Lung Image Navigation via Invariant Surface Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lung deflation during surgery complicates navigation in minimally invasive procedures like VATS, as pre-operative imaging does not accurately reflect the deformed lung anatomy, making it difficult to accurately locate lesions or perform interventions.

Innovation Solution

An image processing system that combines 3D image volumes from pre-operative imaging with intra-operative images, using a layer object defined by lung vessel and septum patterns to enhance visualization and navigation, despite lung deformation, by emphasizing patterns that remain invariant under deflation and adjusting rendering based on penetration depth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If pre-operative imaging is used for navigation, then the anatomy can be visualized before surgery, but the accuracy of navigation is compromised due to lung deflation and deformation during surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical informationVSAvoidnavigation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring pre-operative 3D image volumes and identifying invariant surface patterns (vessels and septa) before surgery. These pre-identified patterns are stored and used as reference for intra-operative navigation, allowing the system to compensate for lung deformation by matching patterns that remain topologically invariant despite deflation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of pattern recognition from relying on exact geometric matching to recognizing topological invariance of surface patterns. By focusing on the topological properties of vessels and septa that remain unchanged during deflation, the system maintains navigation accuracy despite significant anatomical deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the lung is deflated during surgery to enable minimally invasive procedures, then patient discomfort is reduced and surgery becomes less invasive, but the lung undergoes large-scale deformation that complicates navigation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessibilityVSAvoidlung geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and isolates the invariant surface patterns (vessels and septa) from the complete 3D lung volume. By separating these key navigational features from the rest of the lung anatomy, the system creates a simplified representation that remains valid despite overall lung deformation, enabling accurate navigation during deflated state surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to match the entire deformed lung volume intra-operatively, the system inverts the approach by using pre-identified invariant patterns as the reference and matching only these specific features during surgery. This reversal from whole-volume matching to pattern-based matching solves the navigation problem under deflation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If surgeons palpate the lung to find lesions in open surgery, then direct tactile feedback is obtained, but this method is not applicable in VATS where the lung cannot be directly touched

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion detectionVSAvoiddirect manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical tactile feedback method (palpation) with an image-based navigation system. By using 3D imaging and surface pattern recognition, the system provides virtual tactile guidance that allows lesion detection and navigation in VATS without direct mechanical contact, substituting optical information for mechanical sensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11694386B2Image processing system and method

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A System for image processing (IPS), in particular for lung imaging. The system (IPS) comprises an interface (IN) for receiving at least a part of a 3D image volume (VL) acquired by PAT an imaging apparatus (IA1) of a lung (LG) of a subject (PAT) by exposing the subject (PAT) to a first interrogating signal. A layer definer (LD) of the system (IPS) is configured to define, in the 3D image volume, a layer object (LO) that includes a representation of a surface (S) of the lung (LG). A renderer (REN) of the system (IPS) is configured to render at least a part of the layer object (LO) in 3D at a rendering view (Vp) for visualization on a display device (DD).