Systems and methods for controlling autofocus operations

1. A processor-implemented method for performing auto-focus in a camera, the method comprising:

receiving, from an optical tracking system configured for tracking a position of a medical instrument, a signal representing an indication of a position of the medical instrument relative to the camera;

determining, based on the received signal, that a defined point on the medical instrument leaves a field of view of the camera;

in response to determining that the defined point on the medical instrument leaves the field of view of the camera and that a continuous auto-focus mode for the camera is enabled:

retrieving, from a database, a first focus distance value representing a most recent focus distance determined to be stable for the camera prior to the defined point on the medical instrument leaving the field of view of the camera; and

automatically updating a focus distance of the camera to the first focus distance value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, in the database, a predetermined number of recent focus distance values for the camera and timestamps associated with the focus distance values.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein retrieving the first focus distance value comprises:

obtaining, for each focus distance value stored in the database, an associated speed value, the associated speed value representing an approximate speed of a tracked point of the medical instrument at the focus distance;

retrieving, from the database, a most recently stored focus distance value having an associated speed that is below a predefined threshold speed.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the associated speed is obtained based on a finite difference computation using focus distance values stored in the database.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predefined threshold speed is 0.1 meter per second.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising computing a speed curve representing approximate speeds of the medical instrument which are associated with the stored focus distance values.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera is configured to automatically focus to a predetermined point relative to the medical instrument.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining that the defined point on the medical instrument leaves the field of view of the camera comprises determining that the predetermined point is no longer within the field of view of the camera.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the continuous auto-focus mode is activated via a voice input or activation of a foot pedal.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the defined point on the medical instrument leaves the field of view of the camera comprises determining that an approximate speed of the medical instrument exceeds a predefined threshold speed.

11. A navigation system to support a medical procedure, the navigation system comprising:

an optical tracking system for tracking a position of a medical instrument;

a surgical camera for imaging a target surgical site; and

a processor coupled to the optical tracking system and the surgical camera, the processor being configured to:

determine, based on a signal from the optical tracking system, that a defined point on the medical instrument leaves a field of view of the surgical camera, the signal representing an indication of a position of the medical instrument relative to the camera;

in response to determining that the defined point on the medical instrument leaves the field of view of the camera and that a continuous auto-focus mode for the surgical camera is enabled:

retrieve, from a database, a first focus distance value representing a most recent focus distance determined to be stable for the surgical camera prior to the defined point on the medical instrument leaving the field of view of the camera; and

automatically update a focus distance of the surgical camera to the first focus distance value.

12. The navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to store, in the database, a predetermined number of recent focus distance values for the surgical camera and timestamps associated with the focus distance values.

13. The navigation system of claim 12 , wherein retrieving the first focus distance value comprises:

obtaining, for each focus distance value stored in the database, an associated speed value, the associated speed value representing an approximate speed of a tracked point of the medical instrument at the focus distance;

retrieving, from the database, a most recently stored focus distance value having an associated speed that is below a predefined threshold speed.

14. The navigation system of claim 13 , wherein the associated speed is obtained based on a finite difference computation using focus distance values stored in the database.

15. The navigation system of claim 13 , wherein the predefined threshold speed is 0.1 meter per second.

16. The navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to compute a speed curve representing approximate speeds of the medical instrument which are associated with the stored focus distance values.

17. The navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the surgical camera is configured to automatically focus to a predetermined point relative to the medical instrument.

18. The navigation system of claim 17 , wherein determining that the defined point on the medical instrument leaves the field of view of the surgical camera comprises determining that the predetermined point is no longer within the field of view of the surgical camera.

19. The navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the continuous auto-focus mode is activated via a voice input or activation of a foot pedal.

20. The navigation system of claim 11 , wherein determining that the defined point on the medical instrument leaves the field of view of the surgical camera comprises determining that an approximate speed of the medical instrument exceeds a predefined threshold speed.