Reconfigurable Surgical Display Layout for Multi-Source Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive tele-surgical systems lack effective visualization tools that allow for flexible and user-preference-based configuration of multiple data sources during surgical procedures, leading to potential human errors and reduced patient safety.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system that integrates a display device for configuring visual representations from multiple data sources, allowing manual or automatic arrangement based on user preferences and safety protocols, with features like image overlay, resizing, and registration, using processing devices to manage data from various imaging modalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple data sources are displayed during surgical procedures, then the surgeon has more information available, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple configurable regions, each dedicated to specific data sources or types of information. Surgeons can divide the display area into separate zones for different imaging modalities, surgical instrument feeds, patient vitals, and other data streams, allowing comprehensive information display without clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional two-dimensional flat displays to three-dimensional volumetric visualizations. By rendering surgical anatomy and instruments in 3D space, the system provides depth perception and spatial relationships that reduce the need for multiple overlapping 2D images, thereby reducing display complexity while maintaining information completeness.
2Ease of operation
If the display configuration is fixed, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to different surgical preferences and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The display configuration is made dynamic and reconfigurable in real-time. Surgeons can adjust display parameters, rearrange data sources, modify visualization settings, and save personalized configurations during surgical procedures. The system adapts to different surgical phases, procedures, and individual surgeon preferences while maintaining ease of operation through automated suggestions and preset configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration of display elements is allowed, then user preference is satisfied, but the risk of human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates multiple layers of feedback mechanisms including automated validation that prevents unsafe configurations, real-time alerts when critical data sources are improperly positioned, and confirmation prompts before finalizing display changes. This feedback loop allows user customization while systematically reducing human errors through intelligent monitoring and guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary safety checks and validation rules that prevent erroneous configurations before they can cause problems. By pre-defining safe configuration parameters, establishing proper data source hierarchies, and implementing constraint-based configuration options, the system proactively blocks potential errors while still allowing extensive user customization within safe boundaries.
Data Source
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AI summary
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes operating a surgical system to perform a surgical process, the surgical system including a display device, and receiving, at one or more processing devices, data from multiple data sources. The method also includes determining a current phase of the surgical process, and displaying, on the display device, visual representations corresponding to the data from a first set of the multiple data sources in a first arrangement within a display region of the display device. At least one of the first set of the multiple data sources and the first arrangement is associated with the current phase of the surgical process.