Overlay Imaging for Eye Registration in Laser Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ophthalmic surgical laser systems face challenges in accurately and efficiently aligning diagnostic and surgical images for precise rotational alignment during laser surgery, due to limitations in human visual cognition when images are displayed side-by-side, leading to potential errors in surgical precision.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and image processing system that overlays a surgical image on a diagnostic image, allowing rotation about the limbus center with variable transparency, using iris and geometric markers for precise alignment, enabling accurate determination of the alignment angle through incremental rotation and user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If diagnostic and surgical images are displayed side-by-side for alignment, then both images are visible for comparison, but precise rotational alignment becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent overlays the surgical image directly onto the diagnostic image, merging both images into a single composite display. This allows the surgeon to view both images simultaneously in the same spatial context, enabling direct visual comparison and precise rotational alignment without the time-consuming process of comparing separate side-by-side images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces transparency as a new dimension for image display, allowing the surgical image to be semi-transparently superimposed on the diagnostic image. This dimensional change enables simultaneous viewing of both images at different opacity levels, facilitating accurate alignment while reducing the time required for registration.
2Reliability
If images are displayed side-by-side for registration, then image comparison is possible, but rotational alignment accuracy deteriorates due to limitations in human visual cognition
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the diagnostic and surgical images into a single overlay display, the patent eliminates the cognitive burden of mentally comparing separate images. The surgeon can directly observe the alignment relationship between corresponding anatomical features in both images simultaneously, significantly improving registration accuracy and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color differentiation and transparency adjustments to distinguish between the diagnostic image and surgical image while maintaining their spatial relationship. This visual enhancement allows the surgeon to easily differentiate between the two images while accurately assessing their rotational alignment, thereby improving both reliability and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the surgical image is made transparent for overlay, then simultaneous viewing of both images is enabled, but image contrast and visibility may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transparency control, allowing the surgical image transparency to be adjusted during the alignment process. This enables the surgeon to optimize the balance between viewing both images simultaneously and maintaining sufficient contrast and visibility, with the ability to increase or decrease transparency as needed for different alignment stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows adjustment of multiple display parameters including transparency, brightness, and contrast of both the diagnostic and surgical images. These parameter changes enable the system to adapt to different viewing conditions and surgeon preferences, maintaining image visibility while providing the flexibility needed for accurate alignment.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Methods and systems for overlay imaging for registration of a patient eye for laser surgery include aligning and overlaying a surgical image of the limbus over a previously acquired diagnostic image of the limbus. The surgical image is displayed with a degree of transparency and enabled to rotate about the limbus center. Various types of colors, markers, contrast, and backgrounds may be used to generate a display for determining the alignment angle between the diagnostic image and the surgical image.