An artificial compound eye for stereoendoscopy

A scanning endoscope has been designed with the ability to both project three-dimensional images and provide precise measurements of internal structures. This is beneficial for minimally invasive surgery, where surgeons suffer from a lack of depth perception, limited field of view, and the absence o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical engineering & technology 2004-05, Vol.28 (3), p.117-124
Main Authors: Szema, R, Rastegar, J, Lee, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Depth Perception
Endoscopes
Equipment Design
Optics and Photonics
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Summary:A scanning endoscope has been designed with the ability to both project three-dimensional images and provide precise measurements of internal structures. This is beneficial for minimally invasive surgery, where surgeons suffer from a lack of depth perception, limited field of view, and the absence of a reference frame for dimensional measurements. Borrowing from the insect compound eye, the design uses an array of prisms, each facing a different direction but with overlapping fields of view. The prisms redirect their respective images normal to a fibre optic imaging plane and are individually controlled by electro-chromic shutters. The device thereby retains the ability to scan in multiple directions without mechanical parts and uses only a single camera. Comparison of the overlapping images with known prism positions allows for the calculation of absolute coordinates. Results from large-scale models show that the technology is plausible, and fabrication methods for a smaller device are discussed.
ISSN:0309-1902
1464-522X
DOI:10.1080/0309190042000193883