Digital Surgery Systems, Inc.

David S Immel

George C Polchin

Video overlay synchronization for a digital surgical stereoscope is disclosed herein. In an example, a system provides synchronization by detecting how an image changes between frames. The image change corresponds to detecting the regular and predictable movement of human tissue, such as pulsing of a blood vessel. Peaks or maximum extents of tissue movement is tracked overtime to determine an estimation of the regular periodic movement. This periodic movement is used to align a short recording of images corresponding to a fluorescence imaging mode with a live or near-live recording of images in a visible light mode. The frame rate of fluorescence image data is adjusted to ensure close or almost exact alignment of tissue position shown in both the fluorescence image data and visible light image data. The system accordingly provides a fluorescence image overlay on visible light images for tissue that has regular movement patterns.

Video overlay synchronization for a digital surgical stereoscope

A stereoscopic camera with fluorescence strobing based visualization is disclosed herein. In an example, a stereoscopic camera is configured to provide a visible light mode for a first specified number of frames over a cycle by causing visible light reflected from a surgical site to be provided to left and right image sensors by activating a visible light source. The stereoscopic camera is also configured to provide a fluorescence mode for a second specified number of frames over the cycle by causing fluorescence emission light from the surgical site to be provided to the left and right image sensors by activating a near-ultraviolet light source. The stereoscopic camera switches between the visible light mode and the fluorescence mode based on the first and second specified number of frames. A processor superimposes image data corresponding to the fluorescence mode on subsequently received image data corresponding to the visible light mode.

Growing community of inventors

Goleta, CA, United States of America

David S Immel