display. The real-time microscope view is combined with the processed reference image, surgical markings, and guidance indicators in a single composite display. This merging allows the surgeon to see both the live surgical field and the contextual planning information simultaneously, eliminating the need to switch between different views or mental references while maintaining a clear understanding of the surgical anatomy and intended actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The processed reference image acts as an intermediary between the raw microscope view and the surgeon's decision-making. Rather than presenting raw data or requiring the surgeon to mentally process multiple separate images, the system creates an intermediate representation that overlays relevant information directly onto the surgical view. This intermediary layer translates complex imaging data into actionable visual guidance that enhances the surgeon's situational awareness without adding cognitive burden.
4Measurement precision
If coordinate alignment between diagnostic and surgical phases is not maintained, then the surgery can proceed without complex registration, but the accuracy of aligning pre-surgery plans with actual surgery is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the image registration process. The system continuously compares the live microscope view with the stored reference image, detects deviations or movements, and adjusts the overlay accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the digital markings remain accurately aligned with the actual surgical field even if the eye moves or the surgical conditions change, providing real-time correction without requiring manual intervention from the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The registration system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. Instead of establishing a fixed coordinate system at the beginning of surgery, the system continuously adapts the reference image and markings to match the current state of the eye. By implementing real-time image processing and coordinate transformation, the system accounts for natural eye movements, surgical manipulation, and anatomical changes, maintaining accurate alignment throughout the procedure rather than relying on initial positioning alone.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for performing image processing for computer-aided eye-surgery, said method comprising: acquiring a reference image of the eye; enriching said reference image by inserting additional context information which are helpful for a surgeon when performing the eye surgery; registering said reference image with a real time image of the eye; and overlaying the context information over the real time image of the eye based on a tracking of the eye movement such that the context information is displayed at the same position despite a movement of the eye.