Stereoscopic Surgical Image Viewer Digital Distortion Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computer-assisted surgical systems face challenges in correcting distortion caused by optical elements in stereoscopic image viewers, which can lead to user discomfort such as nausea and headaches, and existing distortion-correction solutions are costly and difficult to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an image processing system with processors to obtain a distortion factor, modify image data to correct for optical element distortion, and display the corrected image, eliminating the need for costly distortion-correction lenses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If distortion-correction lens elements are placed close to the flat panel display to correct distortion, then image distortion is corrected, but the device becomes complex, large, costly, and difficult to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistortion correctionVSAvoidoptical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical optical correction system (distortion-correction lens elements) with a computational image processing system. The processors apply digital distortion correction algorithms to the image data, eliminating the need for additional physical lens elements and their associated complexity, cost, and manufacturing difficulties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the distortion correction function through software algorithms rather than physical optical components. The distortion correction is achieved by processing image data through computational models that simulate and correct the optical distortion effects, avoiding the need for physical correction lenses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If distortion-correction lens elements are placed close to the flat panel display to correct distortion, then image distortion is corrected, but manufacturing cost and difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistortion correctionVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses software-based distortion correction that can be updated or replaced without physical manufacturing changes. The distortion correction functionality is implemented through code that can be modified, updated, or replaced digitally, avoiding the need for expensive, difficult-to-manufacture optical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Volume of moving object

If optical elements are used to locate the image-render plane at a specified distance, then the image viewer becomes compact, but distortion is introduced that degrades user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage viewer sizeVSAvoidimage distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful distortion effect introduced by the optical elements into a beneficial correction by applying inverse distortion algorithms in the digital domain. The same optical elements that cause distortion are used to compact the device, and the distortion they introduce is measured and then corrected through computational methods, turning the harmful effect into a manageable and correctable parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a computational intermediary layer between the optical elements and the user's perception. The image processing system acts as a mediator that receives distorted image data from the optical elements, applies correction algorithms, and outputs corrected images, thereby eliminating the harmful distortion effect while preserving the compact optical design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250238909A1Systems and methods for correcting distortion caused by optical elements of an image viewer of a computer-assisted surgical system

Publication Date: 2025.07.24 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

An illustrative system includes one or more processors configured to perform a process. The process may comprise obtaining a distortion factor representative of an amount of distortion imparted by one or more optical elements of an image viewer of a computer-assisted surgical system on images displayed by way of the image viewer; obtaining image data representative of an image that is displayable by way of the image viewer; modifying, based on the distortion factor, the image data to correct for the distortion imparted by the one or more optical elements of the image viewer, the modifying resulting in modified image data representative of the image; and directing the computer-assisted surgical system to display, based on the modified image data, the image by way of the image viewer.