System development for unrestrictive view and 4D shape acquisition in abdominal cavity operation using virtual space.

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Imaging Technology
• Medical Robotics

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery is widely used but limited by the traditional laparoscope's narrow field of view and restricted mobility.
• Current laparoscopic visualization techniques often require physical manipulation of the scope, which can be cumbersome and interrupt surgical workflow.
• The need for improved visual feedback and maneuverability in laparoscopic procedures is critical for enhanced surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative multi-viewpoint video camera system for laparoscopic abdominal surgery.
• To overcome the limitations of conventional laparoscopes regarding field of view and instrument mobility.
• To provide surgeons with flexible and dynamic visual perspectives within the abdominal cavity.

Main Methods:

• Design and construction of a flexible camera array comprising eight miniature camera modules.
• Development of a shape-changing mechanism allowing insertion through a standard surgical trocar.
• Implementation of a system for surgeons to switch between camera outputs for varied viewpoints without physical scope repositioning.
• Exploration of 3D shape reconstruction from the multi-camera array's synchronized images.

Main Results:

• Successful design and fabrication of a compact, multi-camera laparoscopic system.
• Demonstration of the camera array's ability to change shape for trocar insertion.
• Validation of seamless viewpoint switching by surgeons.
• Preliminary success in reconstructing a 3D textured model of the surgical field using data from the eight cameras.

Conclusions:

• The developed multi-camera laparoscopic system offers enhanced visualization and maneuverability compared to standard laparoscopes.
• Flexible viewpoint selection improves surgical situational awareness and potentially reduces procedure time.
• The capability for 3D reconstruction holds promise for advanced surgical navigation and planning.