Holographic Surgical Visualization System for Real-Time Instrument Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Invasive surgery often requires a trade-off between accessing and visualizing the surgical site, leading to increased disruption and risk for the patient, as surgeons need to directly observe the insertion site to accurately place surgical instruments.
Innovation Solution
The development of imaging and visualization systems that enable the generation and manipulation of 3D depictions of surgical sites and instruments, allowing for hands-free, real-time visualization without the need for direct line-of-sight or additional headgear, using 2D and holographic light field displays, position sensors, and data processors to adjust images based on positional data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If surgeons directly observe the insertion site to accurately place surgical instruments, then surgical precision is improved, but patient disruption and risk are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the surgical site and surgical instruments through 3D imaging and holographic display. Surgeons can observe and manipulate this virtual representation to achieve precise placement without directly visualizing the actual insertion site, thereby reducing the need for large incisions and minimizing patient disruption while maintaining surgical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of imaging sensors, processors, and display devices that mediate between the surgeon and the actual surgical site. This intermediary virtual reality system allows surgeons to gain precise spatial understanding and control without direct line-of-sight observation, reducing the harmful effects of invasive visualization on the patient.
2Loss of information
If surgeons use 2D displays to view surgical sites, then visualization is provided, but depth perception and spatial understanding are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D display to 3D holographic light field display, adding the depth dimension to the visualization. This dimensional enhancement provides surgeons with intuitive depth perception and comprehensive spatial understanding of the surgical site and instrument positions, eliminating the information loss inherent in 2D representations.
3Ease of operation
If surgeons touch monitors or keyboards to manipulate images, then image adjustment is achieved, but surgeon hands are no longer free for patient interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction system (touching monitors or keyboards) with a hands-free control system using voice commands or gesture recognition. This substitution allows surgeons to manipulate images and adjust visualizations without physical contact, keeping hands free for patient interaction and maintaining surgical productivity.
4Measurement precision
If holographic light field displays are used for 3D visualization, then depth perception is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the surgical environment using holographic light field display technology. While the display technology itself is complex, the virtual representation simplifies the surgeon's cognitive task by providing an intuitive 3D model that accurately replicates spatial relationships, thereby justifying the increased device complexity through significant improvement in depth perception and surgical precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are visualization systems, methods, devices and database configurations related to the real-time depiction, in 2-D and 3-D on monitor panels as well as via 3-D holographic visualization, of the internal workings of patient surgery, such as patient intervention site posture as well as the positioning, in some cases real time positioning, of an object foreign to the patient.