Medical Software Tools Platform for Surgical Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical imaging devices used in minimally invasive surgeries face challenges such as poor visibility, limited imaging resolution, and restricted perspectives due to their size and lighting constraints, which hinder effective visualization of biological tissues during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical software tools platform that integrates a surgical display system with image stream processing and user interface overlays, enabling the use of medical software tools to enhance image clarity, provide additional perspectives, and facilitate data sharing between medical devices, using a system comprising an image stream interface module, user interface overlay module, and medical software tools module to process and present image data dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional medical imaging devices are used in minimally invasive surgeries, then the surgical procedure can be performed with small incisions, but the imaging resolution and visibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging devices with different capabilities into an integrated system. Multiple cameras and imaging sensors are merged to capture images from different perspectives simultaneously, allowing the surgical team to view both high-resolution detailed views and broader contextual views on multiple displays, thereby achieving high imaging resolution while maintaining minimally invasive access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple viewing dimensions by using multiple displays arranged in different orientations and positions. Surgeons can view images on handheld devices, wall-mounted displays, or desktop monitors, each providing different perspectives or magnifications of the same surgical field, effectively adding spatial dimensions to the imaging capability without requiring larger incisions
2Volume of moving object
If conventional medical imaging devices are used, then the device size can be small for minimally invasive access, but the viewing angle and perspective are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal imaging system where multiple imaging devices serve multiple functions. The same small imaging devices provide both close-up detailed views and broader contextual views through strategic positioning and multiple camera angles. The system allows a single surgical setup to achieve multiple viewing perspectives by utilizing software processing and multi-display presentation rather than requiring multiple specialized devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces software and display systems as intermediaries between the small imaging devices and the surgeon's view. Image processing software synthesizes views from multiple small sensors, and multiple displays act as intermediaries to present different perspectives of the same surgical field, effectively expanding the viewing angle capability without increasing device size
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional imaging devices are used with limited lighting, then the lighting constraints are minimized, but the visibility of tissue differences is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color enhancement and false-color imaging techniques to differentiate tissue types. By processing images to emphasize color variations and contrasts, the system can distinguish between different tissue types, blood vessels, and anatomical structures even under limited lighting conditions. Multiple cameras capturing different spectral ranges can be combined to provide enhanced tissue differentiation without requiring high lighting energy
4Loss of information
If integrated operating room systems are implemented, then data sharing and collaboration are enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integrated operating room system into modular functional units. Each imaging device, display, and software module operates as an independent unit that can be individually configured and maintained. The segmentation allows data sharing across the system through standardized interfaces while preventing the complexity from becoming unmanageable, as each module can be developed and updated independently
Data Source
AI summary
Medical software tools platform utilizes a surgical display to provide access to specific medical software tools, such as medically-oriented applications or widgets, that can assist those in the operating room, such as a surgeon or surgical team, with a surgery. For various embodiments, the medical software tools platform and its associated medical software tools are presented on a surgical display (e.g., being utilized in an operating room) over an image stream provided by a surgical camera (e.g., in use in the operating room or with other endoscopic procedures). Various medical software tools can provide features and functions that can facilitate integration of equipment in an operating room or add medical context awareness to anatomic structures presented in the image stream from the surgical camera and provide archived information pertaining to the same.