Large-Field-of-View Visualization Utilizing Multiple Miniaturized Cameras for Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

The quality and the extent of intra-abdominal visualization are critical to a laparoscopic procedure. Currently, a single laparoscope is inserted into one of the laparoscopic ports to provide intra-abdominal visualization. The extent of this field of view (FoV) is rather restricted and may limit efficiency and the range of operations. Here we report a trocar-camera assembly (TCA) that promises a large FoV, and improved efficiency and range of operations. A video stitching program processes video data from multiple miniature cameras and combines these videos in real-time. This stitched video is then displayed on an operating monitor with a much larger FoV than that of a single camera. In addition, we successfully performed a standard and a modified bean drop task, without any distortion, in a simulator box by using the TCA and taking advantage of its FoV which is larger than that of the current laparoscopic cameras. We successfully demonstrated its improved efficiency and range of operations. The TCA frees up a surgical port and potentially eliminates the need of physical maneuvering of the laparoscopic camera, operated by an assistant.

Large-Field-of-View Visualization with Small Blind Spots Utilizing Tilted Micro-Camera Array for Laparoscopic Surgery

“…In this work, we succeeded in achieving larger FoV with fewer blind spots than in the previous work that used non-tilted cameras [21]. Furthermore, this design of the micro-camera array was able to reduce the space wasted by camera placement in the surgical field.…”

“…To alleviate the limited FoV and low efficiency of operation in traditional laparoscopic visualization, previously, we demonstrated a trocar-camera assembly (TCA) [21]. However, the large spacing between the miniaturized cameras causes large blind spots and limits the operation of TCA in case of impacting the abdominal wall ( Figure 1a).…”

“…This micro-camera array that uses tilted cameras provides larger FoV compared to that accomplished via non-tilted cameras (Figure 1c,d). For deployment of the micro-camera array, this new design of TCA can utilize the same mechanical system demonstrated in Reference [21] except the foldable camera support that consists of mechanical arms, a camera holder, and torsion springs. Among the components of the foldable camera support, the torsion springs need to be redesigned to achieve the desired tilting angle of the cameras because the initial angle of the torsion springs determines the tilting angle of the cameras.…”

“…To validate this hypothesis, we conducted an experiment that compares the time taken to complete a laparoscopic surgical training task using a proof-of-concept micro-camera array against that of using a conventional single-camera laparoscope. We utilized a simplified version of the TCA which contained cameras with optimized tilting angles but without the deployment mechanism ( Figure 2) [21]. Instead, this micro-camera array was permanently installed on a laparoscopy surgery trainer box.…”

“…Instead, this micro-camera array was permanently installed on a laparoscopy surgery trainer box. We focus on investigating the new camera placement and the validation of the above hypothesis with surgeons, rather than repeating the work on the mechanical deployment system previously developed and reported in Reference [21]. The video streams of the micro-cameras were transmitted to an outside computer server where they were stitched to form a video mosaic stream with an expanded FoV.…”