Medical Display Static Content Detection for Pixel Refresh Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Medical display devices in surgical environments are prone to image retention and permanent burn-in due to prolonged exposure to static content, which can lead to irreversible damage.

Innovation Solution

The medical display device operates in a static imaging mode when static content is detected, employing methods such as displaying messages, reducing brightness, and performing pixel refresh to minimize exposure to static content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the medical display device displays static content for prolonged periods, then the device can maintain consistent visual information for the medical operator, but the display device experiences image retention and permanent burn-in damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual information consistencyVSAvoiddisplay device integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic pixel refresh operations where the display temporarily transitions to a refresh mode, displaying a refreshed version of the static content after a predetermined time period. This periodic action prevents permanent burn-in while maintaining visual information consistency for the medical operator during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The display device dynamically adjusts its operating mode between normal display mode and refresh mode. During normal operation, static content is displayed consistently; when a threshold time is reached, the system transitions to refresh mode to prevent burn-in, then returns to normal mode. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between stability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the medical display device performs frequent pixel refresh operations, then image retention and burn-in are prevented, but additional display modes and control mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay device integrityVSAvoiddisplay mode management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device autonomously monitors the duration of static content display and automatically initiates refresh operations when the predetermined time threshold is reached. The system self-manages the transition between normal and refresh modes without requiring external intervention or complex control mechanisms, thereby preventing burn-in while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the medical display device operates in refresh mode continuously, then permanent burn-in is avoided, but the additional display modes increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay device integrityVSAvoidnumber of display modes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic pixel refresh operations where the display temporarily transitions to a refresh mode, displaying a refreshed version of the static content after a predetermined time period. This periodic action prevents permanent burn-in while maintaining visual information consistency for the medical operator during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The display device dynamically adjusts its operating mode between normal display mode and refresh mode. During normal operation, static content is displayed consistently; when a threshold time is reached, the system transitions to refresh mode to prevent burn-in, then returns to normal mode. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between stability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260053577A1Systems and methods for displaying images comprising static content by a medical display device in a medical environment

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods for avoiding/reducing prolonged exposure of a medical display device to static content by determining whether an image to be displayed by the medical display device comprises static content and operating the medical display device in static imaging mode accordingly. The method may comprise receiving an image for display by the medical display device and generating an image representation of (at least) a region of interest of the received image. The image representation may be compared to a pre-determined image representation and determined that the image representation corresponds to the pre-determined image representation. Since the image representation corresponds to the pre-determined image representation, the image comprises static content, and the medical display device is operated in a static imaging mode. In static imaging mode, the medical display device may display a message, operate in a low power mode, and/or perform a pixel refresh.