Panoramic Surgical Imaging via Image Stitching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical imaging technologies, such as laparoscopes and endoscopes, provide only a limited field of view, restricting surgeons' ability to visualize and understand the larger surgical site during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system that stitches together real-time and non-real-time 2D/3D images captured by cameras within the body cavity to create a panoramic view, allowing surgeons to see a larger area of the surgical site, with features like instrument removal, time-stamped image aging, and interactive 3D modeling for enhanced visualization and training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single camera is used to capture images of the surgical site, then the device complexity is low, but the field of view is limited and only a small area can be visualized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple images captured from different positions and angles into a single panoramic composite image. This allows the surgical system to achieve a wide field of view equivalent to multiple cameras without actually deploying multiple physical cameras, thereby resolving the contradiction between field of view and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single 2D camera view to a panoramic view that encompasses multiple spatial dimensions by stitching together images taken at different angles and positions. This dimensional expansion provides comprehensive visualization of the surgical site without requiring proportional increases in hardware complexity
2Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras are used to capture a larger field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the device complexity and image processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual panoramic representation by capturing multiple images and stitching them together computationally. This virtual copy of the expanded field of view eliminates the need for multiple physical cameras, resolving the contradiction by achieving wide-area visualization through software processing rather than hardware multiplication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the panoramic image into multiple selectable regions of interest that can be individually examined or measured. This segmentation allows surgeons to focus on specific areas within the comprehensive panoramic view, maintaining device simplicity while providing detailed analysis capabilities for different surgical zones
Data Source
AI summary
In a system and method for creating a panoramic view of a surgical procedure, a camera is positioned in a body cavity and captures real time images of a surgical site within the body cavity. The real time images are stitched together with non-real time images of the body cavity, that were captured during the surgical procedure prior to time t. The stitching of the real-time and non-real-time images creates a panoramic image that is displayed on a display.