Medical Video Overlay Synchronization for Low-Latency Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical procedures using endoscopes and similar devices face delays in video image transmission, causing irritation for practitioners and a need for real-time augmentation of image information to enhance procedural control.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that compares video frames to generate real-time overlays by analyzing changes in video content, calculating motion, and extrapolating initial overlay data to minimize latency, using field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) for optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time video transmission is used during medical procedures, then procedural control is improved, but latency and delay cause irritation for practitioners
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and buffering video frames in advance, then processes and displays them with minimal delay. The buffer stores incoming video data while overlay information is generated and synchronized, ensuring that the displayed video and overlay are temporally aligned without excessive latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to synchronize the overlay generation with the incoming video stream. By continuously monitoring the video frame timing and adjusting the overlay display accordingly, the system maintains temporal coherence between the live video and the augmented information, preventing desynchronization while minimizing delay.
2Loss of information
If overlay information is generated and displayed in real-time, then image information is enhanced, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing task into distinct modules: video frame capture, overlay data generation, temporal synchronization, and composite display. Each module handles a specific aspect of the processing, which simplifies the overall system design and allows for independent optimization of each component while maintaining real-time performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary buffer and synchronization mechanism that mediates between the incoming video stream and the overlay generation process. This intermediary layer decouples the timing requirements of video capture and overlay processing, allowing each to operate independently while ensuring their outputs are properly synchronized in the final display.
3Loss of time
If video frames are processed and compared to generate overlays, then latency is reduced, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by processing only the necessary portions of video frames for overlay generation. Instead of analyzing entire frames in detail, the system focuses on specific regions or features that are relevant for the overlay information, thereby reducing computational load while maintaining acceptable latency performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary processing of video frames as they arrive, preparing data structures and identifying key features before the overlay generation step. This preliminary action reduces the computational complexity of the subsequent overlay processing by having essential information already organized and ready, thus lowering overall computational load while maintaining low latency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method of generating an overlay of medical video data and overlay data is presented. The method comprising the steps acquiring, from a medical video modality, the medical video data comprising at least a first video frame and a second video frame of different points in time, t1 and t2, (step S1), analysing the acquired medical video data comprising a comparison of the video data captured by the first and the second video frames (step S2); providing initial overlay data (step S3), generating modified overlay data by adapting the initial overlay data based on a result of the analysis of the medical video data (step S4), and generating the overlay by generating a video output comprising at least medical video data originating from the medical video modality and comprising the generated modified overlay data (step S5). In a particular embodiment, the determined change over time in the first and second video frames is a spatial shift of an object imaged in the video frames.