Global endoscopic viewing indicator

• US 20050187432A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Endactive Inc
• Inventors: Hoeg, Hans David, Hale, Eric Lawrence, Schara, Nathan Jon
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/368 changing the image on a display according to the operator's position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe

Abstract

A graphical model provides a dynamic representation of the endoscopic view and viewing direction relative to a virtual world. The model can be oriented and adjusted to approximate a real world situation. Angular image navigation coordinates are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for indicating the spatial orientation of an endoscope relative to the endoscopic viewing direction comprising:

sensing the attitude of said endoscope based on sensors attached to said endoscope;

displaying a graphical representation of said endoscope on a monitor, wherein said graphical representation of said endoscope varies according to changes in attitude of said endoscope; and

displaying a graphical representation of said endoscopic viewing direction on said monitor, wherein said graphical representation of said viewing direction varies according to changes in attitude of said endoscope.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said endoscopic viewing direction is fixed relative to said endoscope.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said endoscopic viewing direction varies relative to said endoscope and wherein said graphical representation of said viewing direction also varies according to output from sensors which monitor changes in said endoscopic viewing direction relative to said endoscope.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical representation of said endoscopic viewing direction is a line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical representation of said endoscopic viewing direction is a cone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical representation of said endoscopic viewing direction is a pyramid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical representation of said endoscopic viewing direction further comprises displaying a live endoscopic image in the correct perspective relative to said graphical representations of said endoscope and said viewing direction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the surroundings.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said graphical representation of said surroundings comprises a globe with an indication of equator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said graphical representation of said surroundings is a coordinate system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said graphical representation of said surroundings simulates the appearance of an anatomical structure.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said graphical representation of said surroundings is based on volumetric data obtained from a noninvasive imaging technique such as magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a user can interactively manipulate said graphical representations of said endoscope and said surroundings to simulate the actual physical arrangement of said endoscope and said surroundings.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically indicating the endoscopic image orientation in the correct perspective relative to said graphical representations of said endoscope and said endoscopic viewing direction.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically indicating the gravity direction in the correct perspective relative to said graphical representations of said endoscope and said endoscopic viewing direction.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a number indicating the attitude of said endoscope.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a number indicating said viewing direction.