Surgical Site Overlay Tracking for Treated and Untreated Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons face challenges in tracking and distinguishing treated and untreated regions within complex and dynamic surgical sites, particularly when other anatomy moves and occludes visualization, relying on spatial memory which can be inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an image capture device, display, processor, and database to provide real-time graphical overlays and feedback, enabling tracking and differentiation of treated and untreated regions using graphical cues and computer vision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the surgeon relies on spatial memory to track target regions, then the surgeon can maintain awareness of multiple dispersed lesions, but the efficiency and accuracy of tracking deteriorates when anatomy moves or occludes visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy of the surgical site using image capture devices, storing target region coordinates and characteristics in a database. This virtual model allows the surgeon to track lesions even when they move out of the camera's field of view, eliminating reliance on spatial memory while maintaining surgical efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying graphical overlays that indicate the status of target regions (treated vs. untreated) and automatically notify the surgeon when all targets have been addressed. This feedback loop maintains tracking accuracy without requiring the surgeon to mentally track multiple dispersed lesions
2Reliability
If the surgeon manually monitors each lesion status, then treatment completeness can be ensured, but the time and cognitive load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors treatment status by receiving images during the procedure, comparing current views against the database of target regions, and updating the graphical overlays to reflect treated versus untreated areas. This automated self-monitoring ensures treatment completeness without requiring the surgeon's continuous manual attention, reducing both cognitive load and procedure time
3Measurement precision
If graphical overlays are displayed for all target regions, then tracking accuracy improves, but visual clutter increases when many regions are dispersed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different graphical overlay characteristics to different regions based on their treatment status: untreated regions display with one set of visual characteristics while treated regions display with different characteristics. This localized differentiation maintains precise region identification without creating uniform visual clutter across the entire display
Data Source
AI summary
During a medical procedure, a system and method facilitate identification and treatment of sites within patient anatomy. A digital image of a region of patient anatomy is captured and displayed on a digital display. Target treatment sites are tagged with respect to the image, and overlays identifying the tagged target treatment sites are displayed. As tagged sites are treated, the corresponding overlays are removed, altered or replaced to indicate the tagged target treatment site has been treated.