True-Scale Medical Device Visualization for Remote Intervention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators in remote medical interventions face challenges in correctly selecting or modifying medical devices due to difficulties in understanding verbal or text-based instructions from remote experts, leading to potential errors and delays.

Innovation Solution

A visual representation of the proposed medical device is displayed in real size or true to scale alongside a reference object, allowing operators to accurately verify their selections or modifications using display devices such as computer screens or augmented reality glasses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If verbal or text-based communication is used for remote instructions, then the remote expert can assist interventions without being present, but the operator may misunderstand or incorrectly implement the instructions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote assistance capabilityVSAvoidinstruction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses augmented reality to create a visual copy or representation of the medical device within the operator's field of view. This visual representation allows the operator to see the device and instructions overlaid on the real-world view, providing a more accurate and intuitive understanding compared to verbal or text-based communication alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If detailed instructions are provided to ensure correct device selection, then the operator can understand the requirements, but the intervention process may be delayed due to complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice selection accuracyVSAvoidintervention time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares and displays visual information about the medical device in advance of the actual selection and implementation. By showing the operator what the device looks like and how it should be configured before they need to make the selection, the system reduces decision time and minimizes delays during the critical intervention phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the operator manually selects or modifies medical devices based on verbal instructions, then flexibility is maintained, but errors in selection or modification may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice selection flexibilityVSAvoiddevice selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The augmented reality system provides visual feedback to the operator by displaying the medical device representation and modification instructions directly in their field of view. This allows the operator to verify their understanding and execution of instructions in real-time, reducing errors while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different surgical scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4641581A1Remote assistance of a medical intervention
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
  • EP4641581A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4641581A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4641581A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

For remote assistance of a medical intervention, an input specifying a proposed medical device is received by a data processing system (5). Representation data for generating a visual representation (8) of the medical device is generated by the data processing system (5) depending on the input and transmitted to a remotely located display device (7). The visual representation (8) is displayed by the display device (7) depending on the representation data and a display size of the display device (7) such that the displayed visual representation (8) corresponds the proposed medical device in real size or a further visual representation (8) of a reference object and the visual representation (8) are displayed by the display device (7) true to scale.