Steerable Endoscope UI with Graphical Orientation Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steerable endoscopes are difficult to maneuver into desired locations within a patient's anatomy due to unpredictable motion and orientation changes during navigation, making it challenging for users to maintain a clear view and access specific anatomical structures.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope system with a steerable distal end equipped with a camera and orientation sensor, coupled with a hand-held controller featuring a display screen and graphical orientation indicators, allows users to visualize the endoscope's orientation and navigate it more accurately by providing real-time graphical representations of its position and orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a steerable distal end is added to the endoscope, then the ability to navigate and access specific anatomical structures is improved, but the difficulty of maneuvering and controlling the endoscope increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to navigate and access specific anatomical structuresVSAvoiddifficulty of maneuvering and controlling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays real-time graphical orientation indicators on a display screen that show the current orientation of the steerable distal end. This visual feedback allows the operator to see the effect of their steering inputs immediately, making it easier to control the complex steerable mechanism and navigate to desired locations with precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A graphical user interface acts as an intermediary between the operator's manual steering inputs and the actual movement of the distal end. The UI translates operator intentions into precise steering commands while providing visual confirmation of the distal end's orientation, mediating the complexity of the steerable mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If real-time graphical orientation indicators are displayed, then the ease of operation and control precision are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical orientation indication mechanisms with electronic display and software-based graphical indicators. Instead of using physical dials, pointers, or mechanical feedback systems, the orientation information is conveyed through software-generated graphics on a display screen, reducing mechanical complexity while improving information presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a graphical copy or representation of the distal end's orientation and position on the display screen. This virtual model mirrors the actual physical state of the distal end, allowing operators to visualize orientation without adding physical indication mechanisms to the endoscope itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250295291A1User interface for steerable endoscope

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 COVIDIEN AG

AI summary

An endoscope system is provided with a graphical orientation indicator. An endoscope includes a flexible tubular body with a steerable distal end having a camera. A controller for the endoscope presents a user interface that displays a view from the camera and a graphical orientation indicator visually representing an orientation of the distal end of the endoscope.