Intraoperative Target Updating in Virtual Navigation Views

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing minimally invasive medical procedures face challenges in accurately navigating and updating the location of targets within patient anatomy due to limitations in integrating intraoperative image data with preoperative models, leading to potential inaccuracies and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A medical system that includes a display system, an elongate device, and an imaging probe, with a control system that receives intraoperative image data to update the target location by registering the imaging probe with a patient coordinate system, adjusting orientations, and refining the target position using virtual navigation views and graphical markers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If preoperative models are used for navigation, then planning accuracy is improved, but intraoperative anatomical changes cause target location inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget location accuracyVSAvoidmodel registration reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static preoperative models to dynamic intraoperative image guidance. The imaging probe continuously captures real-time anatomical data, and the system dynamically updates the virtual navigation view to reflect current anatomical positions, resolving the contradiction between planning accuracy and intraoperative reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by comparing intraoperative imaging data with preoperative models and automatically adjusting target location displays. The control system receives imaging data from the probe, updates the virtual navigation view accordingly, and provides continuous feedback to the operator about actual versus planned positions, maintaining accuracy despite anatomical changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If intraoperative imaging is performed continuously, then target location accuracy is improved, but procedure time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses partial imaging action by capturing images at critical navigation milestones rather than continuous imaging. The probe takes images at key moments when the elongate device reaches specific locations or when target identification is needed, providing sufficient navigation accuracy without the time penalty of continuous imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-processing and storing imaging data as it is captured. The control system maintains a buffer of recent images and automatically retrieves relevant ones for display in the virtual navigation view, eliminating delays associated with real-time image processing and allowing faster navigation decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple imaging data sources are integrated, then navigation reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple imaging data sources (preoperative models and intraoperative probe images) into a single integrated virtual navigation view. The control system combines these different data types into a unified display that shows both the planned trajectory and actual anatomical landmarks, improving navigation reliability while presenting a simplified interface to the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system acts as an intermediary that automatically processes and reconciles data from multiple imaging sources. It performs coordinate transformations, image registration, and data fusion in the background, presenting integrated navigation information without requiring the operator to manually manage the complexity of multiple data sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Speed

If real-time image processing is performed, then target update speed is improved, but computational resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget update speedVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality processing by focusing computational resources on processing only the specific image regions containing anatomical landmarks or target structures. Rather than processing entire images, the control system identifies and processes only relevant local areas for registration and target identification, achieving fast updates with reduced computational energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20260069363A1Systems and methods for updating a target location using intraoperative image data

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

A medical system includes a display system, an elongate device configured to be inserted in an anatomical passageway of a patient anatomy, and a control system communicatively coupled to the display system. The control system is configured to display a graphical user interface via the display system—the graphical user interface includes a virtual navigation view. The control system is further configured to display an articulation marker in the virtual navigation view and determine an articulation direction of the elongate device. The control system is further configured to display a graphical marker on the articulation marker—the graphical marker indicates the articulation direction of the elongate device.