Displaying Pathology Data with Anatomical Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current image-guided medical procedures lack effective systems for displaying pathology data during minimally invasive procedures, leading to inefficiencies in tissue sampling and potential confusion between clinicians regarding sample results.

Innovation Solution

A teleoperated medical system that integrates a manipulator assembly, sensor system, and display system to provide real-time, three-dimensional virtual images of medical instruments within patient anatomy, along with pathological data displayed alongside anatomical images, enabling precise navigation and sample analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If pathology data is communicated verbally by the pathologist, then the procedure can continue without additional equipment, but the clinician cannot efficiently access or correlate tissue sample information with anatomical locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepathology data accessibilityVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the display of anatomical images from imaging systems with pathology data from the pathology system into a single integrated display interface. This allows clinicians to view both tissue sample information and corresponding anatomical locations simultaneously, eliminating the need for verbal communication and manual correlation while reducing information loss without adding significant system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple tissue samples are taken during the procedure, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but the time required for analysis and communication of results increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate visual feedback by displaying pathology results for multiple tissue samples directly on the screen with corresponding anatomical markers. As each sample is analyzed, the results are automatically correlated with the anatomical location and displayed in real-time, allowing the clinician to assess diagnostic accuracy and decide whether additional sampling is needed without time-consuming verbal communication delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and displays anatomical markers and sample location correlations in advance before pathology results are finalized. When results become available, they are automatically mapped to the pre-displayed anatomical framework, enabling rapid presentation of multiple sample results without requiring time for manual correlation during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If the pathologist provides detailed verbal communication of results, then complete information is conveyed, but the clinician may experience confusion in correlating results with specific tissue locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepathology information completenessVSAvoidclinician workflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display system acts as an intermediary that automatically correlates pathology results with anatomical locations using tracked instrument positions and pre-established anatomical markers. Instead of the clinician manually correlating verbal descriptions with anatomical structures, the system performs this correlation automatically and presents the integrated information visually, maintaining complete pathology information while eliminating confusion and improving workflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3182875B1Systems for display of pathological data in an image guided procedure
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC
  • EP3182875B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3182875B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3182875B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method comprises displaying an image of a patient anatomy for guiding a medical instrument to a deployment location during a medical procedure. The method further comprises recording a first sample identifier for a first tissue sample and recording a second sample identifier for a second tissue sample. The method also comprises receiving first pathology information about the first tissue sample and receiving second pathology information about the second tissue sample. The method also comprises displaying the first sample identifier with the first pathology information during the medical procedure and displaying the second sample identifier with the second pathology information during the medical procedure.