Real-Time Surgical Instrument Status on Live Video During Operations

This patent describes a surgical system that shows live video from inside the body and overlays important information about the surgical tool directly onto the screen, helping surgeons operate more precisely.

What it covers

The patent details a surgical system that combines live video with instrument feedback. It uses a surgical visualization system to capture live images during an operation, like what a camera inside the body sees. A feedback controller then displays these live images on a screen in a first layer. Crucially, it also displays the status of the surgical instrument, such as a stapler or a robotic arm, in a second layer. This status information is positioned on the screen in relation to a specific part of the instrument or the tissue being operated on, as described in the abstract. For example, a surgeon using a stapler might see a real-time indicator of staple compression directly next to the stapler's image on the live video feed.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover surgical systems that only display live video without overlaying instrument status information.
• —Does not cover systems where instrument status is displayed separately from the live video feed, rather than in a layered, related manner.
• —Does not cover systems where the instrument status is not positioned in relation to a feature of the instrument or tissue in the live image.
• —Does not cover instruments that provide only auditory or haptic feedback without a visual display of status.
• —Does not cover general surgical instruments that do not include a feedback controller or visualization system.

The clever bit

The clever part is how the system integrates the instrument's status directly into the live surgical view. By placing this status information in a second layer and relating it to the instrument or tissue in the first layer, it provides context-aware feedback without forcing the surgeon to look away or interpret separate data streams.

Why it matters

This technology is important because it provides surgeons with immediate, visual feedback on their instruments directly within their field of view. This real-time information can significantly improve precision and safety during complex procedures, especially when using tools like surgical staplers or robotic instruments. The high number of forward citations suggests its foundational importance in the development of advanced surgical visualization and feedback systems.

Real-world examples

• 1.Robotic surgical systems like da Vinci Surgical System
• 2.Advanced endoscopic staplers with integrated feedback
• 3.Minimally invasive surgery platforms
• 4.Surgical navigation systems with augmented reality overlays