Video Overlay Measurement Scale for Surgical Size Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical instrument systems lack the ability to easily determine the absolute size of objects in video frames during surgical procedures, as they do not provide size information, making it difficult for surgeons to assess and compare sizes accurately during replay.
Innovation Solution
A user-adjustable measurement scale is introduced, allowing a visible ruler to be superimposed on the video representation of a surgical procedure, which can be scaled, positioned, and oriented as needed, enabling precise size assessment of objects in the video frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a known reference object is introduced into the video image during surgery to enable size comparison, then size measurement capability is improved, but surgical procedure efficiency deteriorates due to the additional steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs size reference establishment before the surgical procedure begins by capturing an image of the reference object and calculating scale factors. This preliminary action eliminates the need for surgeons to manually introduce and position reference objects during surgery, thus maintaining measurement precision while preserving surgical efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically captures images, identifies reference objects, calculates scaling factors, and overlays measurement information without requiring manual intervention from the surgeon. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by automating the measurement process, improving precision without adding surgical steps.
2Measurement precision
If a known reference object is manually positioned in the video image to enable size comparison, then size measurement capability is improved, but operational complexity increases due to the additional manual steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically captures images, identifies reference objects, calculates scaling factors, and overlays measurement information without requiring manual intervention from the surgeon. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by automating the measurement process, improving precision without adding surgical steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of positioning physical reference objects is replaced by an automated digital image processing system that captures images and computationally determines scale factors, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If no size reference information is provided in the video recording, then recording simplicity is maintained, but the ability to determine absolute size of objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs size reference establishment before the surgical procedure begins by capturing an image of the reference object and calculating scale factors. This preliminary action eliminates the need for surgeons to manually introduce and position reference objects during surgery, thus maintaining measurement precision while preserving surgical efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by overlaying the measurement scale and size information directly on the video recording. This feedback mechanism allows users to easily determine absolute sizes without complicating the recording process, as the measurement information is automatically integrated into the existing video stream.
4Productivity
If a known reference object is positioned distant from the observed object to avoid interfering with surgery, then surgical procedure efficiency is maintained, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses digital image processing as an intermediary to establish the relationship between the reference object and observed objects. By calculating scale factors from the reference object's known dimensions and applying these factors to all objects in the field of view, the system maintains measurement accuracy regardless of the reference object's position, thereby resolving the contradiction between surgical efficiency and measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for superimposing a ruler on a visual representation of a surgical procedure is presented. The design includes providing a reference object while recording the visual representation of the surgical procedure, scaling the ruler to correspond to the reference object within the visual representation of the surgical procedure, and superimposing the ruler from the scaling on the visual representation for subsequent viewing.