Continuously zoom imaging probe for the multi-resolution foveated laparoscope

Abstract

In modern minimally invasive surgeries (MIS), standard laparoscopes suffer from the tradeoff between the spatial resolution and field of view (FOV). The inability of simultaneously acquiring high-resolution images for accurate operation and wide-angle overviews for situational awareness limits the efficiency and outcome of the MIS. A dual view multi-resolution foveated laparoscope (MRFL) which can simultaneously provide the surgeon with a high-resolution view as well as a wide-angle overview was proposed and demonstrated to have great potential for improving the MIS. Although experiment results demonstrated the high-magnification probe has an adequate magnification for viewing surgical details, the dual-view MRFL is limited to two fixed levels of magnifications. A fine adjustment of the magnification is highly desired for obtaining high resolution images with desired field coverage. In this paper, a high magnification probe with continuous zooming capability without any mechanical moving parts is demonstrated. By taking the advantages of two electrically tunable lenses, one for optical zoom and the other for image focus compensation, the optical magnification of the high-magnification probe varies from 2 × to 3 × compared with that of the wide-angle probe, while the focused object position stays the same as the wide-angle probe. The optical design and the tunable lens analysis are presented, followed by prototype demonstration.

Electrically tunable fluidic lens imaging system for laparoscopic fluorescence-guided surgery

“…There have only been a few attempts of exploiting focus-tunable fluid lenses for minimally invasive surgery [29][30][31]. However, their aim was to develop zoom systems and they were not intended for fluorescence imaging neither in the visible nor the NIR.…”

Foveated imaging for near-eye displays

“…The image acquired by human eye has much higher information content in the fovea region. Such a foveation concept has already been utilized in the imaging system and video processing [21,22]. In terms of VR displays, we only need to provide high resolution for the central fovea region instead of the whole field of view.…”

“…A foveated display is needed by considering panel fabrication difficulties and data transport issue [23][24][25]. Several multi-resolution foveated display designs have been proposed [22][23][24], but these designs are still relatively bulky and difficult to integrate into a compact wearable device. Moreover, such a foveated display should be able to displace high resolution region to enable gaze-contingent technique.…”

Digitally switchable multi-focal lens using freeform optics

“…Various VFEs have found a broad range of applications in many areas such as 3D microscopy, endoscopy, vision correction, display and so on [5][6][7][8][9][10]. In microscopy and endoscopy, an electrically tunable lens enables flexible volume imaging at high speeds without moving specimen or objective [7][8][9]. Tremblay et al demonstrated a contact lens switchable between normal and magnified vision using the polarization property of liquid crystal [10].…”