Surgical Microscope Contrast Enhancement for Lens Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
During cataract operations, surgeons face challenges in clearly discerning eye lens pieces due to weak contrast from conventional illumination methods, particularly for those with poor vision, which can complicate the removal of lens fragments.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a surgical microscope with an illumination device and image processing unit to generate a contrast image, identifying locations of increased contrast and superimposing a superimposition image onto the optical or digital contrast image, enhancing the visibility of eye lens pieces through highlighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If red reflex illumination is used to contrast the lens pieces, then the lens pieces become visible, but the contrast remains weak and is not readily discernible, especially to surgeons having poor vision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary image processing system that captures the optical image, enhances the contrast of lens pieces through digital processing, and presents the enhanced image to the surgeon. This intermediary system bridges the gap between the insufficient natural contrast from red reflex illumination and the surgeon's need for clear visibility, particularly for surgeons with poor vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copied and enhanced version of the optical image through digital capture and processing. The image processing apparatus generates a reproduced image with artificially enhanced contrast that highlights lens pieces more effectively than the original optical image, allowing surgeons to view the enhanced copy rather than relying solely on the limited natural contrast.
2Productivity
If the lens core is comminuted and extracted by phacoemulsification, then the cataract is removed, but the lens pieces become difficult to discern due to weak contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the image processing apparatus continuously monitors the surgical field, enhances the contrast of lens pieces in real-time, and provides visual feedback to the surgeon through the display system. This feedback loop allows the surgeon to immediately see enhanced contrast information about lens pieces during the phacoemulsification process, improving detectability without compromising surgical efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If conventional illumination is used during surgery, then the surgical field is visible, but lens pieces lack sufficient contrast for clear discrimination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of image presentation by capturing the optical image and applying digital contrast enhancement processing. This transforms the original image parameters (brightness, contrast, color) into enhanced parameters that provide superior lens piece visibility. The system maintains the ease of operation with standard illumination while achieving high measurement precision in terms of contrast resolution through parameter transformation in the digital domain.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly improves the visibility of eye lens pieces during cataract operations, facilitating the procedure for surgeons, especially those with poor vision, by providing a clear and enhanced representation of lens fragments.
Implementation Method 1
the eye is illuminated with illumination light that contrasts the eye lens pieces with the aid of the illumination device, in order to generate an optical contrast image that contrasts the eye lens pieces
Implementation Method 2
The optical contrast image is recorded by means of the at least one digital camera and converted into a digital contrast image
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical microscope is disclosed with an observation beam path for generating an optical image from the eye, an illumination device for illuminating the eye, wherein the illumination device is designed for illuminating the eye with illumination light that contrasts eye lens pieces, in order to generate an optical contrast image that contrasts the eye lens pieces as optical image from the eye by means of the observation beam path, at least one digital camera, to which the optical contrast image is fed and which creates a digital contrast image from the optical contrast image and outputs it, an image processing unit, which is connected to the digital camera for receiving the digital contrast image and which is designed to find locations of increased contrast in the digital contrast image and to generate and output a superimposition image representing the locations of increased contrast, and a superimposing device.