Composite Surgical Imaging via Modality Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for processing and presenting imagery from different surgical space imaging modalities are limited in providing a comprehensive and intuitive visualization for surgeons during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine an image render viewpoint and position an augmentation region relative to a surgical space, generating a composite image that integrates representations from different imaging modalities, such as endoscopic and ultrasound imagery, to provide a visually realistic and intuitive view of the surgical space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple separate imaging modalities are used to capture surgical space imagery, then comprehensive visualization information is obtained, but the complexity of processing and presenting the imagery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging modalities (endoscopic, ultrasound, CT, MRI) into a single composite image that integrates surface and subsurface anatomy views. This combining approach maintains comprehensive visualization information while simplifying the presentation to surgeons by displaying all modalities in one unified view rather than requiring separate displays for each modality.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite image system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays surface anatomy from endoscopic views, subsurface anatomy from cross-sectional imaging, and provides depth perception enhancement. This multi-functional approach allows a single imaging system to replace multiple separate imaging systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive information.
2Ease of operation
If separate displays are used for different imaging modalities, then each modality can be optimized independently, but the surgeon's ability to concurrently visualize surface and subsurface anatomy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines surface anatomy visualization from endoscopic imaging and subsurface anatomy visualization from cross-sectional imaging into a single composite image. This merging allows surgeons to concurrently view both surface and subsurface structures without switching between separate displays, directly improving ease of operation while maintaining complete anatomical information.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional imaging presentation methods are used, then equipment complexity is minimized, but depth perception and surgical precision are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances depth perception by integrating three-dimensional spatial information from multiple imaging modalities into the composite image. This includes using shading, shadowing, and spatial registration techniques to create a sense of depth and volume, allowing surgeons to better perceive anatomical structures in three dimensions without requiring complex additional imaging equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary system accesses images of a surgical space captured by different imaging modalities and, based on the images, generates a composite image and directs a display device to display the composite image. An exemplary composite image includes a first portion of the composite image that includes a first representation of a first portion of the surgical space, the first representation generated based on the first image, and a second portion of the composite image that includes a second representation of a second portion of the surgical space, the second representation generated based on the second image modified by gradient information of the first image.