Surgical imaging device

Abstract

A surgical imaging device includes at least one light source for illuminating an object at least two image sensors configured to generate image data corresponding to the object in the form of an image frame, and a video processor configured to receive from each image sensor the image data corresponding to the image frames and to process the image data so as to generate a composite image.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical imaging device, comprising:
 an image sensor configured to generate image data corresponding to a surgical site; and   a video processor configured to receive the image data from the image sensor, the video processor further configured to evaluate a motion vector and an alignment vector.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical device of  claim 2 , further comprising a display device coupled to the video processor. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical device of  claim 3 , wherein the video processor is configured to generate a display image oriented in a first direction for display on the display device. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical device of  claim 4 , wherein the video processor is configured to display further images in an orientation that is the same as the first orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical device of  claim 5 , wherein the video processor is configured to display further images in an orientation that is the same as the first orientation when an orientation of the image sensor is changed. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical device of  claim 5 , wherein the video processor is configured to stabilize the display image by comparing a current image frame to a reference image frame, the current image frame divided into a plurality of current image regions and the reference image frame divided into a plurality of reference image regions. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical device of  claim 7 , wherein the motion vector and the alignment vector are evaluated for each current image region of the current image frame. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical device of  claim 8 , wherein the evaluation is performed by selecting the reference image region of the reference image frame that has a minimum number of correlation co-efficients relative to the current image region of the current image frame. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical device of  claim 9 , wherein the video processor divides the current image frame into current image regions that are similarly disposed relative to the reference image regions of the reference image frame. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical device of  claim 2 , wherein the video processor is configured to determine a global motion vector and determine whether the global motion vector exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined value is a predetermined stabilization value. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical device of  claim 12 , wherein the global motion vector is applied to the current image frame when the global motion vector exceeds the predetermined stabilization value. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical device of  claim 13 , wherein, when the global motion vector exceeds the predetermined stabilization value, an error message is communicated to a user. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical device of  claim 14 , wherein the user is permitted to capture a new reference image frame in response to the error message. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical device of  claim 2 , wherein the video processor is configured to determine a global alignment vector, and to determine when the global alignment vector exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical device of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined value is a predetermined stitching value. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical device of  claim 17 , wherein the global alignment vector is applied to the current image frame when the global alignment vector exceeds the predetermined stitching value. 
     
     
         19 . A method for generating an image, the method comprising:
 generating image data corresponding to a surgical site;   transmitting the image data to a video processor; and   evaluating a motion vector and an alignment vector, via the video processor, for each current image region of a current image frame.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising comparing the current image frame to a reference image frame, the current image frame divided into a plurality of current image regions and the reference image frame divided into a plurality of reference image regions. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising performing the evaluation by selecting the reference image region of the reference image frame that has a minimum number of correlation co-efficients relative to the current image region of the current image frame. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising dividing the current image frame into current image regions that are similarly disposed relative to the reference image regions of the reference image frame.