Surgical Camera Unit Tracking Rapid Object Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems face challenges in detecting rapid and small movements of tracked objects due to insufficient sampling rates, which can lead to processing bottlenecks and failure to detect changes in object pose.
Innovation Solution
A surgical navigation system is developed, featuring a camera unit with stereoscopically arranged near-infrared and visible light optical sensors, and a camera controller that adjusts the sampling rate and processing workload by defining a region of interest within the sensor array, allowing for higher frequency sampling and improved tracking precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sampling rate is increased to detect rapid and small movements, then the tracking precision and speed are improved, but the processing workload increases substantially causing processing bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor array into multiple zones, with only the region of interest (ROI) being actively processed at high sampling rates. This divides the full sensor array processing task into selective zone processing, reducing the overall processing workload while maintaining high tracking precision for the area containing the tracked object
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by activating only a subset of sensor elements corresponding to the ROI rather than processing the entire sensor array. This selective activation reduces processing workload while providing sufficient data for accurate tracking of rapid and small movements within the region of interest
2Speed
If the sampling rate is increased to detect rapid movement, then the detection capability is improved, but the processor cannot keep up with the rate and number of sampled signals
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor array is segmented into active ROI zones and inactive regions. By processing only the segmented ROI portion at high sampling rates rather than the entire array, the system achieves high sampling rates for detection while the processor can maintain throughput by excluding unnecessary data from inactive sensor elements
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the ROI boundaries and active sensor elements based on the tracked object's position and movement characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the processor to focus computational resources on relevant high-speed sampling regions, balancing detection capability with processing throughput
3Reliability
If all sensor elements are processed to ensure comprehensive tracking, then the tracking reliability is improved, but the readout processing becomes a bottleneck limiting sampling rate improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes only the partial set of sensor elements within the ROI rather than all sensor elements. This partial processing approach maintains tracking reliability for the object of interest while significantly reducing processing time, eliminating the bottleneck that would limit sampling rate improvements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and processes only the relevant portion of sensor data corresponding to the ROI, separating it from the rest of the sensor array data. This extraction of necessary information reduces processing time while maintaining tracking reliability by focusing computational effort on the critical region containing the tracked object
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
The system achieves higher speed and precision in tracking objects by reducing the processing workload through selective sensor element activation, enabling detection of rapid and small movements with improved accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
two first optical sensors coupled to the outer casing and each comprising sensing elements adapted to sense light in a near-infrared spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A camera unit for use with a surgical navigation system. The camera unit includes an outer casing and a rigid support structure enclosed within the outer casing. Two first optical sensors are coupled to the outer casing, and each including sensing elements adapted to sense light in a near-infrared spectrum. The two first optical sensors are commonly fixed to the rigid support structure and are separated by a predefined distance on the rigid support structure so as to be stereoscopically arranged. A second optical sensor is coupled to the outer casing and is adapted to sense light in a visible light spectrum. A camera controller is disposed within the outer casing and is configured to control the two first optical sensors and the second optical sensor for tracking an object within an operating room.