Integrated OCT-Camera Imaging for Composite Ophthalmic Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic imaging technologies face challenges in seamlessly integrating and visualizing multiple imaging modalities during surgeries, particularly in transparent tissues like the cornea, where dyes fail to adequately highlight defects, and real-time extraction of useful information is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A system integrating a stereoscopic visualization camera and optical coherence tomography (OCT) module, with a controller that registers and renders volumetric data from both sources to create a shared composite view, enabling precise visualization and extraction of structural features and pathologies during ophthalmic procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple imaging modalities (OCT and stereoscopic camera) are integrated to provide comprehensive information, then the quantity and quality of information available to the surgeon is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of real-time data integration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges OCT volumetric data and stereoscopic camera images into a unified shared composite view. The controller registers and overlays these different imaging modalities, allowing surgeons to see both structural details from OCT and surface visualization from the camera simultaneously, thereby reducing information loss without requiring separate viewing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives data from both OCT and stereoscopic camera sources, processes and registers the volumetric data, and generates the composite view. This intermediary processing layer manages the complexity of integrating multiple imaging modalities while presenting a unified simplified view to the surgeon.
2Measurement precision
If volumetric data from OCT and stereoscopic camera are registered and rendered to create a shared composite view, then surgical precision and visualization quality are improved, but the processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary registration of coordinate systems and calibration of imaging modalities before surgery begins. This pre-processing establishes the spatial relationships between OCT and camera data, enabling faster real-time composite view generation during the actual surgical procedure without significant processing delays.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the system provides detailed volumetric rendering of corneal structures, then the ability to detect and visualize pathologies in transparent tissue is improved, but the ease of operation and real-time extraction of useful information becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different visualization qualities to different regions of the composite view. OCT volumetric data provides detailed structural information for detecting pathologies in specific corneal regions, while the stereoscopic camera provides overall contextual visualization. This local differentiation allows detailed pathology detection where needed while maintaining ease of overall surgical navigation.
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
Enhances surgical precision by providing a unified, real-time view that guides surgical maneuvers, such as intraocular lens alignment and astigmatism correction, improving patient outcomes in ophthalmology.
Implementation Method 1
an optical coherence tomography module configured to obtain a first set of volumetric data of the target site
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for guiding an ophthalmic procedure is disclosed. The system includes a housing assembly with a head unit configured to be at least partially directed towards a target site in an eye. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) module and stereoscopic visualization camera are at least partially located in the head unit and configured to obtain a first set and a second set of volumetric data, respectively. A controller is configured to register the first set and second set of volumetric data to create a third set of registered volumetric data. The third set and second set of registered volumetric data are rendered, via a volumetric render module, to a first and second region. The first region and the second region are overlaid to obtain a shared composite view of the target site. The controller is configured to extract structural features and/or enable visualization of the target site.