Surgical Display Optical System Collimated Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical techniques face challenges with limited visualization and workspace due to small incisions, leading to pain, scarring, infection risks, and extended recovery times, while traditional open surgery methods offer better access but at the cost of larger incisions and associated complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical visualization system featuring a display housing with an electronic display and optical system that produces a collimated beam with a constant cross-section, incorporating optical redirection elements and baffles to reduce stray light, allowing for improved visualization and stereo views, and a movement control system for adjusting camera angles without moving the oculars, enabling enhanced surgical precision and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If minimally invasive surgical techniques are used, then incision size is reduced, but visualization quality and workspace access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electronic display as an intermediary between the surgical site and the surgeon's eye. Instead of relying on direct visual observation through a small incision, the system captures images from cameras positioned at the surgical site and transmits them to an electronic display, which then provides the visualization function. This intermediary approach allows high-quality visualization without requiring large incisions for direct viewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical system of traditional surgical microscopes and endoscopes with an electronic imaging system. Instead of using mechanical lenses and mirrors to transmit light paths directly to the eye, the system uses electronic sensors (cameras) to capture images and electronic displays to present them, substituting the mechanical optical path with an electronic signal transmission path.
2Measurement precision
If traditional open surgery methods are used, then workspace access and visualization are improved, but incision size and associated complications worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic display serves as an intermediary that decouples the visualization function from the physical access requirements. The system can position cameras and displays at optimal locations for visualization quality while using small incisions for instrument access, resolving the trade-off between visualization quality and incision size by separating these two functions through the intermediary display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional direct-line-of-sight visualization requirement to a three-dimensional electronic imaging and display system. By capturing images from multiple angles and presenting them on electronic displays, the system achieves comprehensive visualization without requiring direct line-of-sight access through large incisions, effectively adding a dimensional transformation to the visualization process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If camera movement is coupled with ocular movement, then visualization coverage is improved, but surgeon comfort and strain worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visualization system into independent functional components: cameras that can be positioned and moved to capture images from various angles, and a display system that presents these images. This segmentation allows the camera subsystem to be optimized for coverage while the display subsystem provides a comfortable, fixed viewing position for the surgeon, eliminating the need to couple camera movement with ocular movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic display acts as an intermediary that separates the camera positioning function from the viewing function. The camera can be freely moved to capture images from optimal angles while the surgeon views these images on a fixed display, eliminating the mechanical coupling between camera movement and ocular movement that causes strain.
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 provides improved visualization and ergonomic benefits, reducing strain on surgeons and enhancing surgical precision and comfort by decoupling camera movement from ocular adjustments, thus addressing the limitations of both open and minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The display optical system is configured to receive the two-dimensional image from the electronic display, produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path, and produce a collimated beam exiting the opening in the display housing
Implementation Method 2
produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path
Implementation Method 3
the optical redirection element comprises a mirror or a prism
Implementation Method 4
the optical redirection element comprises a mirror or a prism
Implementation Method 5
a baffle configured to reduce stray light
Data Source
AI summary
A medical apparatus is described for providing visualization of a surgical site. The medical apparatus includes an electronic display disposed within a display housing, the electronic display configured to produce a two-dimensional image. The medical apparatus includes a display optical system disposed within the display housing, the display optical system comprising a plurality of lens elements disposed along an optical path. The display optical system is configured to receive the two-dimensional image from the electronic display, produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path, and produce a collimated beam exiting the opening in the display housing. The medical apparatus can also include an auxiliary video camera configured to provide an oblique view of a patient on the electronic display without requiring a surgeon to adjust their viewing angle through oculars viewing the electronic display.