Endoscopic Stone Imaging for Real-Time Fragment Size Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithotripsy devices lack the ability to accurately measure and control stone fragment size during urinary stone fragmentation, leading to inefficient and time-consuming treatment processes due to unpredictable fragment sizes and inaccurate size estimation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing an imaging element mounted on a scope to transmit image data, generate a visual representation, establish a scale, determine stone size, and augment the representation with indicators for removal status, enabling precise measurement and real-time feedback on stone size and characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser energy is used to fragment stones, then stone fragmentation is achieved, but fragment size cannot be controlled and becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs real-time imaging feedback during lithotripsy procedures to monitor stone fragment size as it changes. The imaging element continuously captures images of the stone and fragments, allowing the surgeon to observe fragment size evolution and adjust laser energy delivery accordingly to achieve desired fragment size control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sizing assessment of the stone before fragmentation begins. By establishing baseline measurements and predicting expected fragment sizes based on stone characteristics, the system enables proactive adjustment of fragmentation strategy to achieve target fragment sizes.
2Ease of operation
If surgeons estimate stone size from low-resolution images, then size assessment is possible, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous real-time imaging feedback during the procedure, allowing dynamic reassessment of stone and fragment size. This enables surgeons to make accurate size determinations at multiple stages rather than relying on single low-resolution pre-procedure images.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual visual estimation with automated image analysis. The processing unit automatically measures stone and fragment dimensions from captured images, eliminating the inaccuracies inherent in human visual estimation from low-resolution displays.
3Reliability
If surgeons remove or fragment more stones than required due to size estimation inaccuracies, then complete removal is ensured, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time imaging feedback allows continuous monitoring of fragment size during and after fragmentation. The system can immediately determine when fragments have reached removable size thresholds, preventing unnecessary additional fragmentation steps and reducing overall treatment time while ensuring complete removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated image analysis provides rapid, accurate size measurements that enable quick decision-making about whether further fragmentation is needed. This replaces time-consuming manual estimation and allows efficient determination of when fragmentation goals have been achieved.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of stone identification methods and systems are described. According to one aspect, an exemplary method comprises: transmitting to a processing unit, with an imaging element mounted on a distal end of a scope, image data about a stone object inside a body cavity; generating from the image data, with the processing unit, a visual representation of the stone object and the body cavity; establishing from a user input, with the processing unit, a scale for the visual representation; determining from the visual representation, with the processing unit, a size of the stone object on the scale; comparing, with the processing unit, the size of the stone object with a predetermined maximum size to determine a removal status; and augmenting, with the processing unit, the visual representation to include an indicator responsive to the removal status. Associated systems are also described.