Scanning Controller for Vitreoretinal Surgery Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
During vitreoretinal surgery, controlling and integrating optical scanner images with the surgical microscope's view is cumbersome due to separate systems for control and display, making it difficult for surgeons to accurately correlate and visualize scan data with the optical image.
Innovation Solution
A scanning controller integrated with the surgical microscope and optical scanner allows surgeons to control and view scanning images within a single field of view, enabling user input through various devices (foot-operated, audio, touch-sensitive, or optical scanning) to generate and overlay scan data onto the optical image, with the option to display on the microscope or external screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate control systems are used for the surgical microscope and optical scanner, then each system can be optimized independently, but the complexity of operation increases and integration becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of the optical scanner with the surgical microscope's control system. The scanner controller is integrated into the microscope's control architecture, allowing unified operation through a single interface. This combining of previously separate control systems eliminates the need for surgeons to switch between multiple control mechanisms, directly resolving the operational complexity issue while maintaining the manufacturing benefits of modular design.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate display systems are used for the surgical microscope and optical scanner, then each display can be optimized for its specific function, but the difficulty of correlating scan data with optical images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display of optical images and scan data into a single integrated display system. The scanner controller integrates scan data with the optical microscope image in real-time, allowing surgeons to view both types of information simultaneously in a unified field of view. This eliminates the need to switch between separate displays and makes it trivial to correlate anatomical structures with scan data, directly addressing the image correlation difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent overlays scan data (typically cross-sectional or en-face images) onto the two-dimensional optical microscope image in a multi-layered display format. This dimensional integration allows different types of data (optical reflection, OCT signal intensity, structural depth) to be presented simultaneously in a single composite view, enabling surgeons to correlate information from different imaging modalities without leaving the primary surgical view.
3Productivity
If hands-free control is implemented during surgery, then surgical precision and efficiency improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality in the microscope's control system to enable hands-free operation. The control system can interpret various types of input (voice commands, foot pedals, touch interfaces) and translate them into scanner control commands. This universal control approach allows surgeons to operate the scanner hands-free during procedures without requiring completely separate control systems, thereby improving surgical efficiency while managing device complexity through integrated design.
Data Source
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AI summary
Control of scanning images during ophthalmic surgery may be performed with a scanning controller that interfaces to an optical scanner used with a surgical microscope. A scan control device may receive user input, including hands-free user input, for controlling an overlay image of scanning data that is overlaid on optical image data viewed using the surgical microscope. A selected location for optical scanning may also be displayed and controlled using the scanning controller.