Patient Viewing System for Catheter Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
During endoscopic procedures, surgeons face challenges in visually locating the tip of a catheter within the body due to similar appearances of bronchi structures, leading to frequent reliance on multiple CT scans to determine the catheter's position, which is inefficient and invasive.
Innovation Solution
A patient viewing system that includes a catheter with a tip tracking device, left and right projectors, light wave guides, a processor, and computer-readable medium, which detects the catheter's movement, determines its position, and generates stereoscopic image data to provide a three-dimensional rendering of the catheter's location to the viewer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple CT scans are performed to determine catheter position, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical CT scanning process with an optical tracking system. A tip tracking device with markers detects catheter tip position optically, and a head-mounted display provides visual feedback, eliminating the need for repeated CT scans while maintaining position determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the catheter tip position through a head-mounted display that shows the tracked location. This optical copy allows the viewer to see catheter position in real-time without physical intervention or additional imaging scans.
2Measurement precision
If CT scans are frequently performed to locate catheter tip, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback by tracking the catheter tip position and displaying it through a head-mounted display. This continuous visual feedback loop allows the operator to see catheter location immediately, eliminating the need for repeated CT scans and simplifying navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex CT scanning mechanism with a simpler optical tracking system using markers and cameras, making the system easier to operate while maintaining or improving measurement precision.
3Device complexity
If traditional two-dimensional display is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information and measurement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional display to three-dimensional visualization through a head-mounted display. This adds depth perception and spatial context, providing complete positional information about the catheter tip without significantly increasing system complexity.
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
This system enhances the surgeon's ability to accurately navigate the catheter by providing a real-time, three-dimensional visualization of the catheter's position and path within the body, reducing the need for multiple CT scans and improving procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a tip tracking device that detects movement of the tip
Implementation Method 2
a stereoscopic analyzer connected to the data store to receive the image data, the stereoscopic analyzer determining left and right image data sets, the left and right image data sets differing from one another to give the viewer a perception of a three-dimensional rendering
Implementation Method 3
left and right light wave guides connected to the left and right projectors
Data Source
AI summary
A method of viewing a patient including inserting a catheter is described for health procedure navigation. A CT scan is carried out on a body part of a patient. Raw data from the CT scan is processed to create three-dimensional image data, storing the image data in the data store. Projectors receive generated light in a pattern representative of the image data and waveguides guide the light to a retina of an eye of a viewer while light from an external surface of the body transmits to the retina of the eye so that the viewer sees the external surface of the body augmented with the processed data rendering of the body part.