Surgical Marker Segmentation for Detection Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operation support devices face challenges in accurately calculating the position, orientation, and opening/closing state of a hand due to the complex calculation required from multiple markers, leading to potential erroneous inputs and increased calculation load.

Innovation Solution

An operation support device with a manipulation input unit that includes an object-to-be-detected with a first marker on the body part and a second marker on the manipulation part, allowing the detection device to calculate the position and orientation of the object and manipulation state separately, enabling accurate remote control of surgical instruments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple markers are attached to the glove to detect hand position and orientation, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the calculation load increases and erroneous recognition occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcalculation load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the detection system into two independent parts: a first marker attached to the body part for detecting position and orientation, and a second marker attached to the manipulation part for detecting manipulation state. This segmentation allows each marker to have a dedicated detection function, reducing the overall calculation load while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the manipulation state detection function from the body part and assigns it to a separate second marker on the manipulation part. This extraction eliminates the need to calculate manipulation state from multiple body markers, significantly reducing the calculation complexity while preserving detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If multiple markers are attached to the glove to detect hand position and orientation, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the risk of erroneous input increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoiderroneous input
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the marker system into a first marker on the body part and a second marker on the manipulation part, the patent reduces marker confusion. Each marker type has a distinct location and function, making it easier for the detection device to correctly identify and process signals from each marker without erroneous recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If pattern matching techniques are employed to reduce calculation load, then the calculation complexity is reduced, but vast numbers of patterns must be prepared in advance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation complexityVSAvoidnumber of patterns
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the manipulation state detection to a separate second marker on the manipulation part, which directly reflects the manipulation state through its position or orientation. This extraction eliminates the need for complex pattern matching to infer manipulation state from body markers, reducing both calculation complexity and the number of required patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2739231B1Operation support device
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)
  • EP2739231B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2739231B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2739231B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An operation support device detects a position and an orientation of an object-to-be-detected, which has a body part with a first marker attached thereto and a manipulation part with a second marker attached thereto, using at least the first marker, detects a manipulation input state using at least the second marker, and causes a surgical instrument of a slave manipulator to interlock with the object-to-be-detected based on the detected position, orientation, and manipulation input state.