Medical Device Overlay Display for Airway Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical systems lack a feedback mechanism to inform users when the pathway for an articulated medical device is too small, leading to difficulty in navigation during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical system that includes a display device and a controller to acquire data on the airway structure, generate an overlay representing the medical device's outer diameter, and display it on an image of the airway structure, providing visual and haptic feedback when the device approaches a pathway that is too small.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the medical device is made flexible to navigate through airways, then the device can access target locations, but the user cannot perceive when the pathway is too small
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying an overlay that compares the medical device's outer diameter to the airway structure diameter at each focal plane. This feedback mechanism allows the user to perceive when the pathway is too small, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining device flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system acts as an intermediary between the flexible medical device and the user's perception. It translates the physical dimensions of the device and airway into a visual representation that the user can interpret, enabling informed navigation decisions without compromising device flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If the user navigates the medical device without visual feedback, then the device can be maneuvered freely, but navigation difficulty increases when pathways are too small
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay display provides continuous visual feedback during navigation, showing the user the relative sizes of the medical device and airway at each focal plane. This eliminates the difficulty of detecting pathway size constraints while preserving the ease of maneuvering the flexible device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a visual dimension to the navigation process by displaying dimensional information (device diameter vs. airway diameter) on the monitor. This additional dimensional feedback helps users detect pathway constraints without affecting the physical maneuverability of the device.
3Reliability
If the overlay displays the medical device outer diameter, then the user can assess fit within the airway, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy or representation of the medical device's outer diameter overlaid on the airway structure image. This copying approach provides reliable navigation information by visually comparing dimensions without requiring complex real-time measurements or additional physical sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system serves as an intermediary that simplifies the navigation decision-making process. By presenting pre-processed dimensional information in an intuitive visual format, it reduces the operational complexity burden on the user while maintaining high navigation reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system including a medical device having an outer diameter, a display device, and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire data regarding a biological lumen such as an airway structure, acquire an image of the airway structure, generate an overlay representing the outer diameter of the medical device, and display, on the display device, the overlay representing the outer diameter of the medical device on the acquired image of the airway structure. The overlay is scaled relative to a diameter of the airway structure at a focal plane of the airway structure based on the acquired data.