Real-Time Virtual Reference Guidance for Astigmatism Incisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ocular surgeries, particularly astigmatism correction, face challenges due to the inability to accurately align pre-surgical markings on wet ocular tissues, which often shift or dissolve, leading to improper incision placement and suboptimal surgical outcomes.
Innovation Solution
The use of real-time, multidimensional visualization systems, such as 3D HD imaging, combined with data processors to generate and align virtual reference indicia for limbal and corneal relaxing incisions, ensuring rotational accuracy relative to the eye's natural vertical axis, allowing surgeons to make precise incisions during the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pre-surgical reference markings are made on wet ocular tissues, then the surgeon can visually indicate incision locations, but the markings shift, dissolve, or become inaccurate during the surgical procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image capture devices to capture pre-surgical images of the ocular tissue and creates a digital copy that is displayed during surgery. This digital copy serves as a reference indicator without the physical limitations of traditional markings on wet tissue. The system captures images at multiple time points and maintains them as reference indicators throughout the surgical procedure, eliminating the need for physical markings that would shift or dissolve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical reference markings with an optical/electronic system. Instead of using pens or dyes to mark tissues, the system uses image capture devices to create digital representations that are displayed through optical systems (such as surgical microscopes or monitors). This substitution eliminates the inherent instability of physical markings on wet ocular surfaces.
2Measurement precision
If pre-surgical measurements are taken on external ocular surfaces, then the surgeon can plan incisions, but the measurements cannot be directly translated to internal structures due to tissue depth and orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface markings to three-dimensional spatial registration. The image capture device captures images that include depth information, and the system registers these images with the actual surgical field in three-dimensional space. This allows measurements taken on external surfaces to be accurately correlated with internal structures through volumetric registration, accounting for tissue depth and orientation changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the system continuously monitors the relationship between pre-surgical images and the current surgical field. By capturing images at multiple time points and comparing them with real-time visual feedback from the surgical field, the system can register and adjust reference indicators to maintain accurate alignment throughout the procedure, ensuring that incision placements correspond precisely to planned locations.
3Device complexity
If traditional visual measurements are used for astigmatism correction, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but the rotational alignment of incisions becomes inaccurate leading to residual astigmatism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the image capture device multi-functional by enabling it to serve both as a diagnostic tool for measuring astigmatism and as a surgical guidance system. The same device that captures pre-surgical images for measurement can also display registered reference indicators during surgery to guide incision placement. This multi-functionality provides rotational alignment accuracy without requiring separate specialized equipment for measurement and surgery.
4Ease of operation
If reference markings are applied to ocular tissues before surgery, then the surgeon has immediate visual guidance, but the markings are removed or distorted by surgical fluids and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the ocular surface that serves as the reference indicator. This digital reference is displayed through optical systems and is not physically present on the tissue, making it immune to removal or distortion by surgical fluids. The system captures images at multiple time points and maintains these digital copies throughout the procedure, ensuring continuous and reliable visual guidance without the persistence problems of physical markings.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and apparatus for guiding an astigmatism correction procedure on an eye of a patient are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a photosensor configured to record a pre-operative still image of an ocular target surgical site of the patient. The apparatus also includes a real-time, multidimensional visualization module configured to produce a real-time multidimensional visualization of the ocular target surgical site during an astigmatism correction procedure. The apparatus further includes a data processor configured to determine a virtual indicium that includes data for guiding the astigmatism correction procedure. The data processor uses the pre-operative still image to align the virtual indicium with the multidimensional visualization such that the virtual indicium is rotationally accurate. The data processor then displays the multidimensional visualization of the ocular target surgical site in conjunction with the virtual indicium.