Methods, systems and controllers for facilitating cleaning of an imaging element of an imaging device
Inventors
Alambeigi, Farshid • Cohen, Alexander • Idelson, Christopher R. • Rylander, Christopher
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12274414-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed herein are technological solutions that are configured to limit sub-optimal visualization of the surgical field during robotic and manual laparoscopic surgery. Such technological solutions are configured to systematically assess cleanliness of an imaging element of a laparoscope (or other type of similar imaging apparatus) and take action for enabling or causing the imaging element to be cleaned. In preferred embodiments, assessment of the cleanliness of the imaging element provides information that can be used for enabling or causing cleaning of the imaging element to be performed in-vivo in either a manual, semi-autonomous or autonomous manner. In this manner such technological solutions advantageously enable the surgical field during surgery to be more efficiently and consistently maintained in an optimal condition.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to in-vivo assessment of an imaging element cleanliness by using image information depicting an anatomical structure within a body cavity. The image information is acquired by an imaging element of an imaging device, and cleanliness of the imaging element is characterized by deriving information from a portion of the image information.
Deriving the information characterizing cleanliness includes correlating the portion of the image information to at least one reference image of a visual clarity reference image dataset. Each reference image of the visual clarity reference image dataset has a respective visual clarity determined to be visually representative to the one or more visual clarity reference images, and the resulting information characterizing cleanliness is output as a cleanliness/clarity score, ranking, or rating.
The system further performs at least one of actuating a device for cleaning the imaging element as a function of the information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element and displaying at least a portion of the information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element. The disclosed embodiments include a computer-assisted system with one or more processors coupled to the imaging device and the cleaning device, and responsive actions include automated cleaning and displaying cleanliness indicators.
Claims Coverage
The partial disclosure includes two independent claims, a non-transitory machine-readable medium and a computer-assisted system, each centered on deriving cleanliness information for an imaging element by correlating image portions to a visual clarity reference image dataset, then using that cleanliness information for cleaning actuation and/or displaying cleanliness information. Across the independent claims, the key inventive features are the correlation to a visually-clarity reference dataset and the cleanliness-driven cleaning and display of cleanliness information.
Cleanliness derivation via visual clarity reference image dataset correlation
Receiving image information depicting an anatomical structure within a body cavity, wherein the image information is acquired by an imaging element of an imaging device; deriving, from a portion of the image information, information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element, wherein deriving said information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element includes correlating the portion of the image information to at least one reference image of a visual clarity reference image dataset, wherein each reference image of the visual clarity reference image dataset has a respective visual clarity determined to be visually representative to the one or more visual clarity reference images.
Cleanliness-driven cleaning actuation and cleanliness display
At least one of actuating a device for cleaning the imaging element as a function of said information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element and displaying at least a portion of said information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element.
Imaging device and cleaning device integration with processor-based cleanliness determination and actuation/display
An imaging device having an imaging element through which image information of a structure within an interior space of a body is acquired during use of the imaging device; a cleaning device attached to the imaging device, wherein the cleaning device is adapted to clean a surface of the imaging element in response to activation thereof; one or more processors coupled to the imaging device and the cleaning device, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receiving image information depicting the structure, wherein the image information is acquired by the imaging element; deriving, from a portion of the image information, information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element, wherein deriving said information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element includes correlating the portion of the image information to at least one reference image of a visual clarity reference image dataset, wherein each reference image of the visual clarity reference image dataset has a respective visual clarity determined to be visually representative to the one or more visual clarity reference images; and at least one of actuating the cleaning device for causing at least one instance of imaging element cleaning operation thereof as a function of said information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element and displaying at least a portion of said information characterizing cleanliness of the imaging element.
Both independent claims define cleanliness characterization for an imaging element by correlating a portion of image information to reference images of a visual clarity reference image dataset with respective visual clarity. They further require using the derived cleanliness information for at least one of actuating cleaning of the imaging element and displaying cleanliness information. Dependent claims in the partial disclosure refine presentation and characterization using quantitative and/or qualitative visual clarity characterizations, cleanliness score generation, and training a processor-based learning structure using reference images, including reference images acquired during use and scored/ranked reference images acquired using one or more imaging elements.
Stated Advantages
The output is a cleanliness/clarity score, ranking, or rating.
Automated cleaning and displaying cleanliness indicators.
Documented Applications
In-vivo assessment of an imaging element cleanliness during laparoscopic/robotic surgery by correlating captured image clarity to visually representative reference images and triggering responsive cleaning and/or cleanliness indication.
Interested in licensing this patent?