Surgical Microscope Gesture Control for Workflow Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical microscopes disrupt the workflow during adjustments, requiring surgeons to put down tools, leading to potential contamination, loss of focus, and sub-optimal settings due to the need to manually operate handles or use non-intuitive foot or mouth controls.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a gesture detection unit that allows contactless control of the surgical microscope using movements of a finger or tool, enabling adjustments without putting down instruments, with control signals transmitted to the optical imaging system for altering settings like focus, zoom, and field of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the surgeon manually operates microscope handles or buttons to adjust parameters, then the microscope settings can be changed, but the surgical workflow is interrupted and the surgeon must put down surgical tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroscope parameter adjustmentVSAvoidsurgical workflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical control systems (handles, buttons, foot switches) with a gesture recognition system using optical sensors and image processing. The gesture recognition unit detects hand movements and translates them into control signals for microscope parameters, eliminating the need for physical contact with control mechanisms and allowing continuous surgical tool usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gesture recognition unit as an intermediary between the surgeon's intent and the microscope control system. This intermediary captures hand gestures through optical means, processes them to determine intended adjustments, and automatically applies the corresponding parameter changes without requiring the surgeon to manually operate microscope controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the surgeon uses foot switches or mouth switches to control the microscope, then hands-free operation is possible, but the control is non-intuitive and requires training

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free controlVSAvoidcontrol intuitiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The gesture recognition system allows the surgeon to control the microscope using natural hand gestures that are already part of the surgical workflow. The system automatically detects and interprets these gestures without requiring the surgeon to learn new control mechanisms, making the system intuitive and self-adapting to natural surgical movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the surgeon puts down surgical tools to adjust microscope parameters, then the parameters can be changed, but the risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter adjustment capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical control systems that require physical contact with the microscope with a contactless gesture recognition system. This allows the surgeon to adjust parameters while maintaining the sterile field and continuing to hold surgical tools, thereby eliminating the contamination risk associated with putting down instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If the surgeon manually adjusts microscope parameters during operation, then the settings can be optimized, but the surgeon must look up from the microscope eyepiece and adapt to different ambient light conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter optimizationVSAvoidsurgeon focus time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gesture recognition system enables parameter optimization through natural hand gestures that can be performed without breaking the surgeon's visual focus on the surgical field through the microscope eyepiece. The system processes gestures and adjusts parameters in the background, eliminating the need for the surgeon to look up and adapt to ambient light conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12150720B2Surgical microscope with gesture control and method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope

Publication Date: 2024.11.26 LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a surgical microscope with a field of view and comprising an optical imaging system which images an inspection area which is at least partially located in the field of view, and to a method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope having an optical imaging system. The surgical microscope further comprises a gesture detection unit for detection of a movement of a surgical instrument, the gesture detection unit having a detection zone which is located between the inspection area and the optical imaging system and is spaced apart from the inspection area, and the gesture detection unit being configured to output a control signal to the optical imaging system depending on the movement of the surgical instrument in the detection zone, the optical imaging system being configured to alter its state depending on the control signal.