IP Library Granted Patent US 12,496,145
Granted Patent B2
US 12,496,145 · App. 18/601,803 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

3D visualization enhancement for depth perception and collision avoidance

Inventors: Yiming Xu (Sunnyvale, CA); Berk Gonenc (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Verb Surgical Inc.
A61B34/25A61B1/0005A61B1/00055A61B1/00193A61B34/35G06N20/00A61B2034/301
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,496,145
App. No.
18/601,803
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A series of images is obtained from an endoscope. Three-dimensional reconstruction is performed on the series of images to reconstruct anatomy shown in the series of images. A graphic, such as a grid, is rendered based on the three-dimensional reconstruction, over the series of images resulting in an enhanced endoscopic video feed to be shown on a display.

Claims (42)

1 . A method, including:

capturing, during a surgical procedure and using a camera, a series of images that include a surgical tool and an object within an internal anatomy of a patient;

generating, using the series of images, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the surgical tool, the object, and the internal anatomy that are included within the series of images;

determining a shortest distance between the surgical tool and the object based on the 3D reconstruction; and

displaying, during the surgical procedure and on a display, a graphic overlaid on the series of images, the graphic indicating the shortest distance between the surgical tool and the object.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is another surgical tool, wherein both surgical tools are configured to be used during the surgical procedure.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, based on the series of images, the object within the internal anatomy of the patient; and

responsive to the shortest distance being less than a threshold distance and to the surgical tool being inactive, providing an alert based on the identified object.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the shortest distance is within a threshold distance; and

providing a visual alert or an audible alert based on the shortest distance being within the threshold distance.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the visual alert or the audible alert is provided responsive to a determination that 1) the surgical tool has remained inactive for a period of time and 2) the shortest distance is less than the threshold distance.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the 3D reconstruction comprises receiving the 3D reconstruction as output of a machine learning (ML) model responsive to the series of images as input into the ML model.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphic further comprises a pattern projected over at least a portion of a surface of the internal anatomy of the patient captured in at least a portion of the series of images.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pattern provides a visualization of a shape and contours of the surface of the internal anatomy.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pattern is a first pattern, wherein the graphic further comprises a second pattern projected over at least a portion of the surgical tool captured in at least a portion of the series of images.

10 . A system comprising:

a camera;

a display;

a surgical tool; and

at least one processor configured to perform the following:

capturing, during a surgical procedure and using the camera, a series of images that include the surgical tool and an object within an internal anatomy of a patient,

generating, using the series of images, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the surgical tool, the object, and the internal anatomy that are included within the series of images,

determining a shortest distance between the surgical tool and the object based on the 3D reconstruction, and

displaying, during the surgical procedure and on the display, a graphic overlaid on the series of images, the graphic indicating the shortest distance between the surgical tool and the object.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the object is another surgical tool, wherein both surgical tools are to be used during the surgical procedure.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the object is a portion of the internal anatomy.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the following:

determining whether the shortest distance is within a threshold distance; and

providing a visual alert or an audible alert based on the shortest distance being within the threshold distance.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the visual alert or the audible alert is provided responsive to a determination that 1) the surgical tool has remained inactive for a period of time and 2) the shortest distance is less than the threshold distance.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein generating the 3D reconstruction comprises receiving the 3D reconstruction as output of a machine learning (ML) model responsive to the series of images as input into the ML model.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the graphic further comprises a pattern projected over at least a portion of a surface of the internal anatomy of the patient captured in at least a portion of the series of images.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the pattern provides a visualization of a shape and contours of the surface of the internal anatomy.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the pattern is a first pattern, wherein the graphic further comprises a second pattern projected over at least a portion of the surgical tool captured in at least a portion of the series of images.

19 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the camera is a stereoscopic camera comprising two or more lenses and associated image sensors.

20 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which when executed by at least one processor of a system causes the system to:

capture, during a surgical procedure and using a camera, a series of images that include a surgical tool and an object within an internal anatomy of a patient;

generate, using the series of images, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the surgical tool, the object, and the internal anatomy that are included within the series of images;

determine a shortest distance between the surgical tool and the object based on the 3D reconstruction; and

display, during the surgical procedure and on a display, a graphic overlaid on the series of images, the graphic indicating the shortest distance between the surgical tool and the object.

Assignments (1)
MERGER Recorded Jan 27, 2026
From: VERB SURGICAL INC.
To: AURIS HEALTH, INC.
Reel/Frame 073602/0126 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17014092 · Sep 8, 2020
Related Publication 20240325094A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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