Multi-Modal Surgical Microscope Visualization Without Information Loss

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical microscopes face challenges in providing clear and unobstructed recognition of image information, particularly when different modalities such as white light and augmentation information are superimposed, leading to partial regions being viewed incongruently or information loss.

Innovation Solution

A surgical microscope system that includes an observation device and a visualization device capable of receiving and processing multiple input modalities, allowing for the generation and output of a modality output signal that controls the visualization of these modalities in a coordinated and timed manner, ensuring congruent viewing without interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple image modalities are superimposed on a single display, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but information loss occurs and recognition precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidinformation loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into multiple independent display areas, each dedicated to displaying a specific image modality (e.g., white light image, fluorescence image, augmented reality overlay). This segmentation allows each modality to be displayed without obstruction from others, preventing information loss while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane display to a multi-dimensional display architecture by adding temporal dimension (sequential display of different modalities) and spatial dimension (multiple display areas). This dimensional expansion allows complete information representation without mutual interference between modalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If multiple image modalities are superimposed on a single display, then the device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and recognition precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into multiple independent display areas, each dedicated to displaying a specific image modality (e.g., white light image, fluorescence image, augmented reality overlay). This segmentation allows each modality to be displayed without obstruction from others, preventing information loss while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane display to a multi-dimensional display architecture by adding temporal dimension (sequential display of different modalities) and spatial dimension (multiple display areas). This dimensional expansion allows complete information representation without mutual interference between modalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If different image modalities are displayed simultaneously in the same region, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and manufacturing precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into multiple independent display areas, each dedicated to displaying a specific image modality (e.g., white light image, fluorescence image, augmented reality overlay). This segmentation allows each modality to be displayed without obstruction from others, preventing information loss while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane display to a multi-dimensional display architecture by adding temporal dimension (sequential display of different modalities) and spatial dimension (multiple display areas). This dimensional expansion allows complete information representation without mutual interference between modalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250325342A1Surgical microscope and method of operating a surgical microscope

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG

AI summary

A surgical microscope having an observation device adapted to observe a patient and to generate images of a region of interest of the patient and a visualization device having an output to at least one visualization unit. The visualization unit is adapted to generate a visual presentation that can be viewed at a time by at least one viewer. The visualization device is adapted to prepare visualization, by outputting an output signal to the at least one visualization unit, of the images generated by the observation device and/or images derived from the images generated by the observation device. The visualization device is adapted to receive at least two different input modalities of images of the region of interest comprising at least one modality defined by and/or derived from the images generated by the observation device, and is adapted to prepare visualization of a plurality of visualization modalities by outputting a modality output signal via an output to which a specific one of the at least one visualization unit is connected during operation. The, and wherein the visualization device is adapted to control the modality output signal to change in the course of time with respect to the modality of images to be visualized that is represented in a current state of the modality output signal.