Surgical Camera Positioning GUI for Tracker Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in surgical navigation systems is the cumbersome and time-consuming process of optimally positioning a camera in 3D space relative to surgical objects, which can lead to procedural delays and misalignments due to improper camera placement.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with a tracker coupled to surgical objects, a camera, and a display device, utilizing a graphical user interface to aid in positioning the camera and objects by defining acceptable orientation ranges and providing visual feedback through solid-fill or perimeter coloring based on angle differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional trial-and-error camera positioning is used, then the camera can be placed in the operating room, but the setup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through a graphical user interface that displays the camera's field of view and the positions of surgical objects. The interface shows whether objects are within the field of view and provides directional guidance for camera repositioning, enabling operators to quickly achieve optimal positioning without trial-and-error attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
A graphical user interface acts as an intermediary between the camera system and the operator. It processes camera position data, calculates field of view coverage, and presents intuitive visual information including icons representing surgical objects, field of view boundaries, and directional arrows indicating required camera movements.
2Reliability
If the camera is placed to cover all surgical objects, then complete tracking is achieved, but the camera positioning becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system represents the three-dimensional spatial relationship between the camera and surgical objects in a two-dimensional graphical interface. It projects 3D positions onto 2D displays showing top-down and front views, with icons and boundary lines that clearly indicate field of view coverage and object positions without requiring complex 3D visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical user interface creates visual copies or representations of the physical surgical objects as icons on the display. Each surgical object is represented by an icon with an identifier, and the interface shows multiple views (top-down, front) that replicate the spatial arrangement from different perspectives, making it easier to assess coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual camera repositioning is performed during surgery, then proper positioning can be achieved, but the surgical procedure is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning guidance during the setup phase before surgery begins. The graphical interface provides directional arrows and visual cues that guide operators to the correct camera position in advance, ensuring proper placement is achieved during initial setup rather than requiring interruptions during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback is provided through the graphical interface showing whether surgical objects remain within the field of view during camera movements. The system displays visual indicators including field of view boundaries, object positions, and directional guidance, enabling operators to make precise positioning adjustments without trial-and-error that would delay the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical systems, methods and computer-program products involve a tracker coupled to a surgical object, a camera configured to sense positions and orientations of the tracker within its field of view, a display device, and one or more controllers. The controller(s) define an acceptable orientation range for the tracker relative to the camera based on an angle difference, acquire tracker positions and orientations, and execute a graphical user interface (GUI) to assist in positioning the camera and surgical object. The GUI presents a graphical representation of the field of view, a shape object indicating the tracker's current position, and the current angle difference between the tracker and camera. The GUI provides visual feedback by providing a solid-fill coloring of the shape object when the angle difference is within the acceptable range and a perimeter coloring of the shape object when the angle difference is outside the acceptable range.