MIOCT Color Gradient Stabilization for Microsurgical Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micro-surgical imaging technologies, such as microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography (MIOCT), face challenges in visualizing and differentiating between foreground, midground, and background structures during surgeries due to insufficient surface contrast, leading to difficulties in instrument differentiation from surrounding tissue, especially with real-time data processing and motion-induced changes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a color gradient system that stabilizes and applies color based on depth within the MIOCT images, using a controller to determine eye movement and track the axial center of mass, allowing for real-time colorization and improved visualization of surgical fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If volumetric rendering is used to display 3D OCT data on 2D display, then the surgical field can be visualized in three dimensions, but foreground, midground, and background structures become difficult to resolve and instruments are difficult to differentiate from surrounding tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different colors to different depth ranges within the volumetric data. Each depth slice or axial position is given a specific color from a gradient scale, creating local visual differentiation that preserves surface contrast information when compressing 3D data to 2D display. This allows foreground, midground, and background structures to be distinguished by their color-coded depth positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements color changes by applying a color gradient mapping where different colors represent different axial positions or depths in the OCT volume. This colorization technique transforms grayscale volumetric data into color-coded representations, enabling surgeons to differentiate between structures at various depths and distinguish instruments from tissue based on their relative positions.
2Loss of information
If colorization is applied to volumetric imaging to provide contextual information, then interpretation of complex imaging is improved, but additional computation time is required which adds to lag between image capture and display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining color gradient maps and depth-to-color mapping functions that can be quickly applied to volumetric data. The colorization algorithm uses predetermined color scales and simple depth-based indexing rather than complex real-time calculations, enabling rapid color assignment that minimizes processing lag while maintaining information richness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by transforming the volumetric data representation from grayscale intensity values to color-coded depth indicators. This parameter transformation encodes depth information into the color channel, allowing the system to convey additional contextual information about spatial position without requiring proportionally increased computational resources for basic rendering operations.
3Productivity
If real-time imaging is performed during surgery, then intraoperative guidance is provided, but motion induced by patient, surgeon, and instrumentation causes difficulty in maintaining stable visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic color gradient stabilization system that adapts to motion in real-time. The system continuously tracks the position of surgical instruments and tissue structures, updating the color mapping references to maintain consistent depth-color relationships despite patient movement, surgeon manipulation, or instrumentation. This dynamic adaptation preserves visualization stability during real-time surgical procedures.
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 enhances the perspective and accuracy of microsurgical maneuvers by providing clear differentiation between surgical instruments and tissue, reducing reliance on traditional optical views and improving intraoperative guidance.
Implementation Method 1
an OCT apparatus to capture OCT image data including depth-resolved images of reflected light intensity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing surface contrast to display images for micro-surgical applications are disclosed. According to an aspect, an imaging system includes an OCT apparatus configured to capture OCT data of an eye. The OCT image data can include depth-resolved images of reflected light intensity over a period of time. The imaging system also includes a controller configured to determine movement of the eye relative to the OCT imaging field-of-view. The controller may also determine a location within the imaged portion of the eye which tracks with the eye movement. Further, the controller may apply a color gradient to render OCT images of the eye based on a position relative to the determined location of the eye tracking location. The controller may also control a display to display the OCT images with the applied color gradient.