Intraoperative Segmentation With Real-Time Anatomical Model Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing minimally invasive medical procedures face inaccuracies in anatomical segmentation, leading to incorrect navigation of medical instruments due to omitted or falsely indicated anatomical branches, which can hinder effective targeting of tissue locations.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for intraoperative segmentation that uses a medical instrument with a sensing tool to correlate its position with a patient's anatomy model, update the model in real-time based on data obtained during navigation, and correct discrepancies between the model and actual anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pre-operative imaging and segmentation are performed to create an anatomical model, then navigation guidance is provided, but inaccuracies occur due to omitted or falsely indicated anatomical branches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegmentation accuracyVSAvoidnavigation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs pre-operative imaging and segmentation to create an initial anatomical model before the surgical procedure. This preliminary model provides navigation guidance, but the system is designed to recognize its limitations and prepare for intraoperative updates when discrepancies are detected during actual navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors navigation data during the surgical procedure and compares actual anatomical structures against the pre-operative model. When discrepancies are detected (such as omitted branches or false indications), the system provides feedback to update the model, thereby improving both segmentation accuracy and navigation reliability through iterative correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If a detailed pre-operative anatomical model is created, then navigation planning is improved, but the model may contain errors that hinder effective targeting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation planningVSAvoidanatomical model accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a detailed anatomical model during pre-operative imaging to facilitate navigation planning. This preliminary model allows surgeons to plan procedural routes in advance, improving ease of operation. However, the system is designed to recognize that this model may contain errors and prepares for intraoperative verification and correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

During the surgical procedure, the system continuously compares the pre-operative model with actual anatomical structures encountered during navigation. When discrepancies are detected, the system updates the model to correct errors, thereby maintaining both the planning benefits and the accuracy needed for effective targeting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If manual or software-based segmentation is used to partition images, then a 3D model is created, but anatomical branches may be omitted or falsely indicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel creation processVSAvoidanatomical structure accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs manual or software-based segmentation during pre-operative imaging to partition images and create an initial 3D anatomical model. This preliminary model creation process is designed to be efficient and ease of manufacture, but the system recognizes its limitations in capturing all anatomical details accurately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

During the surgical procedure, the system continuously verifies the segmented model by comparing it with actual anatomical structures encountered during navigation. When omissions or false indications are detected, the system updates the segmentation results, thereby improving anatomical structure accuracy while maintaining the efficiency of the original segmentation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4328856B1Systems and methods for intraoperative segmentation
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC
  • EP4328856B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4328856B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4328856B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A system comprising: a medical instrument including a sensing tool; and a processing unit including one or more processors, wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive data related to a patient anatomy from the sensing tool while the medical instrument traverses the patient anatomy; construct an anatomic model of the patient anatomy based on the data received from the sensing tool; and correlate a position of the medical instrument with the anatomic model.