Optical Overlay Device for Surgical Fluorescence Highlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surgical and other processes, areas of interest may not be visible to the human eye but can be detected with imaging devices, requiring a method to highlight these areas visibly for better visibility and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using an imager sensitive to wavelengths or contrast beyond human capabilities, combined with an overlay element and controller, to identify and visibly highlight areas of interest using visible light, potentially operating outside the visible spectrum and immune to ambient light interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an imager sensitive to non-visible wavelengths is used to detect areas of interest, then detection capability is improved, but visibility to the human eye deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary device (projector or display element) to convert non-visible wavelength information detected by the imager into visible light representations. The projector receives data from the imager and projects visible light patterns that highlight areas of interest, serving as a mediator between the non-visible detection system and human visual perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visible light copy or representation of the non-visible wavelength information. The projector generates visible light patterns that replicate the spatial distribution and intensity characteristics of the detected non-visible signals, allowing human observers to perceive areas of interest that were originally invisible.
2Measurement precision
If fluorescence imaging is used to identify areas of surgical interest, then area identification is improved, but visual contrast to the human eye deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the non-visible fluorescence signal into visible color representations. The projector displays areas of interest using different visible colors or intensity levels that correspond to the fluorescence signal strength, creating high visual contrast that is easily distinguishable by the human eye while preserving the area identification information.
3Measurement precision
If the imager operates at wavelengths outside the visible range, then detection sensitivity is improved, but ambient light immunity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the relevant non-visible wavelength information detected by the imager and processes it separately from ambient light interference. By capturing data in the non-visible spectrum where ambient light has minimal impact, then processing and displaying only the extracted areas of interest as visible light patterns, the system eliminates ambient light interference from the final visual output.
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
Effectively highlights areas of interest not visible to the human eye, enhancing visibility and accuracy in surgical procedures like parathyroid surgery, while operating effectively in ambient lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
fluorescence can be used to identify areas of a region including areas of surgical interest. Some materials may exhibit fluorescence at non-visible wavelengths.
Implementation Method 2
The overlay element may include one or more visible light sources, such as visible LEDs, that can be controlled to scan a visible image back onto the region.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for visibly highlighting areas of a region including an imager configured to image the region with a sensitivity to at least one of wavelength, light level, or contrast greater than the human eye, an overlay element configured to visibly highlight areas of the region and registered to the imager to produce alignment of imaged features with highlighted features at the same location on the region, and at least one of a controller executing a program or logic configured to process acquired images from the imager to identify areas of the region determined not visible to the human eye, and control the overlay element to visibly highlight those areas on the region.