Navigation assistance system for medical instruments

1. A navigation support system for detecting a location of a medical instrument relative to a patient and illustrating the location of the medical instrument in an image of a surgical area on an image display unit, wherein said navigation support system comprises: an optical instrument for providing real-time video image signals, a position detection system that is configured for detecting location and orientation of the medical instrument and for providing instrument position signals that represent location and orientation of this medical instrument, a signal processing unit having an input for real-time video image signals from said optical instrument, an input for instrument position signals that represent location and orientation of the medical instrument and access to tomography image data that are stored in an image database of the navigation support system, and an output for outputting image signals, an image display unit for displaying an overall image, wherein the image display unit is connected to the output of said signal processing unit, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to generate output image signals from the real-time video image signals, the instrument position signals and the tomography image data, and wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that in the overall image that is displayed on the image display unit, the real-time video image signals are displayed permanently centrally on said image display unit in a round or oval central image field of said overall image, wherein the central image field extends at least in one direction of extension across more than half of said overall image, and secondary images generated from tomography image data are displayed automatically adjacent to or partially superimposed over said central image field in dependence on a detected location and orientation of the medical instrument represented by said instrument position signals.

2. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that the overall image extends across the entire area of the image display unit.

3. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that the central image field extends in the vertical direction of extension across more than half of the overall image.

4. The navigation support system, according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is configured to generate the output image signals such that the overall image is displayed in widescreen format.

5. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that the secondary images are axial, sagittal and coronary layers and/or sections.

6. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that the secondary images are only shown in a navigation mode and are otherwise particularly masked.

7. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that the positions of the secondary images in the overall image are variable.

8. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that the secondary images are only shown in the area of the central image field upon user action.

9. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to generate the output image signals such that when secondary images are displayed in the region of the central image field or overlapping it, this is done in such a way that no target structures/images of an instrument are concealed.

10. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is configured to recognize signal components of the real-time video image signals representing an instrument in use.

11. The navigation support system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is configured to generate the output image signals such that a signal component of the real-time video image signals representing an instrument in use is highlighted visually when the instrument approaches a critical structure and/or target structure, particularly when approaching a pre-determinable position.

12. A method for operation a navigation support system according to claim 1 , comprising:

generating output image signals from real-time video image signals, instrument position signals and tomography image data such that the real-time video image signals are permanently displayed centrally on an image display unit connected to the navigation support system in a round or oval central image field of an overall image, and wherein the overall image extends in at least one direction of extension across more than half of the overall image, wherein secondary images generated from tomography image data are adjacent to or partially superimposed over the central image field in dependence on the instrument position signals.