Robotic Microscope Gesture Control with Dual-View Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual control of surgical microscopes during procedures introduces sterility issues and distracts surgeons from the operating field, while existing gesture control systems lack flexibility due to limited fields of view.
Innovation Solution
A robotic microscope system with dual detection devices and a control device that interprets gestures from multiple viewpoints, allowing flexible control of imaging and display settings without obstructing the surgical view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual control members are used to control microscope settings, then control precision is improved, but sterility is compromised and surgeon attention is diverted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces gesture recognition as an intermediary control method between the surgeon and the microscope system. The detection device captures hand gestures in the air space without requiring physical contact with control members, thereby maintaining sterility while enabling precise control of microscope settings through recognized gesture patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical control system (manual buttons and switches) with a non-contact optical detection system. The detection device uses optical fields to recognize hand gestures and translates them into control commands, eliminating the need for physical contact and preserving the sterile surgical environment
2Ease of operation
If manual control members are used, then control functionality is provided, but surgeon attention to operating field is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The gesture recognition system acts as an intermediary that allows surgeons to control microscope settings using natural hand movements visible within the surgical field. This eliminates the need to shift gaze to separate control panels, maintaining continuous visual attention on the operating field while providing full control functionality
3Device complexity
If a single detection device with limited field of view is used for gesture control, then device complexity is reduced, but control flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection devices into a unified gesture control system. Each detection device monitors a specific field of view, and their data is integrated by the control device to provide comprehensive gesture recognition across multiple angles and distances, thereby achieving high control flexibility without requiring an overly complex single-device solution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends gesture control from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional space by positioning detection devices at different locations and angles. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows gestures to be recognized from various perspectives and distances, significantly enhancing control flexibility while distributing system complexity across multiple simpler components
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple detection devices are used to enhance gesture control, then control flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with universal functionality to process and integrate data from multiple detection devices. It can recognize gestures from any detection device and translate them into appropriate control commands, thereby managing the complexity of multiple sensors through a unified, multi-functional control architecture that maintains system simplicity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a robotic microscope system (100, 100') for imaging and displaying images of an operating field (6), comprising: a microscopic imaging system (10, 10'), comprising at least one microscopic imaging unit (1), the at least one microscopic imaging unit (1) comprises at least one imaging device (8) providing a field of view (9) for imaging the operating field (6), a robotic device (20), operatively connected to the microscopic imaging system (10, 10') configured for a controlled movement of the microscopic imaging system (10, 10') in at least one degree of freedom, at least one display device (30) operatively connected to the at least one microscopic imaging unit (1) and configured to display at least the images of the operating field (6) imaged by the at least one imaging device (8), at least a first detection device (3a) and a second detection device (3b), each of which providing a field of view (4a, 4b) for detecting at least one of a position, an orientation and a movement sequence of at least one control triggering object (5a, 5b) as at least one trigger characteristic, and a control device (1b) configured to control at least one of the at least one microscopic imaging unit (1), the robotic device (20) and the display device (30) in accordance with the at least one detected trigger characteristic detected by at least one of the first detection device (3a) and the second detection device (3b) within a predetermined portion of the respective field of view (4a, 4b) for detecting the at least one trigger characteristic to adapt images of the operating field (6) to be displayed. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling such robotic microscope system and a respective computer program product.