Surgical Camera Orientation Control for Stable Multi-View Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera apparatuses for surgical applications face challenges in maintaining orientation and alignment with surgical tools during minimally invasive procedures, particularly when viewing narrow patient cavities, leading to complexity and inefficiency in image data presentation.
Innovation Solution
The camera apparatus incorporates a camera orientation sensor and scope orientation sensor to monitor spatial orientations and rotations, allowing a controller to coordinate multiple video feeds and maintain the horizon direction relative to gravity, ensuring consistent image presentation despite adjustments in scope rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual manipulation of camera probes and surgical tools is used, then surgical procedures can be performed, but coordination and alignment between multiple devices become complex and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surgical tools and camera apparatuses into a single integrated shaft assembly, where the camera is positioned at a specific angle relative to the surgical tool axis. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual manipulation of multiple devices, as they are now coordinated through a single handling interface while maintaining independent functional capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the orientation and position of the surgical tool and camera apparatus, providing real-time feedback to a control system. This feedback mechanism automatically adjusts the relative positioning and alignment of the camera with respect to the surgical tool, eliminating the need for complex manual coordination while maintaining precise alignment during the procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the scope rotation is adjusted to view different portions of the cavity, then more comprehensive imaging is achieved, but the horizon direction and image orientation become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
Orientation sensors mounted on the surgical tool and camera apparatus detect rotational movements and orientation changes in real-time. The control system processes this feedback data and automatically adjusts the image orientation and horizon alignment on the display, ensuring that the horizon direction remains consistent even as the scope rotates to view different portions of the cavity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the orientation parameters of the displayed image based on the detected scope rotation and camera orientation. By adjusting display parameters such as image rotation angle and horizon reference frame in response to scope movement, the system maintains consistent horizon direction while enabling comprehensive viewing of the cavity.
3Loss of information
If multiple camera apparatuses are used to capture different fields of view, then more complete anatomical visualization is achieved, but the coordination and alignment of multiple video feeds becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple camera apparatuses are integrated into a single shaft assembly with defined angular relationships between them. The control system merges the multiple video feeds into a coordinated multi-view display, where each camera's field of view is spatially registered and presented in a unified anatomical context, eliminating the complexity of coordinating separate devices while maintaining complete anatomical visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
Orientation sensors on each camera apparatus provide real-time feedback regarding their spatial positions and angular relationships. The control system uses this feedback to automatically align and coordinate the multiple video feeds, maintaining correct spatial relationships between different fields of view without requiring complex manual coordination of the multiple cameras.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables automated or assisted viewing of multiple fields of view, improving the effectiveness of surgical imaging systems by maintaining clear and aligned image data presentation during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The camera orientation sensor may be configured to identify spatial orientations of the camera apparatuses, for example relative to gravity
Implementation Method 2
the scope orientation sensor may be configured to detect a rotation or scope orientation of the scope relative to a camera body of the camera apparatus
Implementation Method 3
the scope orientation or a rotation angle of the scope relative to the camera body may be monitored and updated to rotate the image data captured by one or more of the camera apparatuses
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical imaging system includes at least one camera apparatus having a camera body including an image sensor configured to capture image data in a field of view. A scope extends along a longitudinal axis from the camera body. A camera orientation sensor is in connection with the camera apparatus. The camera orientation sensor detects a camera orientation of the camera apparatus. A scope orientation sensor detects a scope orientation of the scope relative to the camera body. A controller monitors the camera orientation and the scope orientation. In response to a change in the scope orientation relative to the camera orientation, the controller updates a rotation of the field of view of the image data.