Ophthalmic Tool Tracking via High-Contrast Marker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional object tracking techniques, such as motion-based, region-based, and feature-based tracking, are inadequate for ophthalmic surgeries due to varying illumination conditions, pose changes, and lack of high-contrast features in surgical tools, making real-time tool tracking challenging in vitreo-retinal surgeries.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic surgical tool tracking system with a marker positioned at the distal portion of the tool, a light source, imaging device, and processor that captures and processes images to identify the marker, generating indicators for surgical data like position and orientation, and overlays them on the image for real-time display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If feature-based object tracking is used to track surgical tools, then object detection capability is improved, but the technique fails when surgical tools lack high-contrast intrinsic features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a marker as an intermediary element attached to the surgical tool. This marker serves as a mediator between the tool and the imaging system, providing detectable features that the tool itself lacks. The marker reflects or emits light to create high-contrast features that can be reliably detected and tracked by the imaging system, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and tracking reliability.
2Extent of automation
If motion-based object tracking is used, then automated surveillance capability is improved, but the technique fails when background varies constantly as in ophthalmic surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The marker acts as an intermediary that decouples the tracking target from the varying surgical background. By attaching a distinctive marker to the tool, the system can track the tool's motion independently of background changes, maintaining automated surveillance capability while adapting to the dynamic surgical environment.
3Ease of operation
If region-based object tracking is used, then simple object tracking is improved, but the technique fails when illumination and tool orientation vary greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The marker serves as an intermediary that provides stable, distinguishable features regardless of illumination changes or tool orientation. The marker's high-contrast properties and geometric features enable reliable detection and tracking through image processing algorithms, maintaining tracking simplicity while achieving robustness against environmental variations.
4Device complexity
If a single illuminator is used for illumination, then device simplicity is improved, but shadow artifacts and specular reflection increase complexity for tool tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The marker acts as an intermediary that overcomes the limitations of single-illuminator setups. By providing high-contrast, geometrically distinct features, the marker enables reliable tracking even when shadow artifacts and specular reflections are present, maintaining device simplicity while reducing tracking difficulty.
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
The system provides robust tool tracking by using high-contrast markers that are less sensitive to illumination changes and shadow artifacts, enabling real-time visualization of surgical data without requiring the surgeon to look away from the area of interest.
Implementation Method 1
A light source may be inserted into the eye for illumination
Implementation Method 2
the images of the fundus area being illuminated may change greatly over time
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
An ophthalmic surgical tool has a marker positioned at a distal portion of the ophthalmic surgical tool. The distal portion of the ophthalmic surgical tool is inserted into an eye along with the marker to perform surgeries in the eye. An imaging device captures images of the fundus of the eye including the distal portion of the ophthalmic surgical tool. An image processor processes the captured images to identify and extract the marker from the captured images. The marker has a high-contrast feature in a visible light or infrared light range or other spectral ranges. Thus, the image processor may identify and extract the marker from the captured images. Indicators may be generated based on the marker and be overlaid with the captured or processed images of the fundus and displayed to a user to indicate surgical information to the user.