Medical Device Identification From Partial Visual Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling surgical instrument trays are human-centric and prone to errors, leading to complications and increased costs due to incorrect or missing instruments, which can adversely impact patient care.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with an image sensor, processor, and interface circuit identifies medical devices by analyzing obscured or degraded portions using visual attributes, barcodes, RF identifiers, and machine learning algorithms to ensure accurate tray assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human-centric methods are used for assembling surgical instrument trays, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but errors occur leading to incorrect or missing instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device itself serves as the identifier through its unique visual features. The device's appearance characteristics (color, shape, markings) automatically provide identification information without requiring external tags, barcodes, or manual input, enabling automated recognition while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human-centric identification methods with an automated image processing system that uses computer vision to recognize medical devices based on their visual attributes, eliminating human error in tray assembly verification
2Measurement precision
If automated image processing is used to identify medical devices, then accuracy improves, but complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy (image) of the medical device's visual appearance and compares it against stored reference images. This copying approach enables automated recognition without requiring physical contact or complex mechanical identification mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the identification problem from recognizing specific device identities to recognizing visual appearance parameters (color, shape, markings). By changing the identification parameters to visual characteristics, the system achieves accurate differentiation of medical devices using straightforward image processing
3Measurement precision
If complete visibility of medical device information is required for identification, then identification accuracy improves, but time is lost due to repositioning or rejecting obscured devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs identification using only the portion of the device that is visible in the image. It processes partial information (visible visual features) rather than requiring complete device visibility, enabling identification even when devices are obscured or in suboptimal positions
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes the image to identify and focus on relevant visual features of the medical device. By preparing the image data in advance and highlighting key identification characteristics, the system can accurately identify devices even with limited visibility
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device that identifies a medical device (such as a surgical instrument, a surgical screw, surgical supplies or a surgical machine) is described. During operation, the medical device may receive or obtain a first image of the medical device, where at least a portion of the medical device is partly obscured by an object in the first image or is damaged or degraded. Then, the electronic device may identify the medical device based at least in part on information associated with a second portion of the medical device that is not partially obscured by the object or that is not damaged or degraded, where the information may include a visual attribute of the medical device.